Ride to Mont Blanc

Not in my wildest dreams !

Completed an exciting ride to Mont Blanc in France. Left home 8am, return 8:30pm. Approximately 350km round trip. The roads, the scenery and the feeling is second to none.

Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco (French and Italian, respectively, meaning "White Mountain") is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union. It rises 4,810.45 m above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence. It is also sometimes known as "La Dame Blanche" (French for "The White Lady").

From Lausanne I took a detour to Ollon - Arvayes - Bex. Going up and down the mountains.










Had lunch at Saint Maurice while admiring the glacier river.










Then up the mountain again between Martigny and Forclaz , stopping for the scenery at Valee do Rhone










Crossing the Swiss-French Border. First glimpse of Mont Blanc at Argentiere. It is amazing. The full view was from Chamonix-Mont Blanc.




















Then going up the Tunnel du Mont Blanc which connects France and Italy. I did not have Euro money so couldn't pay the EUR29 ticket. Not a problem though as I don't see the appeal of riding in a 12km tunnel on a motorbike.











Going back, stopping at De La Valee du Trient. It is a popular stopping place for motorcyclists. Then returning I took another detour to Champex-Lac and Col des Planches. The area is apricot plantation.










I bought 1kg of Apricot for CHF4. They smaller and less fury than Australian apricots. Tastes very good!










I took a wrong turn towards Saint-Bernard, but it's nice anyway.










Completed route:
Google Maps link

Swiss Jura

Sun Flower farms, Fleurier, Môtiers

Riding to Neuchatel via Swiss Jura.

The Republic and Canton of the Jura (French: République et Canton du Jura), also known as the Canton of Jura or Canton Jura, is one of the Cantons of Switzerland. It is the newest (created in 1979) of the 26 Swiss cantons, located in the northwestern part of Switzerland. The capital is Delémont. It shares borders with the Canton of Basel-Landschaft, the Canton of Bern, and the French département of Doubs.

The rolling hills and farmlands reminded me of Gippsland region in Victoria










Stopped at Yverdon to buy chicken sandwich (Poulette) and had lunch at the top of the Jura.










Overcast skies provided great light for photography.

Very little had changed since I visited Neuchatel in 2002.











Route completed:
Google Maps link

Lausanne - Caux - Montana

The plan was to visit Zermatt, one of the highest mountains in Switzerland. However I took too many detours along the way to visit villages on top of the mountains. Truly breathtaking. 320km return trip and perfect 29°C. A bit windy at some locations. When going up the mountains I could feel the temperature dropping rapidly. Riding the mostly narrow road and looking down I felt dizzy due to the height. Amazing place.

Cruising along Lake Geneve to Montreux

Going up to Caux from Montreux, which is only 30 minutes from where I live!

Up on the way to Montana











Route taken:
Google Maps link

Lausanne to Interlaken

Rented a Yamaha Xmax and rode to Interlaken. Round trip of 320km. Very impressive. This is one of the best motorcycling roads in the world.

In Lausanne I rent the Scooter from Aloc Bike for about CHF85/day.

Interlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.











Very nice pizza for lunch! Just before Fribourg.











Route:
Google Maps link

Summer Ride 2010

Riding out after our big holiday in Indonesia. From Bonbeach to Tooradin via Cranbourne backroads. Blue skies with no wind !

South Gippsland ride

Photos by Daniel.

Mornington Peninsula via Arthur's Seat

Along the Mornington Peninsula. Arthur's Seat, Flinders, Rosebud.

Reefton after bushfire

Residents on TV are saying they're in need of support so I rode through Reefton-Marysville-BlackSpur. Spoke with a couple who sell hot food on a trailer at Narberthong and listened to their firsthand near-death experience during the fire.


















HTML report

2009 Black Saturday bushfires

Fire destroyed small town communities along the most popular motorcycling roads in Melbourne. Kinglake, Marysville, Narberthong, Strathewen, Arthurs Creek ... hundreds died. Worst natural tragedy in Australia.


Marysville gone. We normally ride from Healesville through the Black Spur, stopping at Marysville for coffee and breakfast before heading to Reefton. It was a beatiful little town specially in Autumn when the trees change colours. It had a biker pub, bakery, service station, cafe, ski rental, lolli shop and small river. A motorcyclist's paradise.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/

Many cars with occupants trapped in fire. This rider did not escape.

I rode through these areas 3 months after the fire. It was still a devastated scene.