After flinging all our stuff off the train in a hurried fashion and re-loading the bikes we were ready to set off. Just one minor problem. Which Way?!?!? Thankfully I have my mother to thank for getting us out of this mess; if she had not forced me to be a cub scout I would have never had brought my compass. So we headed off in a general Easterly direction. I spent a bit of time in Marseille as a teenageer on French exchanges. I am glad to discover that I was not so stupid as a teenager and my judgement was not too bad. My memories of Marsielle as a shit hole were confirmed. The place truly is most unpleasant. So after negotiating our way out of Marseille we found the coast road and things were instantly looking up! We decided to head for Cassis for lunch.
Lara decending down to Cassis for lunch.
Our bikes in port of Cassis above. Time was getting on and we wanted to get a bit further along the coast. so jumped back on the bikes and off we went. We continued to Sanary Sur Mer where we found a campsite with a bar and stayed the night. Day 1 = 70kms.Saturday we started off early and cycled through the old town which was real France to me. High old streets with little shops and I think I even saw an old geezer with garlic on his bike!
Lara cycling through the old town. This was going to be a long day so we got cracking on, we stopped for lunch in Hyeres Port, another very affluent and lovely port.
Back on the bikes and the sun had really got hot, the temperature was up in the 30s: I was hot and lara was in her element. In the afternoon we managed to find some offroad trails and get lost in a naval base. All in a day's touring for us. Lara was very happy with the attention she got from the sailors. I thought they were all a bunch of poofs to be honest. We got as far as Cavalaire Sur Mer. Another great campsite with bar! 95km travelled.
Sunday we had to get a wriggle on, as we had planned to stay with our friend Yango (old friend from Chamonix) who lives in Villeneuve Loubet (a little past Antibes). So set off early, and stopped off in St. Tropez for a coffee. Was not as great as we had expected but we were well entertained by the Harley Davidson convention going on. 
Lara's bike in amongst all the 'Hogs' we did however get one person take a picture of it! Respect! So wary of the time we downed out café and inhaled our croissants and jam tout de suite and headed for the open road (shared with many noisy American motorbikes).
It was a long afternoon but a very pretty one. Below is Lara by the Sea.
Cannes itself was getting ready for the film festical next week, so the place was heaving, another quick coffee stop and a bite to eat and then the last few kms to Yango's place. Finally after what seemed like a lot of pedalling (I think we were slowing down considerably by this point) we got to Yango's after 126km of riding that day. Was great to see him, even though we have not seen each other for over 5 years it was like no time at all. We went out and had pizza and went to a few cool bars on the sea front and had a great night. Cheers Yango, till next time buddy.
Awoke on Monday morning a little worse for ware, but no real concerns as we only had a few Kms to Nice to get our ferry over to Corisca. So a leisurely start and rode the thrity odd Kms to Nice along its beach which was lovely that time in the morning, full of people out running or enjoying the early morning sun.
GRRRRRRRRR
So after a lovely Monday morning ride along the length of Nice Beach, which is considerable, we got to the port. Lara had checked the timetables on the net previously and the boats were every afternoon. We casually walked into the ferry terminal and asked what time the next boat was. The reply of "Friday" came as a bit of a shock and took a while to sink in. "Bollocks" I said out aloud, the cashier looked confused at my sudden outburst, thankfully I don't think her grasp of british naughties was that great, so I made my apologies and we made a retreat. A coffee was definitely needed to think through our options. So after two, we decided it was out best option to get a train back to Marseille and get an overnight ferry that evening. So we did. We spent a night on a wierd French cruise ship full of purple rinses and woke up in Corisca!
Monday, landed at 7:30am and got off the Ferry at Bastia (North East corner)
Lara getting off the ferry, time for coffee (can you see a trend?) and make some rough plans for a route. Plans done, and off we go. Now we knew that Corisca was hilly but was not quite prepared for the wall we had to cycle up. Something we had better get used to. 
Lara sitting on a rock at the Col de Tighime. From here we had out first proper downhill with the laiden bikes. What great fun. Lara decided I am fat as I rolled a lot faster than she did. I corrected her and told her it was because I was carrying most of the weight!
Lara interjecting here, we were both carrying the same weight! Oh except Dave forgot his pants so I guess he may have had a little less there :o) !
So we carried along the coast to L'Île Rousse, were we rested for a few hours as the mid day sun was too hot to cycle in. Got going again and rode to Calvi. To get there we had to ride through the Desert Des Agriates.
This was not a real sand type stereotypical desert, but it is was bastard hot none the less. After a few more hours we got to Calvi, a lovely seaside resort with a great beach. Had some food and walked along the beach at sunset like all good honeymooners should.
Woke up on Wednesday and the weather was gorgeous, today we had the coastal road which is supposed to be one of the highlights of the trip. It did not disappoint, the traffic was very light and the road was great fun to ride.
We had some amazing views as well.
Got to around lunch time and we could not find a place open that was serving food, suppose it really is the start of the season, so we kept on going up a long climb to the Col de Palmarella. It was not a steep climb just long (12km) but strangely enjoyable.
From there it was a short descent and another small climb to the Col de La Croix (Lara above) which was amazing as there was a small sandwich shop, I don't think the owner had seen two people as hungry as us! The best bit about the Col is the descent, it was very slight so went on forever! 
We descended down to a place called Porto which was to home for the night. 
We had a great sea food meal on the seafront and had some wine before retiring back to the tent very tired.
Thursday woke up and immediately congratuled Lara for making it to Thirty! Today was Lara's 30th B'day. I jumped on my bike to the local shop to buy her breakfast and managed to serve it to her in bed, with the obligitory cup of coffee from our camping stove. Today the idea was to ride to Plage d'Arone, a small beach around the bay and spend the day there. But the weather crapped out and was overcast and therefore not a day for the beach. Consequently, our idea of a rest day on the beach went out the window.
Our route from here left the coastline and took us into the mountains proper.
Lara starting up the long climb ahead, you can see the sea being left behind behind, the climb took us through a deep vally called the 'Gorges de Spelunca' which was impressive with its dark red walls.
Half way up the climb was a town called Evisa, we stopped here for a well timed lunch as it rained as we sat in the cafe. The afternoon was spent finishing off ourselves and the climb up to the Col de Vergio, this road was full of animals, we passed some fighting goats.
Corsica's highest road pass at 1467m. Was great to get to the top and was great to give our bums a rest.
It had taken 35km of solid climbing to get to the top. Murphy with his law book was with us that day, just as we started to descent it started to piss down with rain. so for the first time we had to put on jumpers and jackets for the descent as it was freezing. We went past some more wild life though!
Wild boar, although Lara did demine it by shouting "PIGGY" at it as she went by.
Nearing the end of the descent in the Gorge Scala Di Sta Regina. From here it was a short climb up into the hills again to Corte - our destination for the night.
Once we arrived at Cortes we found a campsite and showered and hot footed it into town as it was Lara's b'day night. We went out to a great restuarant and found a lively bar. There were loads of young trendy people in the town, far more than we had previously experienced in Corsica. After a while we discovered that Corte is the only university town in Corsica. When people found out we lived in scotland we got minor celebraty status, every one wanted to talk to us. Lara by the end of the evening had a small fan club of dribbling highly sexually charged Corsican young men, I however had none (females that is). I took great pride at the end of the night in walking off with her giving them the 'knowing' look.
Friday was to be our rest day. Both woke up hung over and the weather was rubbish. so we decided it was a day to sit in the cafés and watch the world go by. So that is what we did and it was great.
Saturday came with a bump, and whilst unpacking the tent we found this little fella.
Found him on my t-shirt that I was using as a pillow. Not sure how long he had been there. Lara went berserk and did the normal screamy thing. I did what any decent husband would and killed it.
So the cycle back to Bastia that day was pretty easy going as it was mainly on a down hill gradiant and passed fairly quickly. Thankfully we managed to arrive at port and there be a ferry that evening. Got the ferry back with the purple rinses and got the train back from Marseille the next day to Gap. I would like to point out that over all our biking travels this trip the only place I got a puncture was in Marseille).
Corisca was great, a very interesting place travelling through it and seeing its fairly nasty history of recent violence that has troubled the island for the last 50 years. A very beautiful place, it is by no means flat and all the roads are windy. So what look like 30kms is actually 50km - at least! We loved the place and quite fancy going back to see the south of the island. Was good to test out our equipment for India, only had a few minor mishaps. Cycled 700km in 8 days, Lara's bum got very sore and I got stupid cycle tans!
and then drink this:
and you end up with this:
So we decided it was time to build up the touring bikes and go test them out in relative civilisation before we go to India with them. So tomorrow we are getting a train down to Marseilles and then cycling along the coast to Nice and catching a ferry over to Corsica where we will ride around for a week before we come back. Not sure why Corsica, but it looks a very pretty island and is suppose to be brilliant for cycling so that was good enough reason for us.
Today was very hot. Around 30c ish, I have not had my hair cut since the wedding and it is getting a little long and shabby. I am sure most of you are well aware of my phobia of going to hair dressers in the UK, so imagine what it is like for me out here in France. I kept on waking up in cold sweats after dreaming of coming out with rat tails or mullets etc. So there is only one thing for it. The wife. 
She went and got her computer out, watched something on Youtube, and then said she was ready. I was very scared but grateful of not having to go to a froggy snipper. I am not going to post up a result picture, you will have to come back and see the up dates later, but I can say that I am happy to report I do not think I will ever go to a hair dressers again. I knew there was a reason why I married her.
We shall be back in 10 days or so time, so till then stay, away from hair dressers!!
Above is Lara (aka wife) going up one of the hair pins with the lake in the background. The one thing we had not counted on with this route was the complete and utter lack of flat road. Over the entire 87km of the route there was only 800m or so of flat ground. It was either up or down!
Lara and the Gorge, for those who have not visited, I would thoroughly recommend it. It is and incredibly picturesque place and as a route for cycling brilliant, the down hills are great and the uphills are numbed by the views.
Lara at the bottom of the Gorge cycling through all the cut out rock. One hoped that the engineers got their calculations right!
The view on the descent. If you look very closely you can see Lara on the road on the left hand side (you may need a magnifying glass!)
So once down we have driven back to Gap where we shall stay for a while, not sure what to do with next week yet. We shall discuss our many options whilst having a few beers on the patio.....
So here we are all kitted up and ready to go. We walked down to the water put our flippers on and off we went. The first thing Lara did was flip over and head off down the river upside down submerged. Didier look worried! After she righted herself she was fine and we both had a great time swimming down the rapids and thoroughly enjoyed it. Lara with her fear of swimming and water did brilliantly and thoroughly enjoyed it.
This bit was the hardest we swam through, doesn't look much in the photo, but when you are swimming towards it I promise you it does! there is only one clear line through it otherwise it was smashing into rock time!
In the afternoon we decided it was best for us to lie on the rug next to the tent and sleep it off. then in the evening we had a quite burn up to the local col and work our lungs. An early night was had.
Lara looking in to the gorge, I was not aware that it is the second largest gorge in the world second to the Grand Canyon. at places it is over 700m deap.
If you look on the bend you can see Lara. The views were stunning. It was not a fast bike ride as we were stopping the whole time to look at the views.
about two thirds of our way around the weather changed and it started to rain. it was freezing rain as well. Just as luck has it as well we had done all teh climbing and we only had the logn decent left, so going down hill was really cold!!!
Even more of Murphy's law saw that at the last bit of flat back to where we parked the van the sun came back out. At least we managed to thaw out.
This really is a very pretty gorge, very dramatic with huge walls. we did not bring our climbing gear as we did not want to subject our feet to our climbing shoes with the state they are in.
Afetr we got back to the van we drove back to the village we are staying (Castellane) and had some late lunch in the square and then went and booked ourselves in for some 'Nager en Eau Vivre'. which basically means we don wetsuits, flipper, helmet and hold on to a float and swim down the gorge tomorrow! so must go and get my beauty sleep! will let you knwo if the wife drowned later tomorrow.
Above is us climbing up to the hut, there was a lot of old avalanche debris to cross which made it a littel slow going.
After about two hours we finally got to our home for the next 4 days - the Refugio Benevolo. A quite small but very warm refuge with a really lovely couple who are the gardians who thought it was brilliant that a couple would come to their refuge on their honeymoon.
And as if the gods were with us as soon as we finished the snow hole it cleared!!!
It was a hard ski down due to the heavy snow, but none the less it was lovely being able to see where we were and get skiing
The post beer ski at the refuge was also another added bonus!
Woke up the next day with bad weather again. the forecast showed that it was suppose ot get better in the afternoon so we thoguh we might as well go and get out there and try and get the climbing out of the way so that when the weather (if it did) get better we 
we could enjoy the decent. So the above is us setting off into utter poo weather. It really was snowing hard.
The motley Crew hald way up. Thankfully near the top the weather cleared up, again greating us with great views of the mountains we were in. 
Skinning up the last final bit before we got to the top of that days goal. Pic de Polenti (3108m).
I do not have any pictures of the decent as my hands frove when we got to the top. I broke trail for the last half of the climb (apart from the last bit above) as the snow was really deap and it was very hard work, so in true me fashion, i sweated a lot and that when i stopped froze my gloves. I got hot aches half way down which were some of the worst i have had but after i was grateful for the warmth. The ski down form the top was in great powder until half way down when it got heavy agin. But we were all still glad we did get out that day.
woke up to glorious sunshine and clear skis at last. So had breakfast at 6:o0M and got out as soon as we could
lara leaving the hut as the sun comes intot he valley, it was very cold until we got into the sunlight. Today we decided to go and ski Pic de Calibre.
A lot of snow had fallen over the last few days. So a littel wary of where we went due to avalanche conditions. Above Lara, Rich and Mandy.
We had a long way to go, we had quite a long way to climb up a glacier till we got to the bottom of the actual climb to Calibre
Lara climbing up teh glacier, our goal of the day can be seen to the left of her head. as it warmed up avalanches from the steap gulleys coudl be seen and heard.
Manged to get the biggest one we saw coming down, this slightly unerved Mandy! It was very impressive and humbling to watch.
So after about three hours of hard work in hot sun we finally managed to get to the top (3512m) and were greated with stunning views of the alps. we could see Mont blanc, Grande Joirasse, Grand Combin, Matterhorn and the Grand Paradiso.
A slushy picture of us to at the top. I saw there for about an hour just taking in the views and waiting for the rest of the party to arrive. The ski down was brilliant, fresh tracks all the way down. Not to steep so very fast. I did not get teh camera out much as i was havign too much fun. But i did get one picture of the wife giving it bigg'un going down
Our feet were rather sore at teh end of this day and there was not much to do apart from ski out the next day. We loved the skiing in the GP national park, would definitely go back again, who knows, maybe next week!!!!!
