Patrick Wheeler on the Le Route Napoleon 2013

Patrick Wheeler on the Le Route Napoleon 2013
Patrick Wheeler on a run over the Le Route Napoleon in November of 2013
Published by: All Car Central Publishing
Date published: 11/06/2013



Patrick Wheeler takes a run over the Le Route Napoleon in November of 2013

Le Route par google maps | explique au Wikipedia | explained in Movie clips and text (second of top 10 roads this trip)

Le Route Napoleon 2013

Nice big open vista's, open spaces, so welcome after the crowds and hectic of the mediteranee

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

Not heavy traffic in the morning, but I could have started it even earlier ...

Lad
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Still morning mists in the vallees and this is one of the last weekends one could do this run hard, the verglas (black ice) warning signs are frequent ...

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

This is sheep country, and the signs tell you the sheep have the right of way, but this holiday Friday they are all cooped up ....

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

Lovely Lovely little town of Castellane and all I have to show for it is a sunspotted shot out the sunroof ... oh darn, I blinked and missed it ...

Lad
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Just looking at the GPS is enough to cause raptures, the kidney shapes behind were just as good as the ones ahead, pavement in prime condition, largely open road, not a care in the world ...

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

Up and over and see the valley mists below, everyone is parked on the sides of the road, it is truffle season still, and also perfumeries is huge in this neighborhood, I do not stop to ask ....

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

Oh sweetness ... or is that squeeee!!!

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Le Route Napoleon 2013

Sorry, is so much fun trying to squeeze through

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

Oh, such a lovely little town, must return some day, wonder what its name was, went by awfully fast, lovely stream below it, amazing fortress above ..

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

Not nearly so big, but sweet nonetheless ... that pointy bit in the middle is a remnant of a castle fortification ... traffic increases and roadworks an unwelcome intrusion

Lad
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Long section of no photos, a merc and I were dicing it up, I loved the little car, merc had the grunt to catch me in the straights, I was handling corners like no-one's business with a perfect balance, full trunk , and squeaker in the passenger's seat and he had not a chance ... and I squeaked not a tire (but did rub them slightly)

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

A pause as civilization happens in the high mountain valleys and traffic and pedestrians take place of open roads ...

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

The climates changed more times than I could count on this route ... and the scenery just goes from great to greater ...

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

But soon enough we head into Grenoble via the 130kph motorway and the fun is largely over as the motorway slog sets in around Lyon and north ...

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Le Route Napoleon 2013

Back to a favorite hideaway, the region of white burgundy, Meursault ...

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

Everywhere you turn the colors are popping as the energy and car winds down ...

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Le Route Napoleon 2013

Lovely little hideaway just outside of touristy Beune, the boys are still hard at work among the vines as the day's light ebbs away ..

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

Still has roses blooming!

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

And the tiny market has the most amazing fresh oysters, the waitress and her boy are total dolls, washed down with a white burgundy chardonnay ... life is not better ... very nice way to unwind ... shoulders un-clench ... heavy sigh of contentment ...

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

And so to home and to bed ... no, not here, I wish, little plot with a stream running through it, we are instead over the rise at our favorite hipster's paradise, the old Les Hautes de Meursault motorlodge

Lad
Le Route Napoleon 2013

But if I could share a photo of what it feels like, well, this is about it ... May I wish you a very good night ...

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