5th September 2024

It started to rain during the night. Not windy, but incessant rain. R suddenly panicked, she was being dripped on. Her pillow was soddened, and the under duvet was also wet.  We could see the water dripping in from a small vent above the top of the rear window. Could not fathom out why there was a leak there. Maybe the rubber on the glass seal was gone, but that was below where the water was coming in. Maybe the seal of the rear door, but then the water would come in somewhere else.

The solution in the end was to move down the bed a little and put a plastic tub where the water was coming in. In the morning, I decided the rain was coming in through the brake light housing which sits at the top of the rear door. The red plastic cover just clips into the top of the door, plenty of room for water to leak through. When it rained on later days, I covered the rear light with some thin plastic from a biodegradable rubbish bag. This stuck down nicely on a wet surface and seemed to cure the leak. Not that you can prove a negative. When I get home, I shall re-seat the light cover and imbed it in some silicone sealant,

Still raining at 7 and 8.  We were moving on today, the forecast did have it as easing. The site owner delivered our bread to our door before we were even up! He had driven to get the bread. Lovely hot baguette.

Eventually we rose, had breakfast and started to pack the van in the diminishing rain.  Lots of items stored outside, (table, rubbish bin, wastewater) had to be washed off. The mud had splashed up at least a foot.

Even stuck on my beam obscurers, just in case I needed my headlights on.  Not done this for many years.

We eventually left, aiming for a site in Bartier, near Embrun.  Around a 4-hour drive. Decided not to do the toll roads, not much in it and no big hurry. We lucked out on this decision, seeing sights we would not have seen otherwise.

The route took us on the D1006, which follows the A43 towards Turin, these roads follow the river Arc. The D1006 was only a couple of feet above the raging torrent that the River Arc had become after the night’s rain.  Lots of uprooted trees in the river, surging waves where the river came across any impediment to its flow.

We reached Saint-Matin-d’Arc and took a right had turn over the river Arc, to head up a hill which topped out at Telegraph Hill. It was a scary windy road.  At the top we stopped for the view. Three Germans were exercising their Porches on the hill. (The one was making the most dreadful noise.)

We drove on, going downhill. I thought that was the end, just some downward hairpins, Nope, I was wrong.  Once we reached Valloire on the D902, the road started to rise again.  We were en route to Col du Galiber, a 2,400 metre pass which is often used by the Tour de France in one of their insane hill climbs. Yes, there a cycle going up it with a trailer behind, and not one of those cheating battery-operated things.  Every motor bike in existence was also on the road.  We stopped at a couple of viewing places, including the topmost col.  This last section could be bypassed, there is a single lane tunnel to miss the almost single-track road to the top.

All the Tour de France markings were still on the road.  Both sides, Did the 2024 and the 2022 go up different ways?  (I must check the dates and facts.)

We continued onto Embrun, stopped at a super U for food, and then to Baratier and Camping Les 2 Bois.  Checking in, a second lady came to welcome us, saying she recognised us (6 years ago). R thinks the first woman checking us in had messaged the other woman when she found our details on the computer system.  What a cynic she is!!!

Site pretty empty, it closes on the 17^th. The restaurant closes on Saturday, ie in a couple of day’s time.

We parked near where we were the previous time.  Near us were two groups of Germans with their motorcycles. Had they been up Col du Galiber?

Lovely evening, the rain had gone.  Thankfully it had gone soon after we left Moutier, leaving us with good views from the hill tops.

R claims she saw a large, fat Marmoset on the Mountain after the Col de Galiber.