Ron and Rockets Birthday Tour 2008

Saturday morning, Mick and Dave are packing gear and loading bikes while i am T-boy. The weather is still good, the only rain we have had since our arrival has been during the night.

Time to go, we all say our good byes the lads ride heading for a long ride home god speed. I will miss them both as we have had a fantastic time together. Another chapter is about to start.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

No sooner had one set of Shim Whittler's left when up turns, Malc, Brian and B, also on a touring holiday. It was getting more like home every day! That night we went out to watch a band and then a meal after wards (kebab). The band was good and we all had a turn singing pretty badly. Then we all headed off for food, Lucy and her sister joined us. The meal was going well till Malc nearly caused an International incident over a bottle of wine! Which I had to deal with, it did mean another bottle of wine had to be purchased and drank, of course.

First we rode to the valley where we had seen the Marmots, but no joy today. So we just took a few photos, we then rode up to the top of yet another mountain. A lot of stalls had been set up selling local produce and goods i.e. sheep skin rugs and cheese etc. As we started to ride down the other side the scenery just got better. See photo. After a while we stopped once more for photos, then headed for a roadside bar for coffee and rolls. We all managed to sit at one table watching bikes of all makes and from all over Europe pass by.

After all the Shims had gone on their way i spent a day exploring some of the Alps. Then i had to start getting gear together ready for our next move. We were to head over the alps to Italy for another motorcycle Rally. I was to ride ahead and Julie, Alison, and Crag were to join me at the Rally on the Saturday.

THE SUMMIT OF MONT CENIS

Going up Mount Cenis was fairly easy, good road surface, wide flowing bends. At the summit we stopped for a drink, it was still very hot and poor old Rocket was in need of water too. On the way down the views just got better the lakes were a deep blue in colour and very inviting for a swim, but ice-cold i would bet. We soon reached the border and did not see any kind of customs or border control. As we started to get nearer the bottom the roads got better and we passed thru many small villages.

"LAKE IN THE ALPS"

OUR SMALL CORNER

Dinner eaten, Rocket off to bed, i decided to have a look around the site. There was one guy keeping watch at one of the bars, he invited me over and gave me a pint of Lager, which i gladly accepted. His English was as good as my Italian, lousy to say the least. After a beer or two i wished my new friend a good night and headed back to the tent. I made a small fire put on some tunes and sat under a sky full of stars and chilled, while Rocket knocked out a few zzz's. The weather was still warm and dry and the skies clear.

The following morning after a good nights sleep some breakfast and cups of tea, we started the bm up and headed out to do some food shopping and sight seeing. Our first stop was the village of Issogne. A small village with a few market stalls selling fruit and veg, a mobile fish and meat stall and a corner shop. There was also some kind of church which was full of tourist's looking around. We then rode off to the Town of Verres found a supermarket and done some food and wine shopping.

The rally was being held close to a village called "ISSOGNE" about 15 Kms from Aosta in the Italian Alps. to be held over 3 days. A track from the main road leads you up to the site. As you enter the site there is a parking lot to one side with a small camping area to the left. The entrance takes you to a bridge over a dry river bank and into the main area which contains a few small bars a Restaurant with tables and the kitchen is powered by a large wood fire, the wood for this is from a Saw mill in the village. A large building with another bar and a stage for the music and dancing.

LUNCH BREAK

On arrival back to the tent we ate a spot of lunch before I changed into shorts and went and sat near the entrance with a ice cold lager to watch the bikes arrive. IT was Hot! well into the 80's and my tan was coming on I was starting to turn a nice brown. Rocket took to a shady area and had a nap. As the rest of the crew were not due to arrive until the next day, I was left to my own device's, with all the good food and plenty of Beer I think I will survive!

Friday morning arrived dry and sunny, no sign of the rain from last night. After breakfast and cup's of tea, we started the BM up ready to go for a ride out. It so much more fun without the luggage on the bike. We took a minor road towards Pont-Saint-Martin which was overlooked by one of many Fortress's in this area. The road was a bit on the bendy side and with hardly any traffic made it a good road to have a play!! We passed through some small hamlets surrounded by mostly farm land growing many types of crops. Some of the houses had seen better days and could do with some T.L.C.