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Published: June 17th 2015
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En route to Besancon
A gorge near Gex D1084 Tuesday 16 June 2015
Today we said our sad farewells to Annecy, a delightful part of France and worth a return visit. As we were preparing to leave we got talking to a couple from Scotland. They were with a small group of car enthusiasts driving MGs through Europe. One of their group couldn't remember her room number and was horribly lost. Such is the way when you are in a different hotel every night for a number of weeks. So far we haven't had that problem. We had a great chat and lots of laughs, wished each other well, and got on our way.
With a collection of pastries, rolls and a drink each (3€21) for lunch, a full tank of diesel, GPS programmed for Besancon, we were on our way. We had no idea which route Polly would take us but it was bound to be exciting. Leaving Annecy the direction signs kept saying Geneva. Don't argue with Polly.
Just as we were about to cross into Switzerland we were directed north and then east. We had a feeling the Swiss border was just over the nearby fence. Geneva was getting quite close and then we
En route to Besancon
Near the summit of the Jura Mountains in pouring rain. headed towards a very high mountain range - The Jura Mountains. Lunch was in the car during heavy rain in the mountainside town of Gex. A few large trucks passed our lunch spot carrying dirt. We wondered where they were off to.
Lunch was finished and time to continue the journey. It wasn't long before we realised it was going to be another zigzag road climbing to an altitude of 1331 metres. It didn't take long to get behind a truck carrying dirt. Why would you want to take dirt from one side of a mountain to the other. Don't they have enough dirt on the other side? Soon we were travelling down the other side. Deviation!! The truck obviously knew where to go so we followed it up a very narrow winding road. This seemed to be nothing unusual until the truck turned left into what looked like a quarry. At least we had one question answered - they're filling a big hole with dirt. The other question - where was the deviation?
All around are small settlements obviously set up for skiing in the winter. Most of the very large buildings are closed up. Around every
En route to Besancon
Railway bridges climbing out of Morez corner we expect to see a Swiss border guard. Looking at the map we must be just metres from an unexpected incursion into Switzerland. We haven't planned on visiting Switzerland this year and so we haven't got the required vignette for highway driving.
Back to the local town where a helpful Tourist Office lady gave directions and a map. It all seemed so simple. From the road we were taking we could see the reason for the deviation. A large piece of hillside was being removed from a very tight corner. Soon it was easy driving across flat countryside. The sun was trying to break through and the temperature was rising from 13 to 20 degrees. We had one last downhill run before reaching the river valley of the Loue and Doub Rivers.
We have only planned an overnight stop in Besancon but first impressions make us feel we need an hour or two in the morning to explore this historic city.
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