September trip

ludwig · Oct 8, 2019

2 weeks solo:
France, Italy and back to France, to meet 2 of my brothers in the Cévennes for another week.
Initial goal was Abruzzo, where a friend of mine has a house, but 2 days of poor weather and tiny roads slowed me down, so I didn't go any further south than Lago Trasimeno.

A few pics:

Cormet de Roseland:

Col de Nivolet:

Beautifull road , but it is a dead end, and at least a 200 km detour ( for me) to get there, so it is only the 3rd time i've been up there.

ludwig · Oct 8, 2019

I spent a few days touring the Alpi Apuane area, and around.
Beautifull region, great motorcycle roads.

Apennines:

"Tornante" ( hairpin turn), my favorite Italian word ( after panacotta..) :

An easy one:

A not so easy one:

Some are indicated, most are not.

more later..

ntst8 · Oct 8, 2019

Spectacular stuff!!

ludwig · Oct 8, 2019

In a hotel ( I don't camp all the time..) I met 2 Austrians, touring the area on 450 Ducatis.
Nice to see not all classic bikes are gathering dust :

One of many passes:

Vowels are cheap:

ludwig · Oct 8, 2019

Roadside chapels are everywhere.
Not all have a religious inspiration:

jbruney · Oct 8, 2019

Captivating scenery. Very inspirational views in the mountains.... I would love to ride those roads and breathe that crisp air. You are most fortunate to have such within your reach. Be careful as you relish the good life.

And it's Duc season there too.

ludwig · Oct 8, 2019

GPS can help to see what is coming:

Montecatini:

Firenze.
Been here a few times before, but I won't set another foot in that tourist trap.
I'll leave it to the Chinese.
Just a quick stop at the Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic shot:

(beautiful city though..)

ludwig · Oct 8, 2019

(part of ..) American war cemetery south of Firenze:

4402 graves.

Montepulciano winery:

ludwig · Oct 8, 2019

Lago Trasimeno:

Castiglione Del Lago is on the other side.

From these hills, 217 BC, Hannibal's troops charged down on an unprepared Roman army:

It was a crushing defeat for Rome.
Many drowned in the lake:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lake_Trasimene

more later..

Fanfan26 · Oct 8, 2019

Hello Jan,
Did you go to the side of Cinquinterre? It’s beautiful, we did it 12 years ago with the commando then the deep Tuscany, superb.

Italia it is a beautiful country.

Great travel.

When you came back from Italy, before the Cévennes, you could have made a stop at home

Amicably,Francis.

ludwig · Oct 9, 2019

Fanfan26 said:
Hello Jan,
Did you go to the side of Cinquinterre? It’s beautiful, we did it 12 years ago with the commando then the deep Tuscany, superb.

Italia it is a beautiful country.

Great travel.

When you came back from Italy, before the Cévennes, you could have made a stop at home

Amicably,Francis.

Hello Francis.

I know about Cinqueterre.
I caught a glimpse of the Ligurian sea at some points, but did not go near the coast.
Coastal or lakeshore roads, like the Amalfi coast are nice, but often very busy.

Merci pour votre offre. Peut-être l'année prochaine?
Amicalement, Jan.

ludwig · Oct 9, 2019

Carrara marble mine:

I only spotted the Cat after zooming in on the picture:

Trucks bring the blocks down:

Michelangelo's David came out of this stuff.

Parma:

Only by accident.
Passo del Sillara towards Berceto was closed, so I had to keep going north.
It was already getting dark, so I ended up in Parma, hotel Verdi.

ludwig · Oct 9, 2019

Towards France, over col d'Agnel:

ludwig · Oct 9, 2019

Sault.
A group of Belgians on old-timers touring the area:

Mont Ventoux ( windy mountain):

View from the top:

Mont Ventoux is cyclist territory.
As a motorbike rider, you feel somewhat out of place here.

Photographers take your picture, that you then can order online (which I won't..):

ludwig · Oct 9, 2019

Florac Trois Rivières.
Camping by the Tarn river, where I met with my 2 brothers:

more later..

jaydee75 · Oct 9, 2019

Thank you for letting us see that beautiful part of the world. Keep it up.
Jaydee

ludwig · Oct 9, 2019

Cirque de Navaçelles:

Gorge du Tarn:

Following Stevenson's trail ( writer of Tressure Island) trough the Cévennes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travels_with_a_Donkey_in_the_Cévennes

You can rent the donkey, but only to carry your stuff. Not to ride it.

Edit: that isn't me, but a Dutchman.

A fitting quote from Stevenson:

"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move; to feel the needs and hitches of our life more clearly; to come down off this feather-bed of civilization, and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints. Alas, as we get up in life, and are more preoccupied with our affairs, even a holiday is a thing that must be worked for. To hold a pack upon a pack-saddle against a gale out of the freezing north is no high industry, but it is one that serves to occupy and compose the mind. And when the present is so exacting who can annoy himself about the future?"

ludwig · Oct 9, 2019

After touring the Cévennes for 3 days, we split up:
My older brother rode further south, while my younger brother and me headed north.

Cows again:

Camping by the Loire river:

My brother's bike and tent in the morning sun:

Time to go home.

Next trip:
Spain in the spring.

o0norton0o · Oct 9, 2019

outstanding pictures... Thanks for sharing them

pierodn · Oct 9, 2019

Fantastic.
Bravo.
Piero