Colle Sommeiller – highest drivable point in Europe

After a nice chat of the person manning the gate where the entrance fee needs to be paid, I was allowed up on the dirt road that leads to Colle Sommeiller – the highest point in the European Alps that is accessible by motorized vehicle (during some days and times). I was not sure I would make it as the Denzel difficulty had markedly increased, but in the end it went surprisingly well, and my main fear – that down would be more difficult than up – was in vain to as rolling downhill was noticeably easier, probably because of my “road” tires.

Strada dell’Assietta, part II

As the sun moved higher, even at this high altitude the temperatures kept rising so keeping the BMW bike moving helped keep me a bit fresh, although I could have stayed up there all day would it not have been for the heat and the planned trip to Sommeiller in the evening.

Finally… Kicking dust on Italian’s historic military alpine roads

Morning of day 1 took me to Strada dell’Assietta, which seemed the right choice given the long trip to arrive the night before, while still making it to sunrise and staying on the bike rather than falling off – apparently the “Denzel” scale’s difficulty was OK as a start of this offroad / dirt road adventure with my GS.

Black mountains near Gospel pass

I had hoped for better weather to experience the sunset, but the wind was so heavy and the temperatures dropping quickly that I just hiked out on the trail a bit and back to make it back to the hotel for a cozy evening.

GWSR: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway

On my way to Wales, I seemingly read the timetables correctly and was able to meet the two trains, one in either direction, on the GWSR line at Toddington station.

Gloucester harbor

Visiting Gloucester harbor in the early morning after a passing rain shower just as the sun was coming out.

In the Cotswolds

Using the opportunity of nice evenings as part of a business trip, I explored the Cotswolds.

Ireland Trip: 13b – back in another Belgian canal city

Visiting Bruges on a perfect early summer evening.

Ireland Trip: 13a – Another visit to the beach

There seems to be a bit of a pattern, but once we change the landmass and arrive in a new harbor, we head to the beach. This time after arriving in France using the Shuttle under “La Manche”, we headed to the famous Dunkerque beach.

Ireland Trip: 12 – Hiking the Malverns

Planned to hike the Malverns through-hike south to north and almost did the entire section (you can skip the final segment to reach the pub a bit faster). And even the taxi return to the tiny car park on the side of a backroad worked out just fine – we seem not to be only ones doing it this way.