Day 21 Wed 01/06 - Snowing Rest in the Caravan of Lanslevillard

 Today Temp : 0 - 10°c  Today Spending : 19.58 euro   Total: 232.38 euro

It was snowing last night as I was still sleeping in my tent just outside the caravan where Ivan/Annie rented. The snow fall became heavy in the morning as I can hear occasion lumps of snow fell from the tree to my tent, the fear that the tree branches might give way can damage my tent, I decided to shift everything into the caravanand share the cost. It was impossible to ride anyway as the road are still very much covered by the snow. The snowcapped mountains, the trees , the house roofs are all white in clor, such a beautiful scenery is really rare to experience there and then,although the cold did makes us miserable, especially Ivan/Annie. As we continue to stay here, the owner fetch us in his car to the nearby market to buy some foods, and the whole day was spent watching tv,cooking,making hot drinks,taking pictures, hardly you can find any souls or activities around here.

Day 20 Tue 31/05 - Freezing Climb to Col de Iseran

Today distance : 49.1 km   Total: 1021.3 km          Today Temp : 4 - 11°c                                                                                        Today Spending : 7.5 euro    Total: 212.8 euro         Time on Bike : 4 hr  55 min                                                                              Today Ave Speed: 9.9 kmh  Max: 52 km Today Ave Climb:5%     Max:  Trip Altitude : 1012 m    Max:2770 m

This morning the weather was not sunny but cloudy with dizzling rain, having been told by the owner of the campsite that the weather could be worst on top of the mountain.Ivan/Annie opted out of the ride by taking a taxi ( 80 euro) instead.As for me, I am gamed for it as I started the ride at 11 am, left Ivan/Annie behind but agreed to meet up again at the 1st campsite available. The summit of the Col de Iseran standing at a height of 2770m about 16 km away, the initial climb was not too bad at all with 8% gradient and the dizzling rain on and off, did not bothering me, but the last 3 km  was a torture, steep  and shilvering cold couple with strong head wind,I can feel the numbness in the fingers and feets.I had to put on extra clothings at one of the wooden hut.When reaching the top,there is no place to take shether and the only building meant for a restaurant was closed, worst thing is I had to replace the rear brake pads due to badly wornout on earlier desent.On the downhill, riding very cautiously as the the road condition is wet with many sharp corners.At lanslevillard campsite ,i met up with Ivan/Annie again who rented  a whole caravan for 25 euro, but I prefer to camp out.

Day 19 Mon 30/05 - Free Camping in Val de Isere

Today Disatnce : 35.5 km   Total:  972.2 km                                                     Today Temp : 10 - 20°c                                                                                Today Spending : 3.0 euro    Total: 205.30 euro                                                    Time on Bike : 4 hr  30 min                                                                           Today Ave Speed: 7.9 kmh      Max:  49 kmh                                                      Today Ave Climb: 5%     Max: 14%                                                                  Trip Altitude : 1183 m    Max:1818 m

We started the ride on yet another hot and sunny day, on our way out, I went to Intermache supermarket to but 2 packs of instant noodles and canned sardines while Ivan /Annie look at the Intersport shop, here you can find all sorts of quality camping gears and bikes accessories, but ended up did not buy anything cos' its a heavy burden to carry on our bikes. From 800m level, we had climbed up to 1818m, a gain of 1000m in height, Ivan has a clamp on his left leg and had to push walking with the bike while Annie is still looking very strong,what a superwoman!! I am always the slowest amongst the 3 on the climb,normally at 4 kmh on a slope of 8 -10% in my lowest gear. We pass a big dam on the lake of Lac de Isere and cross several tunnels with very dimmed lighting, were scary. We met 2 young colleage boys from Holland on their 2 months vacation cycling in France. We found a campingsite but the owner's wife told us, its closed, so we can camp anywhere we like but without any supply. Anyhow, we still managed to find a running tap for our water supply.

Day 18 Sun 29/05 - Shortest Downhill Ride to Bourg st Maurice

Today Disatnce : 19.2 km   Total: 936.8 km                                                         Today Temp : 9 - 27°c                                                                                        Today Spending : 15.5 euro     Total: 202.30 euro                                              Time on Bike : 57 min                                                                                         Today Ave Speed: 20.3 kmh    Max: 55 kmh                                                        Today Ave Climb: 3%   Max: 10%                                                                     Trip Altitude : 40 m   Max: 1496 m

Today we decided to stay in a paid campingsite for 4.8 euro each after a 13 km downhill to Bourg st Maurice. This is quite a big town, we were surprise as the Intermache supermarket is open on Sunday, so we went for a shopping spree and then look for camping , we badly need to wash, dry all our smelly clothings, as for the past 2 days of wild camping, and also the need to recharge our dead batteries for mobile phones and cameras. A very hot and sunny day, so it is a good decision to throw out everthings under the hot sun.

Day 17 Sat 28/05 - Free Camping in the Valley of Comet de Roselend

Today Disatnce : 58 km   Total: 917.6 km                                                          Today Temp : 7 - 20°c                                                                                        Today Spending :11.58 euro    Total: 186.80 euro                                                  Time on Bike : 6 hr  16 min                                                                                 Today Ave Speed: 9.2 kmh     Max: 60 kmh                                                          Today Ave Climb: 6%     Max: 14 %                                                                 Trip Altitude : 1667 m      Max: 1968 m

Yesterday wild camping met some naughty boys throwing stones at my tent while I was resting inside.I heard a loud noise "phow" and the next moment I found my tent 2nd layer sheet has a crack line of 3" long, I heard the boys ran away so i didn't bother to get out to take a look.That was a sad happening it has to be in such an advance country like France, it is a different story if it happens in a backward country.Today's ride almost the same like yesterday, we have a whole day of sunshine and a longer ride cos' of the monster climb to 1968m of Col de Roselend. On the way down to Beaufort, I had my 1st puncture to my front 20" tire, which was caused by the roughness of the rim tape.Thanks for Ivan/Annie for waited 40 min for me to fix it. The climb was very tough,exhausting and long with many sharp corners, Ivan has to push the bike at some steep stretches while Annie is the strongest of the 3. We pass by one beautiful lake of Lac de Roselend and the majestic Mtont Blanc. We took some nice pictures at the top and then the downhill was shilvering cold, when we saw this free campsite half way down, we were happy as we dun have to ride another 13 km to Bourg St Maurice.