This roadtrip marks our very first roadtrip adventure on our bikes, and we couldn't be more excited! We decided to set off for a two-day trip with one night's camping, and for this first experience we chose a destination that's familiar to us: the Verdon. It's a place we know well, which is very reassuring for me. This familiarity allows us to concentrate on the logistical aspects of the trip, such as testing the loading of our bikes and experimenting with camping, without having to worry about discovering a new place at the same time.
By choosing a short duration, we also reduce the risk of problems, which helps us to feel more serene and enjoy the experience to the full. It's a great way to get our bearings, better understand our needs on the road, our resistance to the kilometres and prepare for longer adventures in the future.
The organisation
The vagaries of the weather 🌞
We'd originally planned to set off on our roadtrip over a full weekend, but the capricious weather of this June 2024 decided otherwise. On the Saturday, the rain came down, making conditions for the start less than favourable.
It is precisely for this type of situation that we have chosen the freedom of camping rather than booking an Airbnb in advance. This flexibility meant we didn't have to stress about the vagaries of the weather. Rather than stubbornly leaving in the rain, we simply shifted our departure to Sunday, taking advantage of a more clement weather window.
So we hit the road on Sunday morning, with perfect conditions, and extended our adventure until Monday.
Business preparation
To make sure that nothing was left to chance, I had prepared a detailed list of everything we would need several weeks before we left. Thanks to NotionI was able to organise everything, from clothes to camping accessories, to make sure nothing was forgotten. This meticulous preparation really helped us to tackle the roadtrip with peace of mind.
Before leaving, we also took the time to test the pitching of our tent (directly in the living room given the weather). As this was the first time we'd used it, we wanted to make sure that everything went smoothly once we got there.
Once the list was finalised and the tent tamed, all that remained was to load the bikes. It was a real optimisation challenge! Simon added panniers to his motorbikeThis has considerably increased its storage capacity. For my part, I made do with the top case on the mine. We had to use our ingenuity to distribute the weight and maximise space, but in the end we were ready for the road, with everything we needed to enjoy this adventure in the best possible conditions.
Itinerary
| Day | Number of kilometres | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 246 | 2376m |
| 2 | 257 | 1420m |
Day 1
We took to the road in no hurry, preferring a mid-morning start to avoid getting too cold crossing the passes. Initially, our plan was to go over the Col d'Allos, but when we arrived we discovered that it was closed for roadworks. Rather than give in, we changed our route on the fly, and the change turned out to be for the best. We took the Col de la Cayolle, an absolutely magnificent spot where we decided to have a picnic.
We were so enchanted by this place that I immediately wanted to come back one day and bivouac there! During our meal, we were even lucky enough to spot a marmot, a magical moment. We had prepared a simple meal for our first picnic, which allowed us to take full advantage of the setting.
After this moment of relaxation, we hit the road again, but not without a break in Saint-Julien-du-Verdon. The long hours on the road were beginning to take their toll, especially on our bums! 😅
Our destination for the night was the Grand Canyon campsite at La-Palud-Sur-Verdon. It's a very affordable municipal campsite, at around €13 a night. When we arrived, the reception was closed, so we simply pitched our tent and planned to pay the next day before leaving. This campsite is familiar to me, I've been coming here since I was a little girl.
Once the bikes had been unloaded with all the camping gear, we hit the road again to explore Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. The heat was oppressive: I really felt the need to find a solution to avoid suffering in my motorbike trousers on future summer rides. The advantage of the motorbike is that we were able to ride up to the centre of the village and park our bikes there with no problem! 😍 We wandered through the charming shopping streets before stopping for a drink (just one, motorbike obliged!).
Back at the campsite, we needed a shower before dinner, as the evenings are cool in the Verdon, and I knew I wouldn't have the courage to take a shower on the way back from the restaurant. The campsite was a bit far from the centre, so we walked about ten minutes to our restaurant for the evening. On the menu: burgers and a jug of red wine, taking advantage of the fact that we were on foot this time. To top it all off, we were even treated to a génépi as an after-dinner drink. The food may not have been incredible, but that little génépi was the perfect end to the evening!
After a beautiful evening, we finally went to bed in our camp, which was already ready and waiting for us. Everything was in place for a royal sleep... well, almost. Unfortunately, our night was somewhat disrupted by the numerous vans and motorhomes around us, their doors slamming incessantly. Not exactly the peace and quiet you'd expect from a night out in the great outdoors! 😭 But then, that's the joys of camping!
