Tuesday, June 24, 2008

La Route des Grandes Alpes Day 1: Geneva to Flumet

72.0 km total
Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt 956m
Col des Aravis 1,498m

We left on June 24th from Genève for destination Flumet with the Col des Aravis (1,498m) as the (relatively easy) challenge for the day.

After crossing Annemasse and Reignier, we passed through the beautiful, but sometimes busy, Gorges des Eveaux. We pedaled through the cheese village of Entremont and Les Etroits and on approach to Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, climbed an intermediary col with the same name. We rolled through La Clusaz (been there before) 3 km further.

It was Katy's first visit to Col des Aravis. A few hairpins and the tourist attractions on top were there. The descent from the col gave way to more hairpins and 1 short tunnel (no need for light). After the town of La Giettaz, the road goes up again for a little moment.

Our arrival in Flumet gave us a first impression of how our Secret Weapon (SW) would prepare the road for us in the days to come. As we entered the village, a lady in a Toyota shouted at us. We were to continue along and turn to the right in 50 meters. What the heck is this???

We found out later that Secret Weapon had announced that a yellow/orange tandem would arrive with a bold/skinny guy in the front and an Asian cutie in the back. The lady turned out to be the owner of the place where we were staying that night.

We would be recognized many more times along the trip.

Return to Summary  <-- / -->  View Next Day