From Grasse were headed towards the French Riviera and “Almost to Venice” at Vence, which is near to Nice. We were hot and tired and after driving around the town a bit we finally settled for a hotel on the highway, which was a bit Faulty Towerish, but had the first really good wifi we have had in a while…..so work was done.

Today we had planned to “ride over to Monaco” for country number 44 for a quick photo op and out. This took 2 hours for the 65 km loop. We did go the long way there along the scenic Basse Corniche (low coast road) and the traffic into Nice was terrible. Then we went thru the tunnel to Monaco!



https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1717/...7de64165_b.jpgScreen Shot 2016-04-23 at 23.24.37 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1545/...5c0ae8ff_b.jpgScreen Shot 2016-04-23 at 23.22.15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1446/...c1aecd06_b.jpgmonaco1 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1685/...d7afb6d7_b.jpgmonaco3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1710/...7c0c6505_b.jpgmonaco4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

There was so much construction in Monte Carlo with the set up for the grand Prix we could not get close to any landmarks for a good picture. There was however very fresh pavement on the route.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1560/...f05e069402.jpgScreen Shot 2016-04-24 at 22.47.46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1634/...9b4af6cb_b.jpgmonaco5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1664/...a8b1335f_b.jpgMonaco & French Alps-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1472/...33e98055_b.jpgMonaco & French Alps-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The ride back was better on the Moyenne (middle) Cornishe with nice views of the ocean.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1621/...0625ecf0_b.jpgMonaco & French Alps by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


From Nice we headed north to meet the small roads near Bronson and head north to Briancon in 263 km. We wanted to take the small roads, but this involved one of the small mountain passes, which we are not sure is open yet.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1691/...aed110dff6.jpgScreen Shot 2016-04-25 at 09.15.53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Shortly after leaving the main road we stopped for lunch and were surprised to find this place had really good Thai food.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1498/...e102fc09_b.jpgIMG_5748 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Here the road is quite awesome and curvy with very little traffic. Of concern the sign post said all but 1 of the Cols or passes was closed and we neared our turn off for the direct road north to Briancon we stopped and asked a local. Yes the pass we need is closed until May 1 ten days from now. This created an addition 50 km reroute back towards Dinge and then around to Barcelonette. This road was not a mountain pass, but was still pretty great. It was only the last 40 km that were on the highway. We found a small hotel in the village of LʼArgentière-la-Bessée south of Briancon after 282 km.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1554/...4b39be54_z.jpgScreen Shot 2016-04-23 at 23.22.41 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1564/...87a5b7d0_z.jpgScreen Shot 2016-04-24 at 16.48.01 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1516/...4829eb08_b.jpgMonaco & French Alps-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1561/...5e758b55_b.jpgMonaco & French Alps-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1497/...1099bc4a_b.jpgMonaco & French Alps-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1511/...6e3b5332_b.jpgMonaco & French Alps-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1454/...7d48bd9f_b.jpgMonaco & French Alps-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Hotel picnic of tomato, avocado, fresh bread, cheese, wine and rabbit.


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1638/...9676047d_b.jpgMonaco & French Alps-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Hi Sara and Daniel,

Where was this beautiful picture taken ?

I enjoy following your adventures and admire the beautiful pictures.
Thanks for sharing it with us.

Thanks so much Jan. Here is the location for you in Entrevaux France. Sara

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ci...0f6f4?hl=en-US

We woke to overcast and some drizzle, but it soon dried up.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1557/...8eefcaa7_b.jpgcomo by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1598/...b71cc017_b.jpgcomo1 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

There is a massive fort on the hill above Briancon.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1501/...cf11245d_b.jpgLake Como by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


We had decided after yesterdays issues with the closed passes we would head over the alps to Italy on the toll road to prevent issues.


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1615/...7267c8a5_b.jpgcomo2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We really wanted to arrive in lake Como early in the day. As soon as we got to near Turin we got off the tolls and that was already about 25 Euros. From here we stayed on the small local roads and arrived to the lake in just over 4 hours.


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1509/...f17aaeb4_b.jpgScreen Shot 2016-04-23 at 23.26.46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1451/...d69f1e27_b.jpgScreen Shot 2016-04-23 at 23.22.59 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Your toll pays to go THRU the mountains!

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1701/...5e7130c3_b.jpgcomo5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1509/...564395c6_b.jpgcomo3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1545/...cb403ac3_b.jpgcomo4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

In Urio we had found a small hotel on the lake for a very good price. It was not far from Mr Clooneys. It is off season so the prices are reasonable.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1678/...1510dbb7_b.jpgcomo7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1680/...eb318827_b.jpgcomo6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1543/...124e30bc_b.jpgLake Como 2-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


The ferry dock of Urio is right out front and we caught the ferry to Como City.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1585/...681e2aff_b.jpgLake Como-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1628/...e33f48c3_b.jpgLake Como 2-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1683/...acdbd50e_b.jpgLake Como-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1698/...8ca3b32e_b.jpgLake Como-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1455/...a0e2e3ef_b.jpgLake Como 2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1499/...b2b0f900_b.jpgLake Como-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1489/...f3b5cc99_b.jpgLake Como-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1466/...c9f9984d_b.jpgLake Como-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We walked the town and had some Italian ice creams. The ferry back was a bit chilly in the wind at 6 pm. The hotel restraint makes a very good Pizza and you can enjoy a glass of wine with a view of the lake.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1540/...e87760ac_b.jpgLake Como-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1695/...a03421f2_b.jpgLake Como by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1674/...7cd10112_b.jpgLake Como 2-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1441/...feb9456e_b.jpgLake Como-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1697/...2c1cda37_b.jpgLake Como-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1576/...e450f571_b.jpgLake Como-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1645/...e77c70ac_b.jpgLake Como-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1450/...b50fd15b_b.jpgLake Como-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1642/...bf8c608a_b.jpgLake Como-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Our dear friend Wolfgang from Hamburg is headed for 3 weeks of off road riding in Albania and he and our new friend Marcus had driven out of their way to see us for a coffee this morning on the lake!


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1667/...3a8b8c09_b.jpgLake Como Wolfgang Marcus-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1703/...f7c9eb8b_b.jpgLake Como Wolfgang Marcus-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1568/...1e0063b1_b.jpgLake Como Wolfgang Marcus-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Walking 2 km to the next village at Moltrasio for the next ferry to Bellagio, which is more north and on the opposite side of the lake. Also at the dock were Texans Mark and Kathy, with whom we had a very fun ride up the lake on the “cruise” for 1 hr 45 min. Only in Italy can you get prosecco in a real glass on the ferry!

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1631/...80c05291_b.jpgLake Como 2-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1509/...19a7bcd5_b.jpgLake Como 2-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1590/...5ab6ce88_b.jpgLake Como 2-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1680/...1234fb17_b.jpgLake Como 2-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Chez Clooney


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1560/...8ef0ed5d_b.jpgLake Como 2-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We walked up and down the steep streets of Bellagio, visited the church and has some really good pasta.


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1456/...ea72509b_b.jpgLake Como 2-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1659/...15c75e59_b.jpgLake Como 2-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1676/...2021f8e4_b.jpgLake Como 2-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1594/...1cb125ab_b.jpgLake Como 2-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1626/...f1ba822c_b.jpgLake Como 2-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1562/...428679d0_b.jpgLake Como 2-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1639/...9ede2337_b.jpgLake Como 2-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

All day we saw “the experience” tours including Bentley, Porsche, and Ferrari. This was a super car traffic jam.


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1453/...0e9bfb3c_b.jpgLake Como 2-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1626/...4eed8d05_b.jpgLake Como 2-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


It was raining on and off, but had settled by the time we made it back to Moltrasio. They were kind enough to invite us to their hotel to share some VERY nice champagne and conversation!! We hope to make to San Antonio one day!


https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1646/...d151b018_b.jpgLake Como 2-19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1650/...2faea130_b.jpgLake Como 2-20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1646/...4626ee4c_b.jpgLake Como 2-21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Moto Guzzi factory will hopefully be the next post! :thumbup1: Mandello Del Lario, the museum is open 3pm - 4pm, nice ferry Bellagio - Varenna.
Funny we met Gene and Neda in Bellagio in October!
See you guys not too far from there in June hopefully :D

Gino & Fiona