Today was a very short drive from Gap to Grenoble continuing on the Route Napoleon, a wonderful road. We are now in the Alps proper with snowy peaks up to 10,000ft all around, but mainly to the east. The climb out of Gap on a sunny morning took a while as I kept stopping to take pictures. Bus stops were handy places to pull off although traffic was not a problem. As there is an Autoroute (Péage), the commercial traffic and the road warriers pay the tolls for 130 kph speed limits. The humble tourist and local drivers enjoy quiet roads almost devoid of trucks. The total distance for the day was just under 100 miles including two planned side trips of which more later. When you get close to Grenoble it becomes very urban after dropping down about 2,000ft from Laffrey over a distance of less than 5 miles but with no hairpins! There is not a convenient Tesla Supercharger but the Ionity charger at a large suburban supermarket did just fine to be sure of a clean start on Saturday. A recent software update ensures that regardless of the charging provider the car will condition the battery as if it was for a Supercharger so 15 minutes was just enough time to do a little shopping before I was ready to go. Ionity is a little more expensive but I have found them fast and reliable on the whole. I had a very short walk, really just to stretch my legs, from the