The annual family ski trip comes around again ... this time due to commitments and other factors we decided to go just after new year .. hence missing the crowds and also being cheaper (in theory). Sue had to return to college so was not available, but we therefore allowed Lloyd to take the spare seat and join us for the fist year ... he was especially keen to get some touring under his belt.
We set off Friday morning after the rush hour and made the 2 hour drive to Dover without incident, at the docks we apparently passed Chris, M-J and Dominique who were in the neighbouring queue, so after the reunion we passed the crossing together.
In France we cruised down to Bourg-en-Bresse, where we had booked a couple of rooms in the Ibis budget ( a small step up form the F1, with en-suite shower and loo) unfortunately the gutter outside was broken so as well as a damp smell there was a drip, drip, DRIP-DRIP from the rain all night.
the breakfast was also better than the F1 (similar, but had croissants and pain chocolat, as well as fruit and yogurts).
We continued into the depths of Savoire using the N roads to cut off the corner to Lyon, and up the Maurienne valley ... again stopping at the Casino in Modane to stock up on food and drink.
thence on to Bonneval-sur-arc. Approaching Bessans (between Val Cenis and Bonneval) the road salting stopped - presumably for the cross country skiing there as it is a bog centre. The roads were covered in packed snow and very rutted under the tyres. the centre of the town was driving on packed snow - once again the winter tyres came into their own - as the road angled upward I was nervous as to how well the van would cope - no need to panic - and soon we were moving on the flatter roads to Bonneval..
Arriving at Bonneval, the road makes a 180 degree turn before heading up to the col d'Iseran, and also abruptly stops being ploughed. Rather than go on to the end, I made a quick decision to follow the signs to the ski lift parking.... which headed off down a steepish slope, before an abrupt left turn and up to some parking (all relatively uncleared, and roughly tracked!).
We parked up and left for a stroll through the upper village ... checking out the ski area ticketing and departure and also the shops around. Then back to the van to see if we could get it back up the slope without having to put the chains on, seems I was being too fearful and the winter tyres came to the fore yet again ... a few anxious bits of wheel spin on some packed ice, but we were up. I noted later in the week that half way up was an escape road round to some parking just outside the upper village .. even less stressful, but not needed.
We drove around to the lower village and parked in the area in front of the cafe/tabac in what would be the market place later in the week. We could walk around and find the chalet and also drop in for a coffee/ chocolate etc.
The village was mainly vehicular free .. the pathways/ roads were too narrow and totally un-ploughed, just "pisted". we wandered around until we found the apartment, on the main track near the church. .. It was open so after the refreshments we moved the van closer - on the road around the outside - and lugged all our "stuff" into the apartment. ten settled in to wait from Chris. M-J and Dominique - they had stopped sooner than we had and were a couple of hours behind, but we could direct them where to go.
The chalet had a large room on the main (ground) floor that had the lounge, dinning room and kitchen.
Also the sofa bed I would use.. upstairs was 3 bedrooms and the bathrooms.
Under floor heating in each space, as well as a lobby with boot dryers in it. the lobby was the worst part as it only effectively allowed one person to prepare in/out at once, but this was only minor.
Some views in the village.
We set off Friday morning after the rush hour and made the 2 hour drive to Dover without incident, at the docks we apparently passed Chris, M-J and Dominique who were in the neighbouring queue, so after the reunion we passed the crossing together.
In France we cruised down to Bourg-en-Bresse, where we had booked a couple of rooms in the Ibis budget ( a small step up form the F1, with en-suite shower and loo) unfortunately the gutter outside was broken so as well as a damp smell there was a drip, drip, DRIP-DRIP from the rain all night.
the breakfast was also better than the F1 (similar, but had croissants and pain chocolat, as well as fruit and yogurts).
We continued into the depths of Savoire using the N roads to cut off the corner to Lyon, and up the Maurienne valley ... again stopping at the Casino in Modane to stock up on food and drink.
thence on to Bonneval-sur-arc. Approaching Bessans (between Val Cenis and Bonneval) the road salting stopped - presumably for the cross country skiing there as it is a bog centre. The roads were covered in packed snow and very rutted under the tyres. the centre of the town was driving on packed snow - once again the winter tyres came into their own - as the road angled upward I was nervous as to how well the van would cope - no need to panic - and soon we were moving on the flatter roads to Bonneval..
Arriving at Bonneval, the road makes a 180 degree turn before heading up to the col d'Iseran, and also abruptly stops being ploughed. Rather than go on to the end, I made a quick decision to follow the signs to the ski lift parking.... which headed off down a steepish slope, before an abrupt left turn and up to some parking (all relatively uncleared, and roughly tracked!).
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| The top of the track down | Half way down | Looking up from half way. |
We parked up and left for a stroll through the upper village ... checking out the ski area ticketing and departure and also the shops around. Then back to the van to see if we could get it back up the slope without having to put the chains on, seems I was being too fearful and the winter tyres came to the fore yet again ... a few anxious bits of wheel spin on some packed ice, but we were up. I noted later in the week that half way up was an escape road round to some parking just outside the upper village .. even less stressful, but not needed.
The village was mainly vehicular free .. the pathways/ roads were too narrow and totally un-ploughed, just "pisted". we wandered around until we found the apartment, on the main track near the church. .. It was open so after the refreshments we moved the van closer - on the road around the outside - and lugged all our "stuff" into the apartment. ten settled in to wait from Chris. M-J and Dominique - they had stopped sooner than we had and were a couple of hours behind, but we could direct them where to go.
Also the sofa bed I would use.. upstairs was 3 bedrooms and the bathrooms.
Under floor heating in each space, as well as a lobby with boot dryers in it. the lobby was the worst part as it only effectively allowed one person to prepare in/out at once, but this was only minor.
| | | ||
| | | Arrive Bonneval-sur-Arc | |
| Bonneval ski area | | | |
| | | Val Cenis ski area tour | |
| Termignon ski area tour | | | |
| | | Col D'Iseran tour | |
| L'Ecot tour 1 | | | |
| | | L'Ecot tour 2 | |
| Return | | |