Car packed and breakfasted it’s time to say ciao to Milan and head for our next stop over the alps and into France. It’s approximately a 4.5 hrs drive to our next destination but we’ve chosen to take a slightly longer way round via the Mont Blanc tunnel. I’ve never been through it and Brownie went through it 40 years ago in a Mini (when they were really small before BMW supersized them) en-route to Tuscany.
Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, has an elevation of approximately 4,808.7 meters (15,777 feet) above sea level. The altitude of the Mont Blanc Tunnel entrance on the Italian side, in the Aosta Valley, is approximately 1,381 meters (4,530.8 feet) and over in French the entrance near Chamonix is at about 1,274 meters (4,179.8 feet). The tunnel spans 11.6 kilometers (7.2 miles) and reaches its highest point at 1,395.5 meters (4,580 feet) near the centre. Entry to the tunnel is staggered to ensure that there is a good safe distance between vehicles. There’s barely a queue on the Italian side however in France it’s a different story and the queue to enter the tunnel stretches for a couple of miles eeek! The peak is shrouded in mist so we don’t get to see it in all of it’s glory but we certainly see the glacier field which is impressive at the end of May.
After the hustle and bustle of Milan we’re going to spend the next three nights under canvas at a campsite very close to Lac d’Aiguebelette. Nestled peacefully beneath the majestic French Alps near Chambéry, it’s actually not that far from where we were skiing back in February. Turns out the water in the lake is bloody glacial and freezing!
It’s hot and sunny and our days quickly fall into a rhythm dictated by the sun and the stunning Lac d’Aiguebelette. The lake is a true gem and it’s our first opportunity to paddleboard on this trip. We spend hours simply floating, across its glassy turquoise surface, and soaking in the sun from the shore. We only blow up one board it’s more sociable and so much more fun! When we’re not paddle-boarding, sunbathing or swimming we’re cycling it’s a perfect base to be active. It’s busy as its a Bank Holiday in France but there’s plenty of space for everyone on the large grassy bank by the lake, including a swan! At night we cook simple meals, eat chacuterie and drink red wine whilst playing backgammon. It’s a relaxed camping experience which is exactly how we like it. But sadly, just as soon as we arrive, it’s time to pack down the tent, load up the car and get ready to hit the road for our next destination.
Leave a Reply