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Ah the enjoyment of openings and closings of the PTT (the Post Office) and the local bar / tabac!
I hope you and Jacinto are enjoying your adventure. I'm sorry it's on the warmer side of the thermometer!
Kelly 32 Euros for nougat! Wow. I thought I was the only one complaining about the price of candy!
Back here in Cali Trader Joe's increased the price of 500grms (17.3 ounces) of a milk chocolate bar from $5.99 to $9.99 over the last 8-10 months. They brought the price back down to $7.99. Alas the Honey Crisp apples have gone from $1.29 to $1.99 or 54% increase in the last few weeks.
This is the Sisteron Citadel, built in the late 1600's and designed by Vauban, an important historical figure who designed all the fortifications in France at that time - there are over a hundred of them designed by him, many or all with similar features like the pepper pot posts on the corners of the walls. Most of them stand along what were the borders at the time, protecting the country from foreign invasion. There are many of them at or near the summit of the Alps, including the remains of one in Embrun and a major, well preserved one in Briancon that you should explore if you get the chance. I wouldn't be surprised if you can walk the walls, where the views of the surrounding mountains must be astounding.
The entire set of Vauban's fortifications have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here's a link, including a map of the whole set and links to detailed pages for each one: https://sites-vauban.org/en.
Maybe, but I'll bet not. Just one of the many small villages off the main route.
4 weeks agoYou'll see these in nearly every village in France. It's their homage to those from that town or village who were lost in one of the great wars. It's as if every town and village in America erected its own local VietNam war memorial. They're sometimes heartbreaking to read, where you'll see the same surname multiple times where it looks like many members of the same family were lost.
4 weeks agoYup.
4 weeks agoWonderful that you've had such a fine last two days. And funny that you and Jacinto are biking opposite sides of the reservoir tomorrow, because I almost emailed you last night to point out the choice. We've ridden it ourselves on our Alps tour fifteen years ago: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/geneva2015/to-guillestre-on-the-low-route-dodging-the-rain/.
I would really encourage you to ride with Jacinto. A couple of things. Once you get to the other side of the reservoir it's an awesome, very quiet, reasonably easy ride along the lake. The views across to the busier side are incredible all along the way. RideWithGPS is notoriously bad with its elevation estimates on terrain like this, and I suspect the actual elevation is well less than 4K' - maybe even less than on the side you're planning to ride - note that there's quite a long tunnel on the south side that I doubt RideWithGPS knows about.
And one more thing: nearly all of your work on the other side comes right away - steep, fairly long, fairly straight, and more or less straight up. I imagine you'll ride virtually the whole climb with the sun beating down on your back.
And, of course, there's the risk factor. Jacinto's planning a long stretch on a very lonely road, in a very foreign land and probably out of cellphone range. Better if you stay on the same road in case either of you has a mishap so there's someone to go for help.
Either way though, have an awesome time. You have some spectacular days ahead.
Not much.
4 weeks agoThis is why I've always wanted to see Sisteron for myself. It really looks amazing. It almost made the cut for this year, as a type of destination that could work for us - you can get there by train and bike along the plateau. Some year.
4 weeks agoI concur with an all this. It's just an aging feature with cassettes and chainrings, one I've experienced a few times over the decades - including now, with the Rodriguez. I'm just starting to have problems with the Rodriguez for the first time, and have to either downshift early while II can, or upshift a few gears while I'm climbing to get back up to a spot I can drop down from. Fortunately I'm such a climbing brute that it's no problem - weaker riders would struggle and grind to a halt, I'm sure.
4 weeks agoOne of my faves in France also.
4 weeks agoThey could, but what would be the point? No one but the random tourist would show up. Like in Spain and Portugal, it's just not how they live here.
4 weeks agoHero!
4 weeks agoHi Kelly, my LHT was about the same vintage.
4 weeks ago
It looks a little like Mount Doom in Mordor. Beautiful, though. :-)
4 weeks agoAnd that's definitely a nice shot!