Dauphine

The Dauphiné passed right by work today

Then we drove to Lyon to get passports for the kids (and ice cream)

Solude

I had been telling Hank for a while about the road up to Solude and the unbelievable gravel traverse over to Villard Reymond ever since I rode it last year.  It is spectacular, and a hidden gem among the famous climbs of the area like Alpe d'huez, Glandon etc.  It was a suitable last ride to what had been an amazing set of rides with Hank and Mat, and I was glad to be able to show Hank something he had not seen before.  It was another fantastic ride, and we stopped at the excellent cafe in Villard Reymond for beers. The beer turned out to be Luc Alphand beer, which I can highly recommend.  The cafe also has an unbelievable view of the surrounding mountains.  They sell Genepi from plants grown just above the village.  I could not resist buying some home made raspberry jam.  The descent was a blast: fast and technical.  For once Hank was not waiting for me!

Quick Gua run

Les Lacets

Any cyclist who has driven through the Maurienne valley will know what I am talking about: a group of steeply rising switch backs on the North side of the valley, so close to eachother that there is no separation on maps.  These are the Lacets de Montvernier and I have been dying to ride them since the first time I saw them, which was ages ago.  today I was finally able to ride them, and with Mat and Hank!  Another thoroughly enjoyable ride up the lacets, over an obscure and beautiful col, then down to the Madeleine road, where we raced a friggin dump drunk down to the valley. Nuts!

Good morning to you, too Bento

Cycling Noyer with Mat and Hank

Went for a fantastic ride with Hank and his son Mat, who is in town for a few weeks.  It was the first time I had met Mat in real life, which was great.  We have been following eachother on strava and Instagram and of course I hear a lot about mat from Hank.  Within a few minutes, it felt as if I had known him for years, which in a way I suppose I had.  The age of the internet I guess.  It was great hanging out with the two of them, talking about bikes, cars and all manner of things on the car ride out to near Mens, and just as good cycling with them on what is one of the most beautiful loops in the area (and that is saying a lot) via the col du Noyer.  Anyway, a great day,

Torino -- the last day

After cleaning up and breakfast, we decided to go see the Royal Palace.  However, the first order of business was for the kids to feed the bunny (the owner has a bunny named Giulio who is apparently named after an Italian politician who was notorious for causing huge messes and then professing innocence despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary).

The palace was a gilt wonderland, and even entertaining for the kids.  The armory was probably the high point for the kids.

After all the walking , it was time to refuel at Master Sandwich again.  Did I mention that they have ~50 sandwiches on their menu?  I think we should kidnap them and install them at work.

Next, some more wandering around, with the occasional espresso or chocolate (or espresso and chocolate).  We discovered an excellent pasta place in a back alley and bought an assortment of Agnoloti etc. 

And checked out some of the stores.  Check out the shoes of many colors

We also visited the Santuario della Consolata -- one arched gilt hall after another, and still very much in use.  It was very cool.  Then, it was the not very long (~3 hour) drive back home, which was uneventful.

That night, we cooked the pasdta from earlier in the day.  My favorite was clearly the spinach and ricotta Panzerotti -- amazing.

All in all, I give Torino a big thumbs up.  We had a lovely time, and it was an acceptable substitute for a forfeited bouldering weekend in Annot.

Torino, day 2

After breakfast at a nearby cafe (included with the room, but not wonderful), we walked to the metro and took it to the end of the line where we walked to the Automotive Museum.  The metro is pretty fabulous -- well marked, clean and with frequent trains.

Next, walking around and going to an really fantastic sandwich shop off of the Piazza Madama.  I had an egg/potato/green beans/artichoke sandwich -- delicious.  I might have to steal that recipe.  Anyway, from here it was back to our B+B to eat and rest for a while.  Our mission to the car museum proved to be a bit exhausting for all of it, but worth it.

We walked around a little more, stopping at the fantastic gelato place called Piu' Di Un Gelato, where they were de-stemming huge buckets of strawberries.  I ordered the hazelniut, which was fantastic, but the strawberry that both Alex and Zoe ordered was out of this world

Next:  back to the B+B again to relax and wait for the next opportunity to eat (dinner).  In the mean time I watched the Giro post game show

For dinner, we decided to go for seafood, despite being in the Piemont.: had developed a mysterious and insatiable desire for grigliatti mista.  And so we found ourselves at Il Giglio, and it did not disappoint