Turin to Annecy.............

Turin was the last part of the official Italian Job route, with the route after this being largely up to individual teams. There are only two ways to get past the Alps, over or under. One of our trip rules is to hold our breadth whilst travelling through tunnels, so when we discovered one of the tunnels under the alps was ten km long, we weren't left much of a choice......

We joined a five car convey consisting of real minis and the classic fiat dino (team 20), and started to wind our way up the Col du Mont Cenis. This afforded us some spectacular mountains views, and some of the best driving of the trip. On descending into Lanselbourg the road to Val d'Isere was closed, so we were gutted that our prize of the Col d'Iseran looked unabtainable.


Never ones to follow diversions, and with a quick conference teams 15, 16, and 53 decided to still try for the Col, which at 2770m is the 2nd highest in Europe. Team 15's GPS revealed a short off-road alternative around the road works, and we conventiently forget to understand any of the french road signs, driving around about ten road closures, started our bid of the Col.

Our efforts were rewarded with some of the finest weather, jaw dropping big mountain views , and a fine herd of goats as we drove the final 23 km up to the Col. We stopped at the Col for photos, and a wee glass of fizzy stuff. The altitude was taking its tol on the cars with our mini deciding to let off some steam, and team 15's supercharger sounding more like a averagecharger.

(another animated GIF, click to see!)

We descended into Val d'Isere, sticking to the pistes, and took in two red and three blue runs. Val d'Isere was dead, but we were all starving and found the only place in town open for lunch.

The final part of our route was quite dull in comparison, driving down to Bourg St Maurice then onto to our hotel in Annency.