over and out!

Our last and final day on the road: 

Breakfast in Zurich 

Lunch in Germany

Dinner in the Netherlands

6 months in Europe

15,000 km over 4 months in the campervan

67 campings

13 countries

5 days of rain

135 ice creams of 15 different flavours

2 visits to a doctor

42 blogs

way too many tolls in France

2 volcanoes

numerous lakes and rivers

8 national parks

some fantastic UNESCO sites

1 massive dune

3 boat trips, 2 of which overnight

a lifetime consumption of baguettes and cheese

4 farm stays

2 caves

1 monastery

4 museums

1 war cemetery 

numerous castles

1 toboggan ride

1 concentration camp

                                        2 minor accidents (with motor bike and truck)

                                                           one happy family :)

A blast from the past!

From Bourg D'Oisan in the French Alps we headed north, back towards home :(

We drove via Switzerland where we finally managed to hook up with some friends. So after a 5 hour drive and 18 tunnels later we arrived in Zurich at Monique and Christians home. It was 11 years ago that we met each other on our bicycles in the city of Kunming, China.

We went on to cover 8,000km's through south east China by bicycle. Nothing compared to their 20 month world trip of 20,000 km's!

After being spoilt with a Swiss Cheese Raclette with potatoes for dinner, we settled into a slide show from our trip many years ago (slightly confronting seeing photos of us 11 yrs ago :/ ) and then spent the last night in our faithful camper.

Swiss Raclette, grill your own feast of melted cheese, onions, garlic, pickles, tomatoes ... mmmmm

The Roosinks and the Leichtis. Monique and Christian, thanks so much for the wonderful welcome we received, for the delicious food and for reliving all those memories :)

Fabian and Kai burning off some energy

 2002, Dali, Yunnan, South West China

Thanks Monique and Christian!

South East France

From the Pyrenees we headed east to the coast and landed on the Cote d'Azur or the French Riviera for a quick stopover.

                              A dip in the refreshingly cold ocean with St Tropez in the background.


It's now very clearly the end of the season and campings are generally very quite so we were more than surprised to be turned away at a camping here! We have never booked a camping and it's only the second time we found a camping to be full. We spent 2 days here catching up on washing and some homework. Some things you just can't escape.

And then it was off to the French Alps via Nice. A looooong drive.

Velo Bleu bike hire in Nice

Nice boulevard. Every man and his dog was out exercising on this fantastic bike path and boulevard adjacent to the sea. Went on for kilometers.

                                                     'Flinstones' inspired bicycle?

The harbour in Nice, boats, boats and more boats

We chose the spectacular hillside coastal road from Nice towards Monaco via Eze.

St Jean Cap Ferrat

             We stopped here in the heat for lunch with (St Jean Cap Ferrat in the background)

View over Nice on our way out

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On our way from Nice to Bourg d'Oisans in the Alps we had difficulty finding a direct route and found ourselves with a day of mountains in front of us. Unavoidably we ended up passing over 3 cols, Col de Vars, Col Lautaret and Col de la Bonette (from here we did a little detour to do the scenic loop to Cime de la Bonette which is the highest paved, through road in Europe at 2815m). A slow enough descent on the down hills with our 3.5 tonne beast to thoroughly enjoy the views (and avoid stinking overheating brakes!).

Col de la Bonnette

Col de Vars, 2109m

one very scary tunnel we survived

Welcome to Bourg D'Oisans! A town with cycling fever, a real mekka for cyclists. Not surprising being surrounded by some fantastic climbs, many known from the Tour de France. Col de Galibier, Col du Lautaret, Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Glandon and the one and only Alp D'Huez. Our 5 days here with cycling friends from Sydney were spent on the bike or strolling the streets of the quaint town.

Kids crossing at Bourg D'Oisans

Bourg D'Oisans with the magnificent mountain backdrop wherever you turn

Kerry, Arno and George

While Arno tackled Alp D'Huez I took the kids for a ride around the backstreets along the river.

apples :)

The crew from Sydney, the Muggaccinos, last seen cycling eastwards towards Nice ...

Our campsite at Bourg D'Oisans. It was sad seeing the sun go behind this mountain at 5pm each day :( Cold evenings!! One morning we got the fright of our lives while walking to town. Turning around in response to a load rumble we witnessed a landslide on this side of the mountain followed by a massive dust cloud. Must happen regularly, no one seemed too perturbed.

Maureen and Fynn

:)

Kerry, Kai, Fynn, Arno, Maureen and Sarah

Farewells after a few days together: Phil, Maureen, Alan, Arno, Sarah, Kai, Kerry, Yvonne

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Our challenge on the last day was to get up Col D'Ornon. 12km in length climbing to 1371m altitude (from 720m in Bourg D'Oisans). 

Persistence, and don't forget to breath ...

WE MADE IT!! An awesome effort by the kids and a great feeling. Their very first col by bicycle, they will not forget.

The start of the well earned downhill ...

yee haa!!

and now for a well earned treat from the local Boulangerie

Proud pedalers!

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