Over Cols to Conflans France

Travelled:176km
Visited:Col du Lautaret, Col du Galibier, Col de la Madeleine, Conflans
Stay: Conflans-  aire, free parking and services GPS N45°40.443' E6°23.828'

Although we started the day with some blue sky and sunshine, it did not last long. But 'the show must go on', so after some much needed purchase of food and a lovely chat with Claire and Tom, we were on the road again heading up to the Col du Lautaret 2057m. The Durance River starts here and the Tour de France first came across here in 1911 and the most recent time this year.

Once again bumped into Allison and Jason

 From here we turned right to the Col du Galibier 2645m and is often the highest point of the Tour de France.

What the col would have looked like on a clear day.(thank you google)

 Unfortunately the top was in the cloud. The traffic lights for the tunnel here are among the highest in Europe.

 We were hoping the weather on the otherside was better, but no such luck! So onwards we went. 

Just before Valloire we spotted some very interesting sculptures made from straw. Very talented artists.

 Valloire was a very typical ski resort town, with all the touristy shops and restaurants, but was also picturesque with its chalet style accomodations scattered through the valley. 

We decided to continue on going over the Col du Telegraphe and, as it was still raining and heavy with cloud, we stopped at McD for some footy watching time in St.Jean de Maurienne. After watching yesterdays replay, the sky was not much clearer, but we decided to still drive over the Col de la Madeleine 1993m- another Tour de France favorite. Although it was a cloudy ascend and descend, the Col was actually clear but there was not much of a view. 

The road from here down to the valley was quite narrow and zig zaggy and we both gave a sigh of relief when we made it to the motorway at the bottom!

In the clouds we had no idea what we were driving down! Thanks to google we can get the picture. No wonder Mark's arms were sore!

 We parked in the aire and then had a walk through the small but quaint medieval village of Conflans, overlooking Albertville.