After breakfasting on bread brought from one of the local bakeries, we set off for another six or seven hours of driving, hoping to get close to the Italian border.
The scenery gradually became more hilly and then mountains appeared in the distance – the Alps were in view. We had noted aires on our route but were hoping to make it to Briancon just a few miles from the Italian border. We made good time and decided to climb the major pass before Briancon. Henrietta toiled up the steep mountain roads and down again into the Serre Chevalier where there are a succession of ski resorts. This part of the trip was quite spectacular with forested mountain sides topped by barren peaks. The weather was once again excellent and the sun lit up the views.
We tried and failed to find the first two Serre Chevalier aires mentioned in the Camperstop Europe book but found the third at Parking Pontillas next to a closed 'Telecabin' ski lift. The sign suggested that we should pay €8 at the Tourist Information Office and the barrier would be opened by a “telecommand”. Quite how this would work we don't know but we didn't know where the Tourist Information Office was and it certainly wasn't going to be open at 19:00. So we parked outside the barrier close to the motorhome services and hoped that nobody objected.
Photos: The small lake next to Parking Pontillas.
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