I mostly had a lovely day today. I decided I needed to go up a mountain on a motorbike, so I headed to the Col de la Madeleine. Left home for the garage. Definitely didn't feel cold out, like, no where near freezing at all.
Headed down the mountain to get fuel and then go up to the Col.
On the road down, there is one section that never sees sunlight at all. It's always a bit damp. And three other hairpins that are generally a bit damp but they dry up cos they do get a little bit of sun at some point.
You know where this is going, right?!!
I was only bimbling, luckily. Even more luckily, I never 'grip' the bars, only ever put my hands on the bars (pretty sure it's helped me avoid worse fates before today!). I've also only been using the rear brake on the descent cos the front hurts my arm. 3 pluses today!!
As I got to the damp bit, I started braking (rear) and the bike danced. Literally - I had no idea which way either wheel was going to go, and they weren't talking to each other. So I let off, tried again. same thing. I really needed to brake now cos there was a bend in the road coming up and if it was as icy there as the straight bit, I REALLY needed less speed!!
After the third try, I spotted that the verge had gone from rubble looking stuff to a pretty flat gravel area, so I 'somehow' managed to slide the bike off the road onto the gravel
Slowed right down to almost stationary, then had to get back on the road at a much slower speed and get down the last bit of damp road to find the dry bit!!
Bloody hell that was exciting!!
I think that was the worst 'lack of control' experience I've ever had and stayed upright!! Thank Fuck I did!! Can't break my mates bike and I need to stay unhurt for at least another week to do the exam!!
Soooooo - got down the rest of the mountain, got some fuel and decided I'd head up to the Col de la Madeleine. I'd spent half the rest of the ride down talking myself out of it but then realised that the roads up to the Madeleine face south east (mostly) and there aren't any areas as wet and covered as the bit that was icy!!
Bloody glad I did go up - beautiful. Good for the mind, body and soul (although my arm is not a happy arm now! - but the rest of me is much happier!). And there were some random free running horses up at the top too - awesome (pretty sure they weren't supposed to be free running!
)
Totally awesome day finished with revision. My mates shop isn't open tomorrow, so I'm staying up here then heading to Chambery in the minibus early afternoon - less chance of problems on the road!!
Gratuitous pics
) cos I need more smart clothes for the exam in case it isn't till the end of the week. I only have two shirts and one of those might not be described as 'smart' - just realised I forgot to sew the top of the v neck on the smart one 
FFS!! If the unemployemnet/training money comes in tomorrow I think I'll pop to a big supermarket and see if I can find a 'not to expensive' top or two!! (My T-rex t-shirts and other shirts with commentary really won't set the right tone!!)