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To hell with it. You all know I'm not very good with these Europe Ride Reports. But I think this will be better than posting in the One Picture Ride Report, and What Did You Do To Your FJR Today topics.
So here I am 10 days into my trip finishing out the French Alps. Yesterday I started in Menton, France on the French Riviera and after traveling north finished near the Italian border. I rode the Col de Turini - a pass in the hills north the Mediterranean that I had read about prior to my trip. Then it was off into mountains and it was a wonderful ride. I hit the Cime de la Bonette, a repeat from my 2021 trip and the second highest paved road in the Alps at a bit over 9,000 feet elevation.
Stunning. Not at all sure how you keep your eyes on the road.
wheatonFJR and SkooterG loved this
Montani Semper Liberi
"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.β --A. Leopold,1949,A Sand County Almanac, The Good Oak
You could literally point the camera in any direction and get a fantastic photo there. In fact, there's literally only ONE way to ruin a photo from that region, and that's to put Scooters face in it. Thank goodness he doesn't do that too often, otherwise we'd need a serious dose of eye bleach.
SkooterG, bigjohnsd, and wheatonFJR loved this
YouTube Channel | My Blog Current Bikes:2007 Yamaha FJR1300AE | 2016 KTM 1190 Adventure R | 2001 Suzuki DRZ-400E | 2020 KTM 500 XCF-W Son's Bike:2019 Honda CRF250L
I'm here to serve as an example of what NOT to do.
Just in the two post there is a calendar of photos. Here is the Tour de France route for 2025. Now ya know where not to go! Great photos and thanks for posting.
SkooterG loved this
Searching for roads paved with Asphalt, unless I am riding the mighty DR650 bushpig.
fontanaman wrote: βSat Jul 12, 2025 10:06 am
Just in the two post there is a calendar of photos. Here is the Tour de France route for 2025. Now ya know where not to go! Great photos and thanks for posting.
We definitely used this for me and my son's trip last summer. We didn't spend a lot of time in France, but we sure didn't want to spend any more time stuck in traffic around those events, so we diverted far and away.
YouTube Channel | My Blog Current Bikes:2007 Yamaha FJR1300AE | 2016 KTM 1190 Adventure R | 2001 Suzuki DRZ-400E | 2020 KTM 500 XCF-W Son's Bike:2019 Honda CRF250L
I'm here to serve as an example of what NOT to do.
gixxerjasen wrote: βSat Jul 12, 2025 9:08 am
In fact, there's literally only ONE way to ruin a photo from that region, and that's to put Scooters face in it. Thank goodness he doesn't do that too often, otherwise we'd need a serious dose of eye bleach.
That's it. You have now gixxerjasen'd this thread! From henceforth all photos will include my ugly mug and perhaps maybe even a one finger salute just for you my friend!
bigjohnsd, fontanaman, and danh600 loved this
Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
IBA #327
'04 FJR (X2) -- '09 FJR (X2) -- '13 FJR (X3) -- '14 FJR ES -- '15 FJR ES -- '17 FJR ES -- '23 FJR ES -- '14 BMW GSA What can I say? I have issues!
gixxerjasen wrote: βSat Jul 12, 2025 6:39 pm
Well, there went your chances for a photo in the calendar then. Seems a travesty to ugly up such beautiful scenery.
Yes. Save those photos for the walls of your home. Seriously.
gixxerjasen wrote: βSat Jul 12, 2025 6:39 pm
Well, there went your chances for a photo in the calendar then. Seems a travesty to ugly up such beautiful scenery.
Yes. Save those photos for the walls of your home. Seriously.
Yes please do NOT enter the calendar contest this year, do not pass go and do not collect $200, we taking photos in CONUS and Canada are not worthy.
How about an EFR with Scooter as the Tour Director.
Last edited by fontanaman on Sun Jul 13, 2025 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
wheatonFJR loved this
Searching for roads paved with Asphalt, unless I am riding the mighty DR650 bushpig.
Maybe I should send my '17 FJR to Europe and snag Skooter routes. I get more room in my garage and the FJR gets a new home where it will be appreciated.
bigjohnsd and wheatonFJR loved this
Searching for roads paved with Asphalt, unless I am riding the mighty DR650 bushpig.
fontanaman wrote: βSun Jul 13, 2025 9:44 am
Maybe I should send my '17 FJR to Europe and snag Skooter routes. I get more room in my garage and the FJR gets a new home where it will be appreciated.
I've been seriously considering this. It's very affordable overall, and there's some benefits to having an American license plate over there.
I just wish I could find a way to be able to take 6 weeks off of work every year to do this.
wheatonFJR and fontanaman loved this
YouTube Channel | My Blog Current Bikes:2007 Yamaha FJR1300AE | 2016 KTM 1190 Adventure R | 2001 Suzuki DRZ-400E | 2020 KTM 500 XCF-W Son's Bike:2019 Honda CRF250L
I'm here to serve as an example of what NOT to do.
fontanaman wrote: βSun Jul 13, 2025 9:44 am
Maybe I should send my '17 FJR to Europe and snag Skooter routes. I get more room in my garage and the FJR gets a new home where it will be appreciated.
I'd be interested in helping you defer the transportation cost by renting it from you in '26?
gixxerjasen wrote: βSun Jul 13, 2025 10:55 am
I just wish I could find a way to be able to take 6 weeks off of work every year to do this.
What about three weeks? 6 weeks is a long time. And ain't cheap. I am fortunate. For Me 2 weeks is too little, but 3 to 4 weeks is the sweet spot. But even 2 weeks is better than not going. JSNS! Carpe Diem!
wheatonFJR, gixxerjasen, and Auburn loved this
Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
IBA #327
'04 FJR (X2) -- '09 FJR (X2) -- '13 FJR (X3) -- '14 FJR ES -- '15 FJR ES -- '17 FJR ES -- '23 FJR ES -- '14 BMW GSA What can I say? I have issues!