Van & Bike life in Queyras
Black Sheep Van, what's that?
Black Sheep's tagline is "I am not a follower," and that was already a good sign that we had a lot in common with them! Also based in the Rhône-Alpes region, Black Sheep Van is a van rental agency (all sizes) for weekend getaways or week-long trips, depending on your needs. In addition to its cool image, the vans they offer are beautiful and high-quality, perfect for escaping with minimal comfort and a free spirit to explore the best spots.
Let's get back to the shared values: van holidays are about freedom—the freedom to stop wherever you want, to change locations depending on the weather, to return to a more minimalist lifestyle, and to reconnect with nature. But if you can also store your two bikes (and your buddy Django), it's the perfect combination for a great weekend.
Desire
In short, we've just come off a very busy summer for us (the clubhouse opened in mid-June) with rides and events every week, and late closing times on Saturdays and Sundays. We needed a bit of a break, in addition to taking photos for our new mid-season jackets (still a bit of work to do, even if it's not a factory).
For that, we headed to the Queyras. Because it's absolutely stunning, and taking advantage of the last beautiful days of autumn, these colours, and the mountains emptied of tourists, was just too tempting!
The experience
Choosing your first spot
We wanted to go to the Queyras region because the mountain passes there are superb, and the larches are a magnificent color in October. It was a nice change from the mountains around Annecy. There were several options along the way, but between paying €60 for the Fréjus tunnel or going over the Galibier pass, the choice was easy, as Jean-Pierre would say!
Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great, but we still had the opportunity to take a short walk at the foot of Mont Thabor and then continue up the pass from Valloires. The atmosphere was truly magical, with each turn offering a little more elevation and new views of the route we'd traveled. We were getting closer to the summit; the first traces of snow were there, the pass was closed to traffic, but it was too tempting to go to the top for the satisfaction of seeing the sign.
I start the descent on my bike, but the mist, the rain, and the 4-degree temperature encourage me to get back in the van. There will be other opportunities; the forecast is for good weather in the coming days.
Heading towards the Col de l'Izoard
After this invigorating warm-up, we resumed our original route towards the Queyras. As soon as we reached the Lautaret Pass, the mist lifted, revealing the beautiful autumn colors in the valley towards Briançon. We quickly left the town behind to tackle the Izoard Pass. The atmosphere there was truly magnificent, and the larch forest beyond Cervières immersed us in the ambiance. Near the Refuge Napoléon, a gravel road branches off in the opposite direction. At the edge of the forest and just 1 km from the summit, this would be our spot for the night.
Driven by the rain, the night turned out to be quite chilly; perhaps we should have heeded the advice to sleep down below. Admittedly, at 2200m altitude in October, it was a bit ambitious, but no regrets. With no cell service at our spot, it was the disconnection we were seeking.
The next day, with the return of good weather, Flore really wanted to climb the Izoard from the Arvieux side. The deserted scree slope had inspired her.The perfect opportunity, while the sun is slow to appear, to shoot our new jersey mid-season Perfect for the occasion. A short lunch break at the Col de la Platrière, an opportunity to enjoy some Tomme de l'Izoard cheese and a Queyras tart.
To end in a blaze of glory
What would a trip to the Queyras be without a visit to the Col Agnel? Remembering my first gravel trip in 2020, we headed towards the pass in search of a spot for our last night so we could climb it the next day. After passing Molines-en-Queyras, we found our little spot by the river, as the Col Agnel is followed along its entire middle section by a gravel trail.
Waking up, what a pleasure it was to open the mosquito nets and see the contrast between the blue sky and the yellow-orange trees. The climb was going to be beautiful, another opportunity for me to capture it with photos and for Flore to discover this mountain pass. With a summit at 2744m, it's one of the legendary passes of the Tour de France, the second highest paved mountain pass in France and the third highest in Europe. An atmosphere difficult to describe, but one you have to experience. The calm of October certainly plays a part, in addition to the ideal weather. Bathed in sunshine, Flore decided to descend, taking the GoPro with her.
We're taking a little more time to enjoy ourselves; we're not too keen to go home. We've grown to love this lifestyle and our routines in the van. A bit of a drive back, just to think about our next destination!
Matchy equipment
The perfect combo for beautiful autumn days: With our new mid-season jersey, Perfect for outings between 5 and 15 degrees Celsius, make the right choice for your autumn outings. Combine with a vest Or windbreaker depending on the weather. Also discover our new winter accessories: arm warmers, overshoes, and merino socks, which will soon be arriving in the shop. And also our lifestyle range, Organic cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts!
I am not a follower
So, yes, the car is still less eco-friendly than the bike, but we prefer to talk about our local area accessible by car, rather than taking a plane to explain how great it is to drive in the sun in the middle of winter... No judgment, everyone is free to do as they please, but we find ourselves in this approach of discovering places accessible in a few hours!
Thanks to Polo, Alix and Cécile from Black Sheep Van.
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