Martigny to Bourg en Bresse (291 miles)

Last day of mountain passes. This time it starts with the Grand Bernardo from Switzerland back into Italy. This is a busy route so the road is wide but rather than taking the tunnel I opted for the mountain pass. This is another 2500m plus pass & is virtually empty. Nearing the peak you cross the border. Two cold looking Polizia nod to me from their patrol car as I pass. Visibility is down to a few feet as I’m now in the cloud level. Tiptoeing through the mist I’m trying to not to think of cliff edges when suddenly I’m through & see in front of me the valley below, the winding road disappearing into the distance – all overlooked by the distinctive peak of the Matterhorn. As I start the descent, a solitary building & a statue mark the way before I plummet back into the cloud. Onwards to Mont Blanc but again rather than opting for the tunnel headed for the Col de Petit – my last alpine pass. Great road & once again stunning views. Speed was restricted a bit by stretches of roadworks (with no road surface) but this didn’t stop it being memorable. I was joined by a styled up Italian on a white Street Triple (with stripes & end bar mirrors of course). Memorable. Stopped for fuel & got talking to a bloke from Colorado. “Just been on my annual bike trip to the mountains - but have you heard?”...err, what? “We’ve had the heaviest rain in living memory – it was a washout”. Ok. Now back in the tidiness of France I track the Rhone one last time. This time the river is much bigger and sits in a wide imposing river valley on its way to Lyon. I head further north ready to hit the motorway tomorrow. Sadly that marks the end of the mountain passes.