Monday 5th October 2009 – Gap, France

Much to our surprise, the AA told us that they had identified a garage in Gap about 90km (55 miles) away. The garage owner explained that he would load us onto the breakdown truck at 11:30 and then have his one and a half hour lunch break before driving us to Gap at 13:30.
Loading the van on the back of the truck was a technical affair. The large towbar attachment on Henrietta fouled the ground and the van had to be raised by the judicious use of wooden blocks. It only just fitted on the back and looked rather precarious although well tied on. The hydraulics of the truck struggled with Henrietta's weight and the man checked with us that it really was only 3.5t (yes it is and not fully loaded!). I suspect that when he recovers 3.5t commercial vans, they are never fully loaded.
The journey from Briancon to Gap was spectacular. The whole trip is down a steep valley with the Alps on both sides and covers the length of the Ecrins National Park. I had the luxury of being able to gawp at the views without the need to concentrate on driving and Jane was also able to enjoy them rather than checking on my driving! The journey was enjoyably slow with our driver having to select low gears for the many steep declines. On the rare inclines we crawled along in first gear and were glad that we were going from Briancon to Gap rather than the other way around – that would have taken many hours!
We arrived at the garage and were told that they would start looking at it in the morning. The AA translation was very useful again and they also found us a hotel with half-board in the centre of Gap. They also organised a taxi to collect us and, picking up our small overnight bag, we set off for Gap.
Gap is not in our French guide book and we know nothing about it except that it is not the home of the Gap fashion chain and it has free buses (we were told this by the garage owner via the AA and by the taxi driver). We wandered into the centre, which is pleasant enough and there is a large park on the short walk from the hotel to the centre.
The 'Gapotel' is a fairly standard business hotel and rather boring because of that but it is quite comfortable and the staff are very pleasant.
Photos: Loading Henrietta; Henrietta precariously perched.