Stella Alpina Redux: With EXTRA pics! Warning: ADSL ONLY!!!

OK, I have rehosted all the pics on my own web site. Performance should be better. This was my Stella Alpina weekend - the long version!

A clean beast ready to leave at 06.30 in the morning



Meeting up with Carl in Thoren-Glieres



Carl happy to be up in the mountains



On the top of the Plateu des Glieres



The start of the 1st offroad section - heading into the sunshine



Local wildlife - Mmm... choccies, milk, steaks!



Plateu des Glieres



On the road



Balloons in the mountains



Riding along some of the Tour de France mountain stages



Roadside Cafe - Alpine Style!



Stopping for the 1st coffee of the morning in Flumet



Our company while having coffee



The top of Col de Joly



A Belgian V-Strom on the Col De Joly



Mmm... Orange and green



The route up the Col de Joly



Still going up...



What you doing Carl



A Super Enduro vs. Ulysses comparrison



Near Cret Bettex



A lake along the route



Some Alpine scenery near Cret Bettex



And the bike going up the road from Cret Bettex



Cret Bettex



Cret Bettex - Looking back on the road we just climbed



Come on Carl!



Enjoying the Alps



Lunch in Bourg-Saint-Maurice



A stop to stretch the legs



Heading up the Col de L'Iseran



Col de L'Iseran



Val D'Isere



A posing beast on the Col de L'Iseran



Heading up the Col de L'Iseran with Val-d'Isere at the bottom



Carl on the Col de L'Iseran



Still heading up the Col de L'Iseran



Col de L'Iseran, Enjoying the view



The top of the Col de L'Iseran



The beast on the top of the Col de L'Iseran



Another angle of the beast on the top of the Col de L'Iseran



We are heading down that-a-away!



Hello Folks!



Thats where we have to go



Col de L'Iseran - The cliche shot!



The top of the Col du Mont Cenis



Lac du Mont-Cenis



Parking at the Hotel Sommeiller in Bardonecchia



The 1st beer after a long days ride: Your mouth has an orgasm!!



Dinner - Part 1 - The starter: A salad and a beer



Dinner - Part 2 - The main course: The BEST PIZZA EVER, and another beer!



Breakfast!!! Ravenous Carl!!!



Parking at the Hotel Sommeiller in Bardonecchia in the morning



Heading up the Col de Sommeiller



Carl - Heading up the Col de Sommeiller



Carl going for it - Heading up the Col de Sommeiller



Chatting on the Sommeiller...



The lower campsite on the Col de Sommeiller



The road up the Sommeiller




The top of the Sommeille



And we made it!!! 3000m at the top lake on the Col de Sommeiller



Col de Sommeiller



The terrain to get there



What a beast!!!



Laurel and Hardy



Another beast shot!



More beast!



Cool KTM's on the Sommeiller...



And the reason you should not really bring a KTM 950 Super Motard up the Col de Sommeille



Those who made it up enjoying the moment



Paul (GS 1200 Adv) and his mates from the Big trail Bike Club UK



Paul tries the Super Enduro on for size



And it fits!



Heading down the Col de Sommeiller



We were up there...



And we have to go down there...



Side cars can do it too!



One of the hundreds of slippery corners



The Michelin man conquers the Col de Sommeiller



Part of the route running through the valley



Mmmm.... the Alps!



Going down baby!



The top campsite



The road down the Sommeiller



Carls bike on the Sommeiller



The upper camp on the Sommeiler



The Sommeiller - Riders paradise



The road down the Col del Sommeiller - Phew, we made it in one piece!



And back into the tree line



Almost at the end of the Sommeiller



Lake shore - Annecy



Lake of Annecy



The beast by the water



On the road



The thirsty beast



Goodbye Carl



The milage for the weekend



And home again!!