Pont du Galetas, Lac de Sainte-Croix

A day out twisting the throttle and grabbing the brakes on my CBR600RR in almost ideal riding conditions, low wind and low twenties centigrade. Bit of uncertainty with fuel shortages due to strikes at the refineries but I found a refill just before it became critical.
Lunch break on the beach near the lower end of the Canyon of the Verdon but not at the water’s edge as the water level in the lake is still at least 15 metres lower than normal.
Great pleasure running again these roads in the Alpes-de-Haut-Provence which suit the CBR600RR so well.

It’s a precarious ride up from Barcelonnette. The north side road to the Col d’Allos (2240 m.) is pretty, rural and most of the precipitous drops in to ravines are still unprotected. Last night’s rain has stripped the leaves from more of the trees and left them as mulch on the road. Views at the old refuge to peaks of more than 3000 m, now with small deposits of snow but mostly in the clouds.
Down from the quaintly named “Foux d’Allos” ski village (literally the “madness of Allos”); the road becomes flowing, gathering width as I ride it, leaving the alpages, forests and crossing in to the high valley of the River Verdon, a major tributary to the mighty Durance.
Stop for fuel thankfully available at Barrême, and a picnic from the artisan boulangerie. Napoléon stopped here also.
Then back down the wide valley of the River Durance before hitting metropolitan Marseille. Passing queues of almost biblical length at fuel stations, I arrived just in time for the horrors of the Marseille rush hour.

More photos: Col d’Allos (2240 m.)

Col de la Cayolle (2327 m.), view down to the Mediterranean

On the road to the Alps at last. Waterproofs at the ready. It's a stretch to get my leg over all that!

Magnificent autumn colours for my ride of the Col de la Cayolle (2327 m.). The road from Barcelonnette (1130 m.) passes through the narrow Gorges du Bachelard with huge slabs of rock above. Trees cling to the sides and are now showing their autumn magnificence. Not a fast road but great to enjoy the sights and the flexibility of a bike, able to stop freely.
The Col de la Cayolle has a view right down to the Mediterranean at Nice, the valley of the River Var. The road down is open as it weaves down the deep valley sides: daring bridges, dark rock tunnels with treacherous road surface. And eventually villages.

More photos: Three Alpine cols: Cayolle (2327 m.), Champs (2074 m.), Allos (2240 m.) - Parc National du...

Riding tracks around Mosedale, Mungrisedale and Caldbeck towards the northern boundary of the Lake District National Park.
The sun’s low now and the air temperature is getting chilly so the thermal lining is back in my riding suit - although riding rocky roads soon warmed me up.

More photos: Mosedale, Mungrisedale and Caldbeck - Lake District National Park