Grand Canyon du Verdon, Alpes-de-Haut-Provence
Lac de Sainte Croix
Goldilocks weather for riding my CBR600RR on the North Rim Road of the Grand Canyon of the Verdon. Clear run up the valley of the little River Colostre, the fine autumn colours resplendent in the clear autumn sunshine. Magnificent view of the Lac de Sainte Croix, that retains the River Verdon and supplies water to Marseille. Even the North Rim Road of the canyon was free of traffic, the complicated (ie unintelligible) notice about road works might have had something to do with that. Or maybe the storms last week have sent the camping-cars back north.
A stop in Castellane for a picnic lunch, the boulangerie in the square was closed and even the supermarket was sparsely stocked. Now riding the Route Napoléon, still traffic-free as it sweeps up and down the dramatic limestone topography. That Napoléon must have been a biker as the route he laid down is fantastic riding, even more so with not much other traffic.
Down the valley of the River Asse, a direct route but with a much less reliable surface than the Route Napoléon. Pause in the shade at Oraison before the bash down the valley of the River Durance on the autoroute back to Marseille.
Great day out, I’d expect that to be my last full-day sportsbike ride of 2026. I celebrated the end of my 2026 riding season with a Charolais steak, Roquefort cheese sauce and walnut salad washed down a very pleasant half bottle of claret: Chateau La Gravière 2024, Haut Médoc AOC.
Col des Léques (1146 m.), Route Napoléon
Charolais steak, Roquefort cheese sauce and walnut salad with Chateau La Gravière 2024, Haut Médoc AOC.