Day 2
The night went well, despite the minor inconveniences caused by the noise. In the morning, we took the time to pack up the tent before enjoying a well-deserved coffee at the local bar. While putting up the tent the day before had been child's play, taking it down proved to be much more time-consuming. We had to fit everything back into our bikes, and that's a whole different kettle of fish! This experience made us think: itinerant camping for a single night may not be the most practical idea, especially with bikes that are already well loaded. Every square centimetre of storage space counts, and the slightest misplaced item can quickly become a headache. It's clearly given us something to think about for our future trips!
The route des crètes
The Route des Crêtes is definitely the place to be THE road made for motorbikes. From the moment you set off, it's easy to see why it's so popular with motorcyclists: the scenery is simply breathtaking. This road offers a partially one-way loop, so you can really enjoy yourself without worrying too much about oncoming traffic.
During a photo break, while we were admiring the view, we were lucky enough to see vultures soaring not far from us. For any motorcyclist, the Route des Crêtes is an experience not to be missed, both for the driving and for the panoramic views it offers.
Tour of the lake and restaurant with a view
We had originally planned to have a leisurely picnic in Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, buying a couple of sandwiches at the local supermarket. But as we circled the lake, we came across a hotel-restaurant that immediately caught our eye. A quick look at the Google reviews, and we couldn't resist changing our plans!
And what a bargain it was! Not only were we warmly greeted by a waiter who took great care of us, but the food turned out to be a real delight. Every dish was tasty and perfectly prepared. And what about the view! From the restaurant's terrace, we enjoyed a magnificent panorama of Lac de Sainte-Croix, which made the meal even more memorable. Sometimes, following your instincts leads to better surprises than you bargained for!
ℹ️ This is the Cavalets restaurant.
Return via the Valensole plateau and Digne
After filling our bellies with this delicious meal, we set off on the return journey, passing through the magnificent lavender fields. The intoxicating scent and vibrant colours of these purple expanses made the journey even more enjoyable.
However, we were beginning to feel a bit tired, so we decided to take a short break in a park in Digne-les-Bains. It was the perfect opportunity to get out our dice and play a game of Yams. A welcome moment of relaxation before hitting the road again.
When we finally arrived home, it was a real relief to get back to our mountain calm and our comfortable mattress. There's nothing like coming home after a great adventure, especially with a head full of memories and legs that just need a rest! 😂
Budget
Initially, our plan was simple: to have a good meal only on Sunday evening. But in the end, we let ourselves be tempted by another meal at the restaurant on Monday lunchtime. After all, we're on a roadtrip to enjoy ourselves, aren't we? That's also why we opted for camping rather than an Airbnb: save on accommodation to make the most of the local gastronomy.
For the first lunch, we had planned a picnic with sandwiches prepared in advance. We took the time to enjoy this meal at a sunny stop on the way, which gave us a good balance between simplicity and pleasure at the start of our adventure.
This small budget adjustment allowed us to make the most of our stay, while keeping our expenses under control. That's the art of travelling in a 125cc: knowing how to combine economy and pleasure!
Balance sheet
We had decided to stay connected by intercom throughout the roadtrip so that we could talk to each other easily on the road. However, we decided not to, the experience turned out to be less pleasant than expected. Interference was frequent, making conversations inaudible at times, and the range of our devices was much more limited than we expected. On a number of occasions, the connection cut out as soon as we were a little bit apart, which made the intercom more frustrating than useful. In the end, it got us thinking about other ways of communicating better on future trips.
Overall, rediscovering this region on a motorbike completely transformed our experience. Whereas in the car we were used to sitting by the lake and staying there, the motorbike gave us much more freedom. We were able to explore more roads and landscapes, discovering places we would probably never have seen otherwise. The feeling of riding along these winding roads, with the wind at our backs and breathtaking views around every bend, was simply fantastic. This fresh perspective allowed us to really appreciate the diversity and beauty of the region from a whole new angle.
| ❣️ What we liked ❣️ | 😅 What we liked least 🙅♀️ |
|---|---|
| A low-budget overnight stay! | Motorbike clothing for stopovers in high temperatures |
| The flexibility of not having to make any bookings and being able to be more freestyle in terms of organisation | The intercoms are not as good as we would have liked... |
| Take advantage of routes that you would never have taken by car | Lots of CCs and vans, on the road they drive slowly without checking the mirrors, at the campsite they make a mess with no concern for others... |