Day 24 – The Main Course . . . the afternoon can only get better – can’t it?

“Route Barrée – Suivre Déviation”  – is not what we wanted to see . . . ever again.

We plan to stay in our first “Aire” tonight. There are thousands of these free and usually one night stop-overs all over France. No facilities as such. Perhaps water point and waste disposal. Glorified car-parks set aside to encourage trade for the local community of shopkeepers.

It’s a very clear run down the 1075 straight to Digne-les-Baines. We were on this road most of yesterday. It’s good. Now it’s not so good. Road closed ahead. Diverted to Gap. Do we mind?

We switch Pat off. We’re using a 12 miles to the inch touring map of Europe, so the scale of distance to anywhere often misleads us. Coupled with the fact it gives us no idea of terrain. A couple of inches can sometimes convert to an hour.  Mis-communication between pilot and real live navigator results in a decision to take the D900.  It’s a yellow road I’m informed. No problem. Yellow is good. The map shows an icon of a skier a couple of inches away, along with a couple of black chevrons. He should present no problem providing we keep our distance then. In any event, the views are very pretty as we trundle along the gradual incline.

If you’re a Top Gear fan, then you may be familiar with their luny trip in Bolivia, along the Death Road (El Camino de la Muerte). Now I’m not saying that the D900 brings you anywhere close to death in that sense, but for a 750 metre stretch after the following two photos were taken, the two narrow lanes merge into one lane;  no more than one foot wider than Beastie at any point. With a couple of blind corners and severe hairpins thrown in for good measure. If anything other than a Twiggy look-alike riding a uni-cycle were to approach at this point, then we’d probably still be camped out up there.

I asked Mary-Ann to snap away. “It’ll be good for the blog”. She ignored me. Eyes tight. Hands clasped tighter.

We make it to the Aire. Last ones to arrive. All EU eyes on us as we decide on where to roll Beastie. Will we double-up alongside the Dutch outfit? Hop-over to the French quarter? or can-can over to Jerry?

Beastie’s in control. He picks a spot close to the exit enabling us to leave easily, so that none can block us. Now where did I put that flag Nigel?

Many look as if they are here for the duration. Sat dishes channel searching. Awnings out along with table and chairs laid up for dinner. All alien to us. It’s a car park on a 1 in 10 slope! They sit around in mini communes chatting away. We stay mysterious and inside with home comforts.