25-26/8 ‏France ‎to ‎Italy ‎via ‎Alps ‎12

25/8

Cycled from Manosque to Barles, 15km south of Seyne. 

I sometimes don't use strava as gps drains battery power fast and I am sometimes camping in remote areas without electricity or access is limited at camp site.

26/8 

Cycled Barles to Barcellonette and then to foot of col de vars but turned right to climb col de larche. 100km

Rockfall on col de larche and over officious policing. The police took names of both I and an Italian cyclist as we rode regardless of rockfall. Police asked us both to return to the bottom of the mountain but we refused. I said I would camp where they stopped us as I would be too late at airbnb check in. I even asked the police to drive us to top.  I was v lucky to get a drive to top from the Italian cyclist man with me. His wife  drove over the mountain to meet us and drove us both to the summit where Italy and France meet. I  then rode 40km down a v twisty fast road to Demonte to airbnb 

Showers?

Shower system in the wild camp days is 3 x 1.5litre bottles of water. 1/2 of 1st bottle over head, then shampoo and empty other half. Then a whole bottle non stop over head. Then a 3rd bottle to around body and head. This is quite sufficient to feel clean showered and comfy and unsticky with clothes on. It feels as clean as a hotel shower. 

Night is cold in alps

It is v cold in mountains during night so needs thermal jacket, wool jumper 2nd laye. T shirt layer...as well as sleep bag and seal in tent. High in alps it flips hot to cold as we move from direct sun to shade