Still at Bokki!
I mentioned in an earlier instalment that we’d met 2 Brit ladies whilst we had a break, up on the Petit St Bernard. Well, when we were in Bardo having an ice cream, we bumped into them again, then led them out to the campsite. Small world, eh :silly: ?
After a quiet night at Bokki – Jim was shattered after his ride up the hill as he'd got a tad de-hydrated during the day and paid for it in the evening / night with a stinking headache, so an earlyish stack was had by all.
Sunday 14th July 2013 is the actual Stella Alpine Rally day, and dispite having ridden up there yesterday, Jim is determined to go up again today, but on Fionas little G650GS, so’s he can get to the snow line
. Plus Gary was keen to ride up the hill and it’s best to go up with another rider – that’ll be Jim then!They set off fairly early – just after 8am, and whilst they were away we (those left at Bokki) took down the tents and packed most of the gear away as we were heading into France once Jim was back from the hill.
Jim & Gary got back just after 11am, covered in more cement dust but both wearing big smiles and showing off their stickers / badges. Well, Gary’s had a bit of a grimace on his mush as he’d come a cropper on the hill, with the bike ending up on his ankle. Suitable drugs were administered along with plenty of fluids, and once all was sorted we said our fairwells and headed into even more brilliant sunshine as we climbed the hill into France.
The original plan was to stop at Briacon, just 18 miles from Bokki, but once we reached the town it was decided to carry on to Annecy. This saw us hitting some more big hills and their associated passes – Col De Lautaret and the Col De Galibrie – both on the Route De Grand Alps . . .
As we neared Annecy the mountains and scenery were amazing, with towering rock formations to one side and a glistening blue lake below us. We eventually found a camp site in Annecy with space – busy place it would seem, Annecy. It was a bit late by the time we’d arrived and pitched, so shopping on a Sunday in France proved as difficult as usual, so we ate & drank in the sites restaurant – and very pleasant it was.
Next day, same routine – brew up, eat up, pack up, ride off! Today’s loosely agreed destination was going to be Bescancon, but by the time we got to Champagnole it had changed to the small town of Dole, as Jim knew of a nice municipal campsite there. To get there we followed what turned out to be a route carved by a glacier, today known as the D991 in the Rhone Alps. Stopped on route and brewed up at a nice little picnic site.
The ride was, in comparison with the previous days rides, fairly mundane, D991 aside, so before we knew it we were in Dole.
Nice touch when we arrived – an English geezer who’s parents stayed at the campsite for 3 – 4 months every summer wandered over as we started to get the tents up, introduced himself – sorry forgot your name – and then promptly provided all new arrivals with a cold beer. Simon enjoyed mine as well as his own. Nice touch geezer – thanks again for your hospitality. Turns out he’d ridden up from the Stella that day and was fairly saddle sore after it – bit like ourselves, but we’d taken two days!
There were another 3 Brit bikers from Bokki at the same site – they were riding CZ’s of varying vintages, and were all their bikes were suffering some malady or another. One of them had “issues” on Saturday evening, with his machine guzzling petrol like Jim drinks whiskey :blink: :whistle:
. He’d sort of sorted it and had managed to get up the Stella – but not before he’d flipped him and his bike whilst up on the hill. His machine, when viewed at Dole, was held together with gaffer tape and twigs!You do meet the most interesting folk when you ride a bike, don't you?
Steve T
B)
). Plus Hudders needed to top up his nicotine stash :sick: !
. . .
:whistle: 
