Stella Alpina 2007 - A bit of off-roading in the French / Italian Alps

[Kev]

The Col de la Galabrier was full of cyclists:

 

[Kev]

But they did not distract me from the nice views:

 

[Kev]

Because of the cycle race (The "Marmotte" mountain race), the top of the pass was closed.
After the tunnel, the road going down, and the valley to cross:

 

[Kev]

There were some fantastic views on the way down:

 

[Kev]

 

[Kev]

But I just had to take another moment to admire my bike!

 

[Kev]

We arrive in Bardonecchia, find a hotel, have a beer (or few) and dinner!

 

[Kev]

The next morning Carl does not want to get out of bed...

 

[Kev]

But there are trails to be ridden up the Sommeiller!

 

[Kev]

Up and up...

 

[Kev]

and up...

 

[Kev]

Until I have to stop to take in the views:

 

[Kev]

And enjoy the solitude for a while...

 

[Kev]

Before reaching the "end of the road" up the Sommeiller for this years Stella.

 

[Kev]

And chat with friends from Orange Crush on ADVRider. Aurel:

 

[Kev]

Aurel's T-shirt says it all...

 

[Kev]

The it is time to go down...

 

[Kev]

And leave the barren landscape...

 

[Kev]

To enter the valley...

 

[Kev]

Where things start turning green again: