Lyon to Chamonix – 475 kms

1. Gorges du Nan, Cognin-les-Gorges(Isere). A short section of the D22 road, through the Gorges du Nan, with a length of 8.8km, links the towns of Malleval-en-Vercors and Cognin-les-Gorges. This road is located in Vercors national park (Rhone-Alpes), south of Grenoble (France). It’s one of the French balcony roads.
2. Route de Presles (Isere) Route de Presles is a stunning mountain road located in the Isère department in southeastern France. The road is 7 km carved into the mountains. It’s one of the most spectacular balcony roads in the country. The road is called D292. It’s a succession of open tunnels and passages, carved directly into the rock, resulting low and narrow lanes, blind corners and potential landslides. There are not many roads like this in Europe, if you can handle the height and the prospect of a very long freefall this road absolutely has to be on the list of any road connoisseur.
3. Gorges de la Bourne(Isere) The Gorges de la Bourne is a canyon formed by the Bourne River, located in the Vercors Massif, in the départements of Isère and Drôme in the French Pre-alps. It’s one of the French balcony roads .The gorges are traversed by the RD 531. It’s one of the most spectacular roads in the world. The gorges are located on the route between Pont-en-Royans and Villard-de-Lans, two municipalities in the Isère department in south-eastern France. Portions of the road may be temporarily closed due to road work or inclement weather. The road is winding, in some places only wide enough for one vehicle, and in many places bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters. The road includes several tunnels .Landslides can occur anytime and cansome times block some sections of the road.
4. Route des Ecouges(Isere) Built in 1833, this windy wild road of Les Ecouges zigzags up to the village of Rencurel, in the Isère department in south-eastern France,before crossing mountain pastures until the Col de Romeyère. Of allthe routes into Le Vercors, ‘Les Ecouges’ is the most vertiginous and the most stunning. It’s one of the French balcony roads. The road’s architecture is unique, with the slope copying that of the limestone layers. The builders naturally sculpted the existing lines. The road’sroof is like a smooth slab with a right angle giving a geometrical effect. The tunnel left in its natural state offers similar slabs on the ceiling.
5. Gorges du Guiers Mort(Isere) The Gorges du Guiers Mort is a canyon formed by the Guiers Mortriver in the Isère department in southeastern France. It’s one of the French balcony roads. The gorges are traversed by the D520B road, also known as Route du Désert. The gorges are located on the route between La Diat and Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, two municipalities in the Isère department in south-eastern France. This amazing road is carved into the mountainside in France. Located within the Chartreuse Natural Regional Park, this road is one of the most famous balcony roads in the country.
6. Gorges du Guiers Vif(Isere) Gorges du Guiers Vif is a very scenic canyon located in the Isère department in southeastern France. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads. The road along the gorges, also known as Gorges du Frou, is called D520C, also known as Route des Entremonts. The road is 11.8 km long and climbs up to Pas du Frou, at 621m above the sea level. The road links the towns of Entre-deux-Guiers and Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont, in the Isère department, in the parc naturel régional de Chartreuse. It’s incredibly disorienting to look over the edge, or even just to see the valleys a couple thousand feet below you.
7. Mont Revard(Savoie) Mont Revard is a mountain in the Bauges Massif near Aix-les-Bains inSavoie, France. The mountain is crossed by the D913 road betweenthe villages of Saint-Jean-d’Arvey and Pugny-Chatenod near Aix-les-Bains.
8. Le Semnoz(Haute-Savoie) Le Semnoz mountain, a vast protected area, 16 km long and stretching from an altitude of 450 m to one of 1,699 m. Close to Lake Annecy.
9. Annecy(Haute-Savoie) Annecy is an alpine town in southeastern France, where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River. It’s known for its Vieille Ville (old town),with cobbled streets, winding canals and pastel-colored houses. Overlooking the city, the medieval Château d’Annecy, once home to the Counts of Geneva, contains a museum with regional artifacts such as Alpine furniture and religious art, plus a natural history exhibit.
10. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc(Haute-Savoie) Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. Situated near the massive peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges and most notably the Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix is one of the oldest ski resorts in France. The north side of the summit of Mont Blanc, and therefore a summit half is part of the village of Chamonix. To the south side, the situation is different depending on the country. Italy considers that the border passes through the top. France considers that the boundary runs along the rocky Tournette under the summit cap, placing it entirely in French territory. The south side was in France, assigned to the commune of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains sharing the summit with its neighbor Chamonix.

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Heading south out of Lyon; first time we have not departed in separate directions and had to start again. We are a well-oiled machine this time around.We approached the first toll booth with trepidation. Russ had briefed us. On a bike, juggling gloves, wallets, tickets and gears is not easy. Went without and issue. Later that afternoon did not run as well for Tony.

Today was a precursor to the future Alps riding hills around Grenoble. Green grass, little villages, huge rock formations and gorges. Tunnels through rock and cliff edge (balcony) roads. Plenty of photo opps and coffee at a little village of Presles.

The riding is picturesque, but we work hard traversing steep mountains and lots of curves. The BMWs are amazing bikes for this type of riding. Landslides are everywhere and Hydro has pulled off a spectacular Route Modification which adds another 250kms to our trip.Lunch is a welcome respite. A pub at St Joseph de Riviere; no power but we got fed!

The afternoon was a change in scenery. Hills have transformed into mountains. The snow on the Alps is ample. We stopped at Mt Revard for rehydration. It is damn hot! Singo cant afford to lose weight but has kitted up in a full metal jacket with no ventilation. He is disappearing before our eyes.

Annecy is brilliant. We find the money shot, have a beer and go. Everyone exhausted and its still an hour to Chamonix. Relying on incorrect advice, Tony has put away his credit card and unfortunately a toll gate appeared prior to Chamonix. Tony rides up next to Singo and mouths can I borrow your card. Not having understood a word (music on, juggling docs) he nodded Yes. As the gate raised, Singo took off leaving Tony stranded at the gate. He thought Tony said I’m coming through with you! Luckily Boxy came along to bail him out. Tony had no choice but to agree to extortionate terms.

Chamonix is at the base of Mt Blanc. A classic ski village. Manuel at our hotel is the waiter from hell, but he serves a great G&T. Dinner tonight at Cap Horn in town. Our energy levels have lifted. We are sitting under the shadow of Mt Blanc. The point of discussion is the U-Turns when an incorrect call is made. They are causing significant problems for most of us. Five point turns on hills, gravel, narrow roads, blind corners and police going past. The quinella! Boxy got stuck in a hole doing the Barny Rubble as two glamourous girls walked past, falling over laughing.