3 Rider, 3 Bikes, 3 Countries in 1 day

I'm a very fortunate person, and I've had many amazing days on my bike... and today was second to none!

Yep... amazing.

So ...where do you start... first let me tell you the plan. Ride from Nice to Monaco, and then on to Italy and back. Yep... it's only about 30-35k to Italy, so 60-70k all up, but it's still 3 countries. Here's the map.. pretty simple stuff eh!

And then... we go and ride it..... and  just outside Nice we climbed along the coast road passed an amazing Hotel I stayed with SuperGal and the kids long ago...and then BAM, you turn a corner to see an amazing view. Mountains, Blue blue sea, White buildings, Cruise ships dotted around. Breathtaking! Right there I know this was going to one of the "off the dial" days.

We met a fellow Aussie (from Cremorne - currently in Singapore) riding a fixie, and continued on together till Monaco, passed the house of the future MrP.

First one serious rider comment about Monaco - There is a crazy and freaky tunnel system on both approaches to the town. We managed to avoid it on the eastern side, but on the West failed both times. It's not good for cyclists, and I suggest you research how to avoid it before riding there!

Anyway... the tunnels navigated and survived we arrived in Monaco and stopped for a drink. Possibly the most expensive coke and coffee in the world! Then headed out of town, only to find ourselves at the Casino, and wow, Wonderboy and I were in heaven with just insane car action. We decided that in Monaca you have your Porsche convertible to run to the shops so you keep the mileage on your Veyron down!

OK... then we headed away from the Casino, and found ourselves winding down the hill on the F1 circuit... seriously... around the tight switch-backs I've seen on TV a zillion times,..the best aerial shot in F1.

Next, we're out of Monaco and decide to get some k's done and push on passed Menton into Italy. I pointed out the Italy 1k sign to Wonderboy, and immediately put the smack down. Wonderboy showed his youthful exuberance by laying chase and passing me with 400m to go. Oh the joy... of him making a big mistake as I sat on his wheel and flew passed just before the boarder. Make that 1 for the oldies!

Well, next was lunch in Italy, and we walked down a rocky path to a small private beach with a little restaurant (maybe 6 tables). The waitress/owner was super friendly and helped us with our Italiano, including how to correctly say Grazie.

The food was amazing (Need new superlative), simple, tastey, Italian food at it's best. MissP declared the Pasta with Clams the best thing she has EVER eaten. Seriously, how can we ever have expected to find a location and food to match so perfectly the days ride. Ridiculous!

Next were heading back into France, then of course, decide to stop, MissP buys a new bikini (I think that makes 6 she's now travelling with) and Wonderboy buys some swimmers (that makes 1) and we stop in Menton for a splash. (Don't panic, I wore my Nicks .. I didn't want us arrested .. that was to almost occur... 10k late in Monaca...so read on!)

Then, Wet, Tired, Excited, and a little overwhelmed, we head back the way we came. All running very smoothly and quickly back to Monaco. And... if we didn't do enough F1 action on the way in, this time we took the F1 tunnel and around passed the Pits and the Swimming pool. Super fun!

Then..... (Pause)... I decided to try and find a path out of Nice avoiding the freaky tunnel system, and we found ourselves up a dead end road to the Palace car park. Being as resourceful as we are we then took 2 escalators, 1 lift and another escalator to emerge at the Palace on a road the looked more promising. We then headed up that road and onto a path when the road had no entry signs. Next a very helpful looking policeman waved me over, and thinking I could get directions to Nice happily wandered over. What I discovered is that we were riding illegaly in some way (maybe because it was pedestrian only or one way the other way... I'm not sure), he states that it's a 150 euro fine each and if we don't pay immediately he will take us to the police station and confiscate our bikes... seriously!!

I think 3 things then occurred that lead him to say "Just turn and ride away right now... before I change my mind" , they were.... I said we were from Australia, MissP tried the hair flick cute pouty look thing, and Wonderboy did his best 'future TDF winner" impression.  We will never know which was the one the melted his very tough approach, but "great job team"!!

So, more than a little freaked we had to head out onto the freaky tunnels (which were fortunately pretty short), and then head home. Again the views were amazing, but we were tired, 6 hours on the road, and the traffic seemed to come from no where. Just taking it easy and with a great little stop for Coke and Sandwich (and a small frites), we made our way home.

All that was left to do... was a little shopping, a swim on the beach (at 8:30pm) and then off to dinner. Pizza and Salad, with a bottle of Nicholas Feuillatte to celebrate and extraordinary day. The champagne was so good that Wonderboy voted it the least disgusting alcohol he's tasted!

 

 

So... there ya have it - 3 countries in 1 day, 3 big'ish kids in the playground of the world. Wow.

Any tomorrow... the TDF team time trial... Wow.

Paula's footnotes: After the day of adventure I decided that I needed to put in a little more effort to my usual trigal shorts, t-shirt and pulled back hair look incase we ran into a tour bus full of hot, fit, rich Sky Team cyclist's heading into town for tomorrows big day of Le Tour racing  (Zoom Zoom Froome in particular) but not a bus in sight. Will have to step it up again tomorrow as my Mr Perfect/ticket to new life in Monaco may be rolling into town.