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Showing posts with the label Ecrins

Holiday in France 14 - the Ecrins, Alpe d'Huez and a disturbed night

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Looking back I cannot believe we packed so much into one day. After driving or cycling through the Col du Galibier and the Col du Lautaret and also stopping to take photographs, we were still in time for a late lunch. On the road to Bourg d'Oisans and Alpe d'Huez we noticed a little byroad coiling seductively down towards a blue pool. Perfect for a refreshment stop. When we got down to the pool we discovered that it was the feeder for a small hydro scheme producing electricity for the local village, Villar d'Arene. Very neat. There was a place to park by the pool and we duly ate, admired the scenery and noted it for a possible overnight stay. The first picture is our first view of Villar d'Arene looking down from the main road. We drove for quite a while through the Ecrins national park and got to Bourg d'Oisans and the start of Alpe d'Huez around four o'clock. It was not inviting. Bourg is quite a large town and was grey with cloud. I drove up the switchb