2005 summer holiday.
11 - 24 september.
MZ Baghira Black Panther and Suzuki SV650N

Last year I did a 'Tour de France' in september, so 'normally' I shouldn't be on holiday in september this year, and not in France. In the report of my 2004 holiday I mentioned taking the Baghira to the French Alps and in june I went to the Roskilde Festival so going on a big holiday was not possible in that month. So there I was, in France, in September, again :-)
As I didn't think the Baghira would be pleasant to ride with a lot of luggage this years holiday was a bit different. Much more rides without luggage. We had planned to go to the south of France in 2 days, do 4 day trips, move north, do 3 day trips and then ride back home in 4 days.

September 11, I had to be on the bike at 8.00 o'clock to be able to be in the south of the Netherlands at 10.30 to meet Sjaak. It was a foggy morning but temperatures got up to 18-20 degrees. In the afternoon we had some heavy rain. At some point we had to leave the motorway to go look for fuel! Luckily we found a gas station before the Baghira ran dry. A 12.5 liter tank means a lot of tank stops. The campsite that we selected at home was closed but the village we were in had a couple of more campsites so that was no problem.

September 12, another day with a lot of motorway. But first we had to go over 2 cols in the Vosges, but that was no fun because of the fog. The rest of the day the weather was fine, apart from a small shower 25 km before the campsite.

Just after our last stretch of 'Peage' (motorway with toll).

September 13, the weather looks promising so we decided to do the long 'Bonette' trip today instead of thursday. There was a piece of road in the route that was marked on the map. We didn't know what it meant and even anticipated it being a dirt road. I wanted to do this piece of road back in september 1994 but I couldn't because the Col de la Bonette was closed. This year all cols were open. And the road turned out to be a paved road, but it was very narrow (it is the SP255 in Italy, starting/ending at the Col de la Lombarde, near Isola 2000). During the climb to the Col de la Bonette the Baghira started hestitating when opening the throttle. Probably suffering from the lower air pressure.


Col de la Lombarde, 2350m, border France - Italy.


Col de la Bonette, 2802m.

September 14, the weather keeps improving. Blue sky all day. Today we did the Col d'Allos and the Col de Cayolle.


Campsite in St. Andre-les-Alpes, just after sunset.

September 15, Col de Turini today. This is a famous mountain pass because it is part of a special stage of the Monte Carlo rally. On next years rally the drivers will have a smooth run to the top because the road was being resurfaced when we were there.


Col de Turini, 1607m.

September 16, great weather again. Today we were heading south, to the Meditaranean Sea. But after some 25 kilometers my bike starting feeling 'strange'. Flat rear tyre!! 2 car garages refused to repair it so I called the emergency service that I had paid for but not used for the last 13 years. The bike and I were taken to a garage in the same village that our campite was in. The huy fixed the tyre (tube) and we back on the campsite at around 3 o'clock. We decided to do a little tour to fill the rest of the afternoon.


Lac de Castillon (part of the Verdon river).

September 17, My rear tyre was still hard so we could do our planned route to the south. It was quite cloudy all day and there was hardly anyone on the beaches. And luckily for us not much traffic on the roads either.

September 18, Today we had have to go to Seez, to the next campsite. Lots of fog and rain today. And cold at highter altitudes. The picture of the Iseran tells it all.


Col de l'Iseran.

September 19, just like last year on the 19th (my birthday) a route with the Col de la Madeleine twice. Rain and fog today, last year I had sunshine all day!


Col de la Madeleine, 2000m.

September 20, Col du petit St Bernard (2188m, border France/Italy) and Col du grand St Bernard (2469m, border Italy/Switzerland) today. We started in foggy conditions. Amazingly, as soon as we entered Italy on the other side of the Petite Bernard we had blue skies! And in Switzerland, after passing the Grand Bernard, we had fog again! And most of the rest of the route was in foggy conditions.


Col du Grand St Bernard, 2469m.

September 21, from here the journey back home really starts. 4 days to get back in the Netherlands. We had quite good weather for 4 days. I had to change the rear tyre because there almost was no tread left. I had that done in Garage 66, at the N66 in Maurice sur Moselle. Very nice people and a neat and tidy workshop. Has a Kawasaki drag racer on display as well (at least while I was there).


Col du Grand Colombier, 1501m.


Campsite at Berdorf (L).