Just an easy run for the ferry, which took us via Hemsley on a windy but dry day. A good 133 miles and a arrival just in time at 5.30pm for an overnight on board. First impression giving the choice I would use this route rather than Ijumden both for the run to the boat and the quality on board.

Ferry crossing flat and calm and on our way for 9.15am (1hr late) headed South on peage to Riems before turning onto smaller road and the town of St. Bezier for a late lunch. Finally heading for Troyes on the back road through the national park and arriving in Troyes around 4.45pm. The normal hassle of finding a hotel and parking took away another valuable hour.

The weather was cold for a while on the peage(17c and a touch of drizzle), then the sun came out and the heat was on, 25c in a bike suit is just above my comfort Zone, but I shall not complain.

The City of Troyes is a delight hundreds upon hundreds of old buildings complete with a wonderful charm.

A gray start to the day but dry......but after Paul spends 35 minutes in the bathroom we have a chance for the sun to come through. At least his woman's size toilet bag gets used to the full.

The run started cool at 14c and misty, however within the hour the sun was out and the temperature on the rise and rise it did to 26.5c. This was the first time I had used the back roads between Troyes and Annecy. What a good choice, the first section to Dijon is 90 miles of bikers delight. The middle section through Dijon was busy but worth the visit to sit in the square for lunch. Then off again and back on the quite roads. Once again well worth the effort and well recorded for the next time.

Annecy eventually reached after seven and a half hours and the race to get off the bike and into the shower was started. Annecy is a fantastic place and although I was only here last month it is always worth the effort. Mussels in curry sauce with fries washed down with draft Leffe is always worth the effort.

Paul my traveling companion, who assures me that he requires little sleep, scrapped himself from his bed after nearly 9 hours. His straight consecutive 3 in a row plus eights. It goes to show for some that a day on the bike is harder than they are used to at home.

Today's run could have been completed in 19 miles, however we are here to ride our bikes and saying it was ideal condition we managed 165 miles over some fantastic roads. First around the lake of Annecy then off towards the mountains and passed tonight's stop almost before heading north to eventually reach Lake Geneve and the nice town of Thonon then almost turning around and heading back on excellent roads and the start of the "Route des Grand Alps". Eventually after a few diversions we found our hotel for tonight in La Clusaz. Typical of most mountain resorts in summer it looked closed, and closed it was.

Saturday had arrived and another dry day. So today's run would start where we had left off on the "Route Des Grand Alps" to Flumet then toward Albertville, Moutiers and a 50 mile excursion down the "Valle Des Belleville" to Val-Thorens. Returning to Moutiers the "Route de la Madeleine" a pass at over 6000 foot would link us with "Route du Glandon" both allowed us the most direct route to les Deux-Alps.

Today was the day of ghost towns, first Val Thonan not a soul in sight and enough hotels to fit 10,000. A fantastic 25 mile run to a dead end on good mountain roads, with next to no traffic, and then the joy of turning round and doing the same in reverse. Then two good passes mentioned earlier. The road quality fantastic with views to match. Sadly a touch of rain on the last run in to Les Deux Alps tested the rubber.

This was the second town that had moved out , a truly magnificent place with no one in. I would love to see this place in winter.

Cool start to the day, however dry all day. The days ride took us to Briancon on a very good scenic road, then off to Col d'Izord (popular tour de france road) another excellent surfaced road high into the mountains. The plan then went, head for Italy over the 9000 footer "le plan de Sucre" where we ended up in cloud and the temperature dropped to 5c, thankfully it was quickly over with and we were back in the sunshine and rising temperature up to 25c.

Lunch would prove to us that learning a foreign language is useful as the restaurant had no menus to point at and spoke not a word of English. Pasta was one of my few Italian words I have mastered, so pasta it was with Cola, job sorted.

The next 40 miles proved a little boring as expected, before we climbed again to Sestriere, anther famous ski resort closed but busy with bikers out for a Sunday blast. The skiing facilities here looks among the best, and we had no complaints with the roads to get here. This left 30 or so miles to Susa via Cesena (another place worth returning to) and another end to mighty fine days riding. Leaving Paul tired and ready for an afternoon nap, as the 8 hours a night are proving inadequate.

Another good days riding from Susa, Italy Chamonix Mont Blanc in which the sun shone all day and temperatures only varied because of the height that was climbed. The route first headed for the Col du Mt. Cenus then a stop at Lanslebourg(just because I always do) before heading for the highest pass of the day, the Col de L,Iseran offering fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and Val-D'Isere below. Where a coffee can now be had for £4 and a hamburger for £12. But what a setting.

Progress from here was slow but enjoyable and the decision had been made not to use the Mont Blanc tunnel this time but use the quite road over the mountains and the pass of Cormet de Roseland, which is outstanding in it's surrounding beauty, in the region of Beaufortan, a must return place. The lake of Roselend being particularly amazing.

Chamonix appeared to be quite and finding a hotel easy if not inexpensive. The town was quiet even my favorite bar was closed. My survival chances were slim until I found another selling half price beer for happy night. (at €3 that made it normal so I was not that happy)

Leaving Chamonix Mont Blanc is always a hard task, and made even harder when the hotel upgraded you to a suite and spoilt you a little. Never mind the task is always easier if I am heading for Switzerland in the sunshine.

Today's run was first to Head direct for Gletch, a good run spoilt by the middle 40 or so miles. Once at Gletch it;s over the Grimsel pass and paradise country what a viewers paradise. The it was towards Interlaken, and a tour around Junfrau region. First Grindlewald and then Lauterbrunnen, where I planned on stopping for the night except it was so quiet we headed for the bright lights of Interlaken and the well used Crystal Hotel.

Another sunny day, our luck was running well, and a second day of drags. I also love Switerland and inparticualar the Jungfrau region. I nearly decided to stop the second night and do two big hits on the motorway to the ferry.

Any way I moved and pointed the bike towards Germany and the town of Baden-Baden. For the first time I used the road from Interlaken to the north side of the lake towards Luzurn keeping of the motorway until Luzurn. It was an excellent road with good views of the lake.

After the fun we Joined motorway to pass Basel and Turned off north of Freiburg to have an 80 mile play through the black forest. Calling at Freudenstadt to recall one of my worst hangovers. Once again it was 6pm before a hotel was found.

Long or short that's the question, and we went with ......Short, and a look around the town of Baden- Baden which looked as good in the daylight as it had the evening before. The town is very upmarket boasting more millionaires per population than anywhere else in Germany.

The only deviation to today's 12 noon departure was a run down the "500" road back towards
Freudenstadt as this had been missed and is a true bikers road. The join the autoroute and head north to Koblenz before finally crossing the Rhine on a ferry and then only 5 short miles to our stop for the night at Rudeshiem.

Just heading home fast run no hold ups and under five and a half hours including a ferry across the Rhine and two stops.

Ferry no problem and home 5 miles after docking is always a winner.