Get out and ride - The return of the Magnificent Seven

In the last issue we joined Tony Donnelly as he completed the first part of a ten-day European ride. Now he heads back to the UK for the concluding part. Story & Pics Tony Donnelly

DAY FIVE – CANNES AND A MISFIRING KAWASAKI
The glamour of Cannes was obvious upon entering the town with crystal blue sea and a string of golden beaches. It is a beautiful place with cafe-lined pavements overlooked by imposing buildings and a marina stocked with dozens of jaw dropping yachts. We just wandered about taking it all in and chilled by the beach. This proved how much this was a trip of contrasts – only a couple of days before we had been having a snowball fight on the top of a snow-capped mountain.

More beer was called for so my panniers were emptied out; those panniers might be a pain at high speed but they take two cases of lager perfectly. These were soon polished off and we went off into Antibes to a local restaurant the lads knew well. Back at the site the landlord had agreed to put on the MotoGP on a big screen especially for us, I cannot see a UK campsite being so accommodating to bikers. With no need to be up the next morning the beer really did flow very freely and we all had a great night, but by 2am just three of us remained, even the bar staff had deserted by now.

DAY SIX – MONACO
Andy and I decided to check out nearby Monaco while the others stayed at the campsite and chill out some more. Monaco is certainly an eye-opening place, but not quite as attractive as I had been expecting despite dripping in wealth. However, it was interesting to walk the F1 GP circuit that was in the process of being taken apart when we were there and we even managed to ride some sections of the track and blast through the tunnel at all of 30mph in first gear. The marina was stocked with jaw dropping yachts that made the ones that we saw at Canne the day before look like rowing boats, one yacht even had a huge helicopter.

The final night in Antibes was spent relatively quietly as we are back on the bikes tomorrow, just a good meal and few beers at the site bar.
Six days in now and I was having the time of my life. To be away from ‘normal’ life in a place where all that matters is the next bend, the next beer or the next laugh. Just my bike and few like-minded mates to keep me company. No complications, no work to worry about, no news to read or terrible TV to watch. Just pure and simple enjoyment, if only more of life could be like this.

DAY SEVEN – THE NAPOLEON PASS AND A TASTE FOR CHAMPAGNE
The next 100km that followed turned in a blur of bend flowing into bend, hairpin after hairpin, then sweeping curve after sweeping curve while all around you the countryside forms a rolling backdrop of craggy outcrops of rock and steep drops. At one point the road actually pierced through a hole blasted into the rock. The first section was a little damp here and there and I missed a few heartbeats as the back end stepped out occasionally.

Grasse to Digney is just a fabulous stretch of Tarmac and some of the most challenging roads that I have ever ridden. In fact I took to talking myself through the bends, coaching myself on positioning, braking points and line as corner after corner came at me. If you are a fan of some the British icons like the Cat and Fiddle run, try to imagine something like this for the better part of 100 miles but with no traffic or cameras. If you love the feel of a sports bike cranked over as it slingshots out of a bend before hitting the brakes to repeat the whole experience time and time again, you must ride this road.

Most of the day was spent on the N85 towards Grenoble and then the overnight halt at Chambery for a well-earned rest after 398km of demanding riding. The last section was wet but this had not spoilt the fun of yet another memorable day. We received a warm welcome as the hotelier remembered some of the group from previous years. He recommended a local casino for the meal, so we gave it a try and it was spectacular: Fountains and neon everywhere and we looked slightly scruffy and out of place. We sat down to dinner only to be informed that there was no beer, which raised a chorus of derision, but after six bottles of champagne and some of the best food I have ever tasted all was well with the world.

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