Woke up next to 30+ vans and a shining sun.
We had decided that the mountain passed were for us today and as both were open we would do the longer higher one first.
Batteries had a full charge and we normally travel in eco mode but both of us straight up to tour mode (sport and turbo still available)
The views were constant as we climbed to 1250m but disappointingly the top failed to give us a "Col" sign
So Paula going over the line at the presumed col is all we got. We had lost 1/5 of our battery by now
But it was downhill all the way to mont dore hitting 50kph but flan had been purchased so picnic with views
Having got to mont dore it was quickly noted about no overnight motorhome parking and a trip to the TO confirmed high local prices. It reminded us of Chamonix
Then a very steep furnicular was seen and not even considered at those prices to go up where we had just cycled down from
We also spotted a dry luge at 4 euro a run or 17 euros for 5 but that was closed but would passed the suavecarve walletometer test.
Walking through the town was pleasant enough with la Dordogne still in its infancy and a bit further up it starts life as 2 rivers, the dor and the dogne. Who knew that?
I was aware of some man made baths fed by 38c water from the mountain further down la Dordogne towards la bourboule so we set off down the main road at too fast a speed to notice we passed them and double backed up a relatively ok parcours
Then we found them.
There is a bit of history to this set of baths. The local council knocked them down and poured concrete onto the site but were challenged as to the legality and it seems they acted illegally so they have been rebuilt by unknown locals for enjoyment of all.
3 levels of bath about 18 inches deep warmer at the top and la Dordogne is just plain bloody cold.
Further pleasant walk up the Dordogne having dumped the bikes against a tree
Then into la bourboule which is just a main street with church but still enough to wander round and enjoy. We noticed their aire (or directions to it) and it is out of town and up a big hill
Then the trek back up over the mountain but only 1149 to get up to but starting lower as well.
Again just views everywhere
And stopping off at la fromagerie in tours d'auvergne to get 5 times as much cheese as yesterday so Mrs suavecarve gives that stuff the nod of approval.
And the church at tours d'auvergne
We had decided that the mountain passed were for us today and as both were open we would do the longer higher one first.
Batteries had a full charge and we normally travel in eco mode but both of us straight up to tour mode (sport and turbo still available)
The views were constant as we climbed to 1250m but disappointingly the top failed to give us a "Col" sign
So Paula going over the line at the presumed col is all we got. We had lost 1/5 of our battery by now
But it was downhill all the way to mont dore hitting 50kph but flan had been purchased so picnic with views
Having got to mont dore it was quickly noted about no overnight motorhome parking and a trip to the TO confirmed high local prices. It reminded us of Chamonix
Then a very steep furnicular was seen and not even considered at those prices to go up where we had just cycled down from
We also spotted a dry luge at 4 euro a run or 17 euros for 5 but that was closed but would passed the suavecarve walletometer test.
Walking through the town was pleasant enough with la Dordogne still in its infancy and a bit further up it starts life as 2 rivers, the dor and the dogne. Who knew that?
I was aware of some man made baths fed by 38c water from the mountain further down la Dordogne towards la bourboule so we set off down the main road at too fast a speed to notice we passed them and double backed up a relatively ok parcours
Then we found them.
There is a bit of history to this set of baths. The local council knocked them down and poured concrete onto the site but were challenged as to the legality and it seems they acted illegally so they have been rebuilt by unknown locals for enjoyment of all.
3 levels of bath about 18 inches deep warmer at the top and la Dordogne is just plain bloody cold.
Further pleasant walk up the Dordogne having dumped the bikes against a tree
Then into la bourboule which is just a main street with church but still enough to wander round and enjoy. We noticed their aire (or directions to it) and it is out of town and up a big hill
Then the trek back up over the mountain but only 1149 to get up to but starting lower as well.
Again just views everywhere
And stopping off at la fromagerie in tours d'auvergne to get 5 times as much cheese as yesterday so Mrs suavecarve gives that stuff the nod of approval.
And the church at tours d'auvergne
