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Way back to home…

 
It’s time to head home, our three weeks coming to an end soon.
 
 
1. From Colle della Maddalena, we go down the Ubaye valley and we stop for a picnic on the banks of this beautiful river.
 

 
 
2. Window from the Girabeau Pass under the Parpaillon Pass, with the Serre-Ponçon Lake in the distance.
 

 
 
3. We make a detour via the Glandon and Croix-de-Fer passes. Obligatory passage by Lake Guichard while the Arves Needles disappear in the storm.
 

 
 
4. Along the trail…
 

 
 
5. Chruch in l’Eglise, above Saint-Martin-de-la-Porte, as we descend after finding a closed barrier on the trail VivaLaVida wanted to drive.
 

 
 
6. We reach Aravis mountain range for a last night in VivaLaVida.
 

 
 
7. In the distance, the Arpettaz Pass as the storm prepares.
 

 
 
8. Our boondocking spot.
 

 
 
9. Stormy atmosphere…
 

 
 
10. On a walk to discover the surroundings.
 

 
 
11. To shelter before the thunderstorm.
 

 
 
12. The next morning, we go to pick blueberries spotted the day before. Yum!!
 

 
 
13. End of summer vacation selfie. 😉
 

 
 
That’s it for this little trip obviously too short. Thank you for following us through this little blog.
 
VivaLaVida will resume service for the next weekends and for the October holidays. I’ll feed this page with new articles during next fall.
 
See you soon and thanks again for your loyalty ! 🙂
 
 

Italian Alps (2)

 
 
1. After the Sommeillier, we reached the Pass delle Finestre. Arrived in late afternoon in a thick fog, we decide to sleep there in the hope of better weather the next day.
 

 
 
2. Early next morning, the fog fell slightly.
 

 
 
3. It gradually dissipates, giving a glimpse of the trail driven the day before.
 

 
 
4. Last switchbacks before the pass.
 

 
 
5. North side.
 

 
 
6. South side.
 

 
 
7. Backlight…
 

 
 
I wanted to continue by the Pass dell Assietta track but a municipal decree forbids access to vehicles from mid-June to mid-September. Undoubtedly the result of intensive attendance in recent years by groups of 10 to 20 4×4 mainly from Germany (these organized tours have become very popular with Germans who don’t have such mountains in their country). Therefore, we descent the southern side of the pass and do to Sestriere where we do some shopping to fill the fridge. Emile chose a succulent sheep’s cheese there after tasting it in the grocery shop!
 
We go then discover the superb Argentera Valley, still wild on its upper part since a 4×4 is needed to access there.
 
 
8. We find a great boondocking spot next to the river.
 

 
 
9. VivaLaVida in the distance.
 

 
 
10. Upper Argentera Valley.
 

 
 
It is already Friday and I decide to cross toward the Pyrenees to enjoy these other mountains, knowing that I will land Emile in Corrèze for the rest of his vacation in two weeks.
 
 
11. After half a day on the road, another boondocking spot in la Drôme.
 

 
 
12. Calm sunset atmosphere.
 

 
 
To be followed in the next article. 😉
 
 

Ruta del Sale…

 
1. From the Tende Pass, the switchbacks of the southern side are impressive !
 

 
 
2. We decide to borrow part of the Ruta del Sale which connects various ruins of military forts.
 

 
 
3. It’s well inhabited by many marmots almost ready for their next hibernation.
 

 
 
4. She looks like a ranger, isn’t she? 😉
 

 
 
5. VivaLaVida follows ridges…
 

 
 
6. … with new landscapes at every turn.
 

 
 
7. Clouds are close.
 

 
 
8. Nice bridge on our trail…
 

 
 
9. … which spans a torrent having dug the rock.
 

 
 
10. VLV makes a short stop.
 

 
 
11. Lunch break in a pretty clearing in the larches…
 

 
 
12. … and some play for Emile.
 

 
 
In the next update, we will show you Tende, a pretty village perched on the slopes of a deep valley.
 
 

Italian gateway

 
The VLV alpine trip continued to the Lombarde Pass linking France to Italy.
 
 
1. Going up to Isola 2000, VivaLaVida crosses a small reach to reach a pretty picnic place.
 

 
 
2. Having good time…
 

 
 
3. Emile loves to be in the nature…
 

 
 
4. Over the pass under a rain shower.
 

 
 
5. Small lake going down to Italy.
 

 
 
6. …
 

 
 
7. Switchback turns on the Italian side.
 

 
 
8. Arrival at the Tende Pass and its various abandoned fortress.
 

 
 
9. The view towards North is immense…
 

 
 
10. Some ruins are quite large.
 

 
 
11. We will spend the night in one of these abandonned fortress.
 

 
 
12. Inside one of those…
 

 
 
13. Sun is setting…
 

 
 
14. South side of the Tende Pass, in France.
 

 
 
15. Sunset behind the mountains…
 

 
 
16. Campfire under the stars. This will unfortunately be the only one of this vacation, the riss of wildfire being very high at the moment…
 

 
 
To be followed soon…
 
 

High routes in the Alps…

 
The next day, VLV took us to the highest paved road in Europe (this is at least what the French say 🙂 , the Pass of la Bonette.
 
 
1. Departure from our camp…
 

 
 
2. Ascent to La Bonette.
 

 
 
3. Small break in the ascent.
 

 
 
4. On a little pass below the head of la Bonette…
 

 
 
5. The panorama is gorgeous despite the light of midday.
 

 
 
6. VivaLaVida in her element.
 

 
 
7. VLV’s rack and solar pannels.
 

 
 
8. A valley on the other side of the pass.
 

 
 
9. Alpine tundra…
 

 
 
10. Seasonal migration…
 

 
 
11. Rocky edge…
 

 
 
12. Old military buildings in the descent on St-Etienne-de-Tinée.
 

 
 
Other passes to come shortly in the continuation of the narrative…