We are almost all repeat participants with Marcellus. Only Alexander is the first time in this group. Wolfgang is driving a car again.

This is the full group: Andi, Achim, Michael, Wolfgang, Marcellus, Beat, Alexander, Tom

I ride the tour with Michael and Andi

I have again put all the pictures into a video. So you can drive the tour in 5 minutes.

All pictures

I drive again in two days with a stopover in Gammertingen in the Swabian Alb.
On the way I lose the power for the GPS. Since Andi, Beat and Marcellus are not yet on the road, I can request repair tools and materials from a distance.
But on the second day I find help on the way and can drive to the meeting point in Champéry.

Eckartsburg castle in Saxony Anhalt

Eckartsburg

I get my Bratwurst at the usual location in Stadtilm

Marcellus and Andi do some offroad riding

I stay overnight in the Hotel Kreuz in Gammertingen

I can watch fire fighter action next to the hotel in the night

The repair shop Zweirad-Krinke did not want to help with the GPS power issue

KTM-Rau in Krauchenwies did the repair

A cable lug was loose

Shortly before the meeting point then Lac Leman

Champéry - the meeting point

All participants and guest Hartmut before having dinner

We meander over the small passes south of Lake Geneva and eventually arrive in Aix-les-Bains by taking (deliberate) detours. The weather is splendid and we get very nice views. At the very end on top of Mont du Chat.

We have breakfast together in the morning in Champéry

Andi is ready

At Col de l'Encrenaz

Col de la Ramaz

Morning coffee on top of Col du Feu

When the other group arrives, some fog sweeps over the pass

Pont de Caille is quite impressing

Pont de Caille

There is very French lunch in Saint-Jean-de-Sixt

We proceed (Tom, Andi, Michi)

On the road

Andi on top of Mont du Chat

View from Mont du Chat to Aix-les-Bains

Today we are going into the Vercors and we are drawn to the great dinner in Gresse-en-Vercors.
Before that we drive a bit along the Isère valley and through a landscape with very impressive rocks.
Andi and Beat need to check my GPS power supply in the evening. It remains somewhat shaky.

In the morning we visit the viewpoint Le Revard

Andi and Tom enjoy the view

View from Le Revard

We get morning coffee in a small town

Isère valley in sight

Walnut plantations in the Isère Valley

Gorges du Nan is quite impressive

Gorges du Nan

Us three at the edge

More rocks at Col de Toutes Aures près Presles

The video gives an impression of the magnificent landscape

We find good lunch in Saint-Jean-en-Royans

The next highlight is Cirque de Combe Laval (Col Gaudissart)

Here is a short impression of the ride through the Cirque de Combe Laval

We go over Col du Rousset

15 miles to the next gas station and range 0

Dinner starts with a pâté as an appetizer

The main course

Very delicious cheese

A sweet dessert

Finally a fruit schnapps

It goes further south.
The weather is a bit mixed. Not so much sun, more clouds and at the end of the day also a shower.
I am curious to see how much water is in Lac de Serre-Ponçon this year. There has been a severe drought all over Europe.

Andi and Tom get ready

Nice rocks on our way

Mont Aiguille

Pont de Brion

Gorges des Gâts

Gorges des Gâts

Lunch on Col du Festre

Our friend is a bit dull this year.

Lunch

Col du Noyer

We get closer to Lac de Serre-Ponçon

Little water in the lake

We get an afternoon coffee

Then we go through Gorges de la Blanche

A short video clip of Gorges de la Blanche

Then we get hit by rain

The picture shows how much water is missing in Lac de Serre-Ponçon. This it what it looked like last year

Nice dinner in Pra Loup

We stay in Pra Loup and ride a southern loop from there. Destinations include Entrevaux and Roubion. We also go over two high passes: Col d'Allos in the morning and Col de la Cayolle in the afternoon

The weather is very splendid in the morning and I find a beautiful valley view down to Barcelonnette

Valley view to Barcelonnette

Then we ride Col d'Allos

Northern ramp of Col d'Allos

Northern ramp of Col d'Allos

Us three again (Andi, Michi, Tom)

The southern ramp of Col d'Allos

A nice view to Méailles on Col de la Colle-Saint-Michel

Méailles

Too little water in Lac de Chaudanne as well

Clue de Saint-Auban

Entrevaux

Lunch in Entrevaux

Alexander shows up too

Roubion in the mountains

Roubion

We get the afternoon coffee in Valberg

Afternoon coffee

Dark clouds on Col de la Cayolle

Almost at the end of the tour we get hit by a rain shower

The day with the highest passes of the tour. First thing in the morning is Col de la Bonette, the highest. Later follow Col de la Lombarde, Col d'Izoard and Col du Galibier.
In between we have to go back to Barcelonnette to change Andi's tires.

Brilliant weather in the morning

We get up to La Bonette

La Bonette

All of us on top of La Bonette

Michi and Alexander

Tom proceeds downhill

Achim and Beat

On top of Col de la Lombarde

Col de la Lombarde

We are in Italy so we have to have coffee

Back to Barcelonnette for tire change

I got sandwiches and drinks for lunch.

Col d'Izoard

Col d'Izoard

On Col du Lautaret we get coffee and ice cream

Alexander, Michi, Tom and Andi on Col du Galibier

Col du Galibier

Col du Télégraphe

Best weather when arriving in Toussuire

The last day of the tour already. We are heading further north back to Martigny in Switzerland. But before that we still have some passes ahead of us. Besides Col de la Croix de Fer, Col de la Madeleine and Cormet du Roselend also my favorite Col du Pré.
At the end in Switzerland we get again faced with some rain.
But the final dinner at the hotel in Martigny is very nice.

Morning mood in Toussuire

Hotel Beausoleil in the morning

We go up to Col de la Croix de Fer

Col de la Croix de Fer

Col de la Croix de Fer

Us three

Right after Col de la Croix de Fer we go via Col du Glandon downhill

Morning coffee on top of Col de la Madeleine

Col de la Madeleine

Col de la Madeleine

Col du Pré is my favorite place

Col du Pré

Lunch at Col du Pré

Lunch

Lac de Roselend ahead

Col du Petit Saint Bernard, the little Saint Bernard

A last time coffe and ice cream in Italy before going over the big Saint Bernard

I get up very early. There are 780 miles ahead of me. The ride is accompanied again and again by showers, some of them heavy. Still in Switzerland I get a tire pressure warning. Something is wrong with the rear tire. Before Villingen-Schwenningen the air is out. The AAA takes me to a tire service, which fortunately is still open. It is Saturday at noon. With a new rear tire I can continue my journey home shortly afterwards and reach Berlin again in the evening.
The tour is over.

Breakfast in the hotel in the very morning

Tire puncture

The AAA gets me to a tire service

The tire gets replaced

My savior

Heavy rain

Sunset close to Berlin