Routes to the Grasse/Nice area?
 

Got a trip to the South of France in the planning, blast down, ride the N85 and some other roads I've only done in a hire car, Monaco GP, then blast back.

Using the chunnel, any good fast routes? just interested in getting there by Ducati, quick, to get to the roads and sceenary down there.

Just case of getting the maps and route planner software out??

TIA

Ray.

take in the route de naepolean. Pick up around Grenoble then go down via sisteron, gap and Grasse. The road is superb, or was back 1984 when a last rode it on my Z750L3.
Going back in June on the 900:D

Im staying in Grasse in August. We will be staying initially in Arras for a night. 2 nights near Mont Blanc. Then blast down to Grasse where we stay for 5 days doing the Route Napleaon etc.

Been told to try the N71 near Dijon to Troyes. Supposed to be brill. Will be doing that on our way back.

Also told about the LA GORGES DE LA VESUBIE (D2565).
Try all the Corniches around Monaco area. COME ON.......cANT WAIT.

One of the best things about Grasse is approaching it around dusk on a warm summer evening. As the perfume capital of France the smell wafting into your lid for miles around Grasse is intoxicating, I guess from where they grow a lot of the flowers and plants that go into the perfume. Better than the diesel fumes you get around here anyway.

There is (or was) a tiny restaurant called Monsieur Bosque - no bigger than most peoples dining room - which is one of the best places that I've been to eat in France (and I've spent a lot of time in France - two years altogether). Difficult to describe how to get to it, but from memory there's a sort of alleyway downhill from the Fragonard perfumerie and it's tucked along there somewhere (unless it's changed hands or been turned into a McDonalds by now)

One word of advice, take Michelin maps instead of the school atlas you took when we went to Italy. Seem to recall that you and another rider took off like scalded cats when it looked like the police had nicked us all and ended up adding 300 miles to your return journey due to using the atlas. :lol::P:D

Mr James,

My legal represetative will be in contact with you shortly..............:lol:

How dare you suggest that I F**ked off and left you to the mercy of the carabineri!! Believe me worse had been talked about!!
It was just that me and cookie desparately need the loo!!

Whats wrong with crossing the swiss/italian border 8 times in an hour?? I just lurv riding me Ducati any excuse to do some more miles??

Thought about some sort of GPS but thats cheating??
Far more fun to ride 100 miles in the wrong direction have a quick look at a map then ride another 100 miles in the wrong direction have a quick look at a map ride another...........

Ray.

Ray, i'm not a great fan of the roads in Northern France from the Tunnel on a bike so tend to avoid that route on the bike, however my best suggestions are definately take autoroute via Reims to avoid Paris and for some light relief from terminal boredom come off at Troyes and go down the N71 to Dijon for a short diversion.

Or for a longer diversion head slightly more to the west, look for Vitry-le-France on the bore d'route south of Reims get to St Dizier and use the N67 to Chaumont, N19 to Langres, N74 to Longeau then D67 to Gray, D475 to Dole (sign on there) then N5 towards Geneva. Then bore d'route to Grenoble and get on the Route Napoleon, as an alternative to flat out down the bore d'routes all the way. Its longer this way but breaks the monotony.

I prefer Le Havre crossings, down thru the Massif and cut across to the Alps myself for a far better variety of roads, but this is not great from Calais.

hey, you stole my route :D theres an amazing set of bends coming into one of those towns, possibly Gray, road snakes down for about 5 miles, i always have to go back and do it again :)

My route is
Calais,Arras,Charleville, Metz all on N43 then on to Obernai near Stasbourg.Then run down to belfort dropping down to Lausanne then onto Grenoble. Then Gap then D900 to Digne les Baines through Grasse then onto the coast. Come home via Toulon, Avignon,Clemont Ferrand and finally Paris
Cant wait

Not a big fan of the N71 Troyes to Dijon. I know it gets a lot of praise but It just never seems that memorable to me. I know they are some good bits but contrary to what many mags etc say I was not too impressed. Have done it twice (maybe 3rd time lucky?) I agree roads not too good in northern France but saying that we have found some good routes from north of Verdun heading south towards Neufchateau and then the N5 towards Geneva (was there in the car a couple of weeks ago) It seems to get harder to find a bad road the further south you go. I keep meaning to do the Gorges L'ardeche but never seem to manage it. Its not far from Orange which is always a good place to stop and have a night out. From Orange you can head eastward via Mt Ventoux where they still have a big hillclimb for racing cars, then further east to Sisteron and the N85 etc.

I think these days I would be more inclined to do a longer slog the first day on the motorway down to near Dijon which gives you more time on the better roads later in the trip.

Ray if youre interested in motor racing you may like to nip to the old circuit at Reims as its well worth a visit if youre into that kind of thing. It would only take an hour off your trip down.

Pics of Reims old circuit here
http://www.ducati-upnorth.com/forum/...read.php?t=726

I concur Shawn, and you saved me having to type it all out....

John

Glad Paul mentioned this Ray-not that it ever, not for even 1 second, crossed my mind to rib you like that..............oh all right then, perhaps it did...............:lol:

John

Did that one year before last, the return bit is better, particularly the bit through the Grand Massif IMHO. Afraid I see riding through France as just a means to getting into other countries but there are some decent routes if you go off the beaten track a bit. The North is a bit flat but at least the roads are pretty empty and fast. If you fancy a bit of a challenge head towards Psaris and do a lap of the peripherique :P

You're right Martin, but i did say 'light relief' from the autoroute, its not the sort of road you head for just for the ride, but it breaks the monotony a bit, and cuts off that corner of the autoroute, but is slower than going down the autoroute.


Ha ha, glad i could beat Gizmo and Monty at summat nicking their routes:lol::lol::devil: Never trust a Mackem, we'll nick owt.

[Edited on 31-3-2006 by BDG]

I was usually left in charge of sorting the routes out when we went to France every year. Over the years I kept hearing mention of the N71 in (mostly) car magazines. I think its Evo magazine that mention it a lot so decided to try it out. But as I said I dont really remember it but I do remember the other lads moaning all the time about how much further is it etc.

Anythings better than the monotony of the autoroute though, especialy on a Multistrada.

Sean I meant to ask you as you are quite a regular visitor over there, whats likely to happen if I was flashed at by a speed camera over there? Got flashed a couple of weeks ago on the autoroute from near Verdun to Reims. And also on a twisty road again near Reims this time the flash came out the back of a oldish car parked at the side of the road. The autoroute one was defo a speed camera and I was doing very well into 3 figure speeds. The one that flashed out the back of the car may have just been some French 'doggers' taking some snaps of there activities? Or maybe not?

MArtin, i honestly don't know the answer, don't think they'll send anything to the UK (yet:() but you may well be on the records of most wanted if you get pulled over there another time, but this is all supposition. I'd be very interested to find out.

There are a couple of sites that list French gatso locations.

Not too worried as I was driving my mates car! :) Needless to say if theres any comeback I will take the rap though. He kept telling me to slow down and then when it was his turn he went even faster.

Setting off tonight, got a nice backlit globe fastened to the headstock for navigation.

Ray.

Ray - I was down in this part of the world only last month - fantastic area.
If you've got spare time try checking this place out - absolutely wonderful place :
Auberge De La Vignette Haute
370 Route Du Village
Auribeau Sur Siagne 06810
France
http://www.vignettehaute.com/

It's a small hotel - not suggesting you stay there unless you fancy something unique, but it's worth having dinner there if you can. The food is great and they have over 1000 little oil bulbs lit in the restaurant area - quite a sight. And there's a little private museum above the reception area retracing love/sex from 22,000BC with lots of curiosities !!:o

Hope you get a chance to visit. Safe journeys.

Jiminy

Ray, just a thought, i'm heading down to Port Grimaud/St Trop, in the tin box on Sunday if you need any spares bringing down;)

BDG,

Thanks for the offer.

Carrying a spare set of clutch plates and a few bits and bobs.

The spare clutch plates have been on all the major trips i have been on but daren't leave 'em at home in case Sod's law applies!!

Got tyres booked at Probike, near Junction 42 of the A8.

Ray.