Day 4 on the mountains Gran Bosco to Rochemolles

Day 4 we started out clean from the well appreciated showers the night before and took the tarmac up the valley to the old village of Rochemolles. We made our way up the valley on tarmac/tight bends so 3rd gear low / no difflock was the order of the day.

There we had a nice stroll and took some pictures in the church and around the village before heading off for the highpoint of our trip.

Stopping off at Scarfiotti Refuge to take lunch up in the Colle del Sommeiller where excellent ice creams are served and off again to the high pass.

Up the road from the refuge It was turn, after turn, after turn and the clouds closed in. At the refuge there had been a geological display and there was a geological itinerary we could have walked if we’d had time. We may come back again.

Going up there were sequences of marbles, slates verging on schist's and large iron stained sections that looked like dolomites from a distance.(see this picture take on the way down)

We topped out at 9329 ft (2843m) according to the Sat Nav and were unable to go further because the road was blocked, so not quite the 10000 ft, but still one major achievement for a 25 year old vehicle and a not very expert 50 year old driver.

Mike presented us with Alpine Rovers stickers to celebrate the achievement.

Unfortunately the heavens opened when we were there and we had to head back which was no mean feat as the visibility was awful by then. I had to ask Rhian to get out in the rain and watch me back around a boulder because I was struggling to see where the road was. Being the star she is she helped Chris make the same manoeuvre before we set off.

Back down was almost as hard work as going up and I was glad to make the bottom where we headed straight for camp whilst there was a break in the clouds.

Just in time as as the heavens soon opened and I settled down for a serious nap before making tea which was some excellent sausage spirals, onions and followed by the Berry Bosco.

Early night tonight given the weather, which was spectacular thunder and lightning with heavy rain lashing down. Some of the lighting/thunder was really close as there was very little time between so probably hitting the hills around. I would not have liked to be camping much higher tonight

What more have we learned

1. We really do need a rear facing camera. Mike told us we were leaving a lot of space on corners when we reversed making then 5 point instead of 3 point turns and increasing the work on me.
2. It’s nice having a camper in bad weather 
3. Rhian suggested more catches on the cupboard doors which is a good idea as they were taking a hammering 
4. Dust gets in the gas safety vent holes in the bottom which is probably why they were blocked up when we got Katy. I need to think of a safe way of dust proofing them 
5. We talked about the things we could have brought from home that should be on the going away list because I’ve forgotten them in the past e.g. Tea, UHT Milk, Dried Milk, etc. 

Damage / Problems so far

1. None