Thursday 2016/09/08

Camping Gran Bosco – Assietta Kammstraße – Col du Sommelier – Camping Gran Bosco

On this day I finally wanted to take gravel roads under the tires. I had been looking forward to it since the tour to Albania in spring.

First I drive the Assietta-Kammstraße (Strada dell'Assietta). The weather conditions are good, maybe a little too hot, but rather sunshine than rain. Already the way via Susa to the start of the Assietta is a pleasure. Soon the road changes from tarmac to gravel. I am lucky and can pass by a convoy of about 20 four-wheel cars. I'm glad not to be here in the high season. There are probably traffic jams everywhere on the gravel roads in this area.

Soon I reach the starting gate of the Assietta. This street is epic. It is quite easy to ride. The only thing to be careful about are ground shafts, especially if you're going through them a bit too fast. In this state the Assietta could also without problems be taken fully loaded with any suitable motorcycle.

A few times on the Assietta I meet a guy from Luxembourg, who's riding his brand new GS. Shortly after the exit gate of the Assietta we meet again and come into conversation. Since he has lost his routes on the GPS somehow, he joins me as I still want more gravel on this day and there's still enough time.

We ride down into the valley and then head towards the Col du Sommelier. In Bardonecchia, we have a late lunch and then the adventure continues.

The Col du Sommelier is a bit more demanding than the Assietta on some not very long parts. There is a part already quite far up, where the gravel turns into rocks, which lying in your way. In a turn my companion lost balance. He only has road tires and loses traction and falls. Well, shit happens. It is admirable that he takes it very calmly that his new GS has got a few scratches.

The Col du Sommelier is impressive. Two motorcyclists have still climbed a steep slope. One of them tries it a second time and crashes but nothing happens to him.

We have to go back the same way, but also in this direction we have a lot of fun and some beautiful views.

Unfortunately, there's no time to go on for another route today, so we decide to go back to the camping Gran Bosco to have dinner together. My companion then has to go further to Susa, where he stayed in a hotel.

A great day, which I enjoyed very much. The special highlight was to find a new friend. Too bad that we can not go on together the next day, since he has to return home and I also have continue to the south.