Part II: August & September

My sabbatical is over. On the 2nd part of the tour I visited Italy, France and Spain, predominately mountains such as the western Alps, the Massif Central and the Pyrenees. Could not believe that I ended up spending 4'500 km on the road again. But it was the right choice to skip the Nordics and approx 12'000 km and spent more time hiking and biking.

1st Stop: Great St Bernard Pass

16th Stop: Piau-Engaly

15th Stop: Loudenvielle

14th Stop: Saboredo Base

13th Stop: Font Romeu

12th Stop: Sorèze

11th Stop: Vissec

10th Stop: Rivière-sur-Tarn

9th Stop: Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac

8th Stop: Auroux

7th Stop: Col de Muze

6th Stop: Les Thuiles

5th Stop: Cime da la Bonette

4th Stop: Col de la Lombarde

3rd Stop: Carrara

2nd Stop: Ribolla

17th Stop: Torla-Ordesa

18th Stop: Col d'Aubisque

19th Stop: Condom

20th Stop: Saint-Mamet-la-Salvetat

21st Stop: Col de Font de Cère

22nd Stop: Chastreix-Sancy

23rd Stop: Chambon-sur-Lac
Articles by Country

Looking back at 6 months
2 weeks before the end of the sabbatical, my sister-in-law asked me "Did it bring you what you were looking for?" After about 17'500 km and my last hike to the Puy de Sancy, I started thinking about it on the way home

Mountains, Valleys and Lakes
Once again I'm sitting here and don't know what to write about the wonderful Pyrenees. I can't get a song about mountains, valleys and lakes out of my head, and it took me a while to find it -> "Mountains and Valleys" from Bender & Schillinger

Mountains - Borders - Surprises
This morning I started in Font Romeu in France, or better said the ski resort. It was fresh at 9:00 <only 15 degrees>. My planned path should lead me past the Spain enclave of Llívia to Andorra.

France - Occitanie
The Ardeche valley was beautiful, but hot and crowded. I couldn't bring myself to look for a parking space in the valley itself. I prefer it cool at night 😉

The French Alps
The first thing that struck me was the better developed roads on the French side of the Col de la Lombarde. Isola, better Isola 2000, the first stop, is a typical winter sports resort. While there are some summer tourists, the ski slopes, lifts, and ambiance screams ski-resort.

Back in the mountains
After a week in the Maremma with well over 30 Celsius almost every day and, worst of all, mosquitoes, I'm on my way now. The time with my friends in Ribolla was nice, I ate too much and didn't really move.

I am on the road again
After 4 weeks at home I left today <10.08>. It started at 31 degrees and a bright blue sky