Aime FR, July 5, 07

No way! I woke up to clouds, rain, cold, etc. Whooda thunk it?

I stopped at the bike shop where I dropped off my wheel yesterday. It wasn't done. Why? Spokes for that wheel are not readily available and would be "on command" as the French say. But fortunately he had a new wheel for sale and it was only 79 euros. Not bad, really. That's about $115 U.S.

It was 11:00am when I stopped in. He said it would take until 2:00 to change the tire and cassette onto the new wheel. 3 hours for a 15 minute job! He compromised at 1:00.

I had some time to waste so I took another ski lift ride into the abyss. I went to the top of Le Brevent. It is across the valley from Mont Blanc and I thought I'd take a chance to see if the cloud cover would brake, if not for even a few minutes. No luck.

I did have a cup of coffee and a blueberry tart (Myrtille), walked around in the snow that was falling and then came back down the mountain. I have a monstrosity of a camera bag with me and whenever I have it with me, people think I'm looking for a hotel. So when I'm top of the ski slope with my bag, people are laughing at me. But, we all know that happens all the time...regardless of the bag...

Glacier des Bossons from across the valley.

The view down from the ski lift station.


"vous ete ici" - you are here.

Some snow! A little brake from the gloomy weather.


Views from the ski lift.

I went to pick up my wheel and set off for Italy!

Courmayeur, Italy is about 15 miles from Chamonix, France. To get there, you take the tunnel that is bored straight through Mont Blanc which is the highest mountain in Europe. The actual tunnel is about 10 miles long. The price to travel through the tunnel is a mere $4.80/mile!!!!

Highway robbery I tell you. Beats a 6 hour drive though! Oh, and when Italy, the mountain becomes Monte Bianco.
The good thing; bright, shiny, warmer skies.

I came this way through Italy just so I could get in another country and some real Italian pizza.

First things first though. I had to use the restroom and thought I would capture this moment for you. Not the act, just the toilet. Those Italians! Thinking of Cindy and Ron right now...

Back to the pizza. I was not disappointed. It was about $5 for two slices of pizza. I tell you this because that is cheap. If I haven't mentioned it enough, mediocre food does not come at a mediocre price! And that's the pizza place on the left.

Moving along. I've had my pizza, now it's time to go back to France. I crossed over the Col du petit St. Bernard. It's just like St. Bernard back home....

It was awesome up here. More Monte Bianco.

A monument to St. Bernard.

My destination today is the French town of Aime (M). I drove through a lot of nice towns to get here. This hotel is a step down from the other places I've stayed so far. Except the people are very nice and the bed's comfortable.