Col de Larche, France
Had company wild camping last night:). What a treat! I was camped just outside of Vars at the driving range when a fellow calls to me in my tent. It's Teddy, a young
French man who's backpacking and hitch hiking to this town from Chambery (where I spent that great weekend with Edelweiss) to get a winter job. We shared stories, my soup, his weed over my mini candle campfire. What an enlightened young man! An enjoyable evening. Thank you Teddy!
Not too bad a night but as always a chilly morning. Had breakfast at the top of the pass. Wish it had been warmer.
Then a delightful ride gown the other side. I've learned to slow down on these long downhills because it's such beautiful views that I don't want them to speed by. And I've gotten used to traveling at about 7 mph and like it.
Ok, food is getting to be a problem. The villages since I left Brisncon are basically napping, getting ready for a busy winter season and everything is closed. And then, what day do I arrive in Guillestre? Sunday afternoon...closed. I thought for sure I'd find something open these last few days, but naught. I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. Today I rode into a closed up village and spotted a lady getting out of her car? She showed me where to find the small grocery down the street but if it's not open I have some bread you can have. Nope. Only open Sat, Sun, Mon. 9 - 12. So I took her up on her offer for the bread. And that has helped. She offered to feed me lunch but she lived 3 kms away, the wrong way. She also gave me an idea of what towns coming up may have a store. But I have to get there in the morning. Not an easy task.
So I arrived at the beginning of my last climb in the Alps and this is the sign I see.
What??? No bikes?!?!? That can't be! What am I gonna do? Why is that? Do I just go anyways? Take a look at the map. Going south there are many more passes and they could be monsters! My legs are spent. 4 consecutive days of climbing! Even the Tour de France riders get rest days! Ok. Maybe I should hitch up. So I stick out my thumb at the next vehicle coming my way...and they stop. Elderly man and some women in a small truck. He gets out. I explain my problem. He say "But that's not a bike. It's a trike!" And then he says "This is France. Bikes are on all the roads!" So you think it would be ok? "Sure...just be careful of the big trucks because there's no shoulder." No worries. I've biked roads like that before. So I went for it! And I saw that guy again as he passed me on his way back...and he gave me a thumbs up. Heck, even the truckers waved!
So here I am tonight camped 30 ft from the road behind this new church which is blocking the brisk winds. I'm at about 6,000 ft, just 4 kms from the pass. And when I checked the weather, it showed it getting down in the 20's tonight. Brrrr!!!! I've got summer gear. I'm sure with everything on, I'll be warm enough tonight. But oh, the mornings have been hard. It's the fingers and toes. Just so hard keeping them warm. It's just another challenge to deal with.
And tomorrow...ITALY!! I wish I could say and down to warmer climates but that's not the forecast. At least no rain!
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
