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Escape to the valley


We know that there will be a storm and this will be bigger. The information available on-line is definitive and that’s without the help of ChatGPT. We have time to pack, which is really just removing the sun blinds from the windows (essential with a fridge) and swapping boots for something a bit lighter.

Then we are off and I’m sad because it’s brilliant up here because of the views and also because no one else stayed here last night.

We know that the road down is used by cars and it’s only gravel for the first bit down to Villard de Notre Dame. Thos hamlet is perched on the corner of the spur, where the road then turns back on itself, to somehow go down a sheer rock face.



In V-ND we pass a car coming up and then soon see one ahead and that helps define our journey because ‘he’ will see anything coming up before we do. We also need to keep well back, as it’s going to be narrow and passing will be tricky.

The whole journey from V-ND to Bourg is in one direction, with the rock face of the valley side on the left and us driving with the Landy ready to be able to pass cars coming up, on the left side too of course.

The right side is rather exposed but tankfully there’s a concrete wall at least 40cm high and so we are confident that the 2.5m high, 2.5T Landy will just bounce off it 😜.

The main features are four tunnels, not too long but three are unlit. We’ve been in tunnels such as these before but still, the contrast as you go in, is incredible. Dipped headlamps may as well be off as they don’t do anything. It’s immediately full beam with additional spot lamps .




It really is a vertical drop below me on the right hand side. I can look down and see houses, gardens and swimming pools almost directly below. It’s extraordinary.

The chosen campsite is just in the town and reception are remarkably efficient. There’s unsurprisingly a couple of cars from Holland but when the guy says “we’ve put you well away from the restaurant”, well I had to ask why.

The answer is that the site is full of Dutch and lots of stuff is going on. How they have a spare place for us I don’t know. Would we have gone somewhere else if we’d known? No, because the heavens are about to open.

The site is full because in a few days, 5,000 runners and cyclists will be doing sponsored ascents of the famous road up to L’Alpe d’Huez in aid of cancer research. It’s quite an event, run by an organisation that arranges it annually, called Alpe d’Huzes. Some will attempt the ascent six times during ‘the day’, which is Thursday 5th June and the organisation’s moto is “giving up is not an option”. It sounds a bit harsh but have you seen that road?!

Just as a footnote, this years total pledged (to May 25th) is >€14M and since 2006 they have raised €226M.

 Ok, if they want that motto then fair enough.

See https://www.opgevenisgeenoptie.nl/


There’s the big storm of course. Flashes and bangs and lots of water but down here it’s ok.


That night the rain starts again and doesn’t stop, save for a nice period as we get up and later pack away.

Otherwise it’s wet and the forecast isn’t good for several days and so, in our usual style of total flexibility, we leave the Dutch and head south through mountains, rain and mist for Provence.


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