Day 235: Susa to St. Michel de Maurienne

Crossing the Alps - big climb but no skiing elephants

We’d been quite reticent to cross the Alps. I’ve ridden over many big Cols before with no problems, but with the Tandem and a full load of five bags it’s a different matter. However, in the end we found we didn’t have time to time to skirt the coast through Monaco and the south of France, so we bit the bullet and headed for the Alps.

We chose the Col de Mont Cenis, mostly because it’s a simple climb and doesn’t often go over 7%, which suits our heavy laden bikes.

The climb starts straight out of Susa, no warm up

About three quarters of the way up the climb we cross into France. Country number 16!

Near the top there' are some spectacular switchbacks

The most beautiful place to have crèpes with local cheeses in them. Plus we saw a family of three marmottes for the full alpine experience

Finally a big descent into the Vallée D’Arc and some pretty impressive Savoyarde fortifications

A diversion due to a landslide left us a little confused, but we were very capably saved by a passing cyclist who set us in the right direction, and then this guy who talked us through the whole route

The Tour came this way only a week ago. These Pinot fans won’t have been happy with the outcome

A treat for Tiger’s birthday at last — we’ve hired a couple of road bikes and we’re going to head up the Galibier, Alpe D’Huez and the Croix de Ferre tomorrow. For some reason Sarina would prefer to stay in the valley and chill.

Oh, and the skiing elephants? Apparently there are those that believe that the pass that Hannibal used when he crossed the Alps with elephants and then attacked Rome was the Col de Mont Cenis. Eddy Izzard has a bit to say about that…