Monday 16th May 2022

After our brief stay in Italy we headed north over the Mont Cenis Pass (2085 metres) and crossed back into France. The French border marked by this sign is long before the pass itself is reached.

It was good to see the pass open sign. Last time we'd come this way, in January 2018, the pass had been closed and we'd had to use the very expensive Frejus Tunnel to get through the Alps main divide.

We took a last look back into Italy.

There are quite a few hairpins as you near the top but the road is wide and none of the driving overtly technical.

Just before the top there is a reservoir.

As we started to descend we stopped to photograph the profusion of alpine flowers - I think this is a gentian.

Not sure about this one's name.

We finally managed to photograph at least part of a Marmot.

We descended to the town of Lanslebourg where we had originally planned to turn right  and cross the Col de l'Iseran (2764 metres) the highest road pass in the alps, however the pass closed sign at the turning confirmed what our sat nav had already told us, namely that the pass was closed.  Instead we turned left and after emptying our waste tanks and doing a supermarket shop we stopped for a cup of tea next to another old fort pictured here.

We stopped for the day at the town of St Jean de Maurienne. We previously stopped here in January 2018 after coming through the Frejus Tunnel. I had a walk around town. This old tower is perhaps the highlight.

Here's the view from our parking place.

Later on this Belgian registered van towing an old BMW motorbike and sidecar turned up to join us for the night.

Today we travelled 69 miles (111 kilometres). We are at: N45.2803 E6.3480

St Jean de Maurienne   Street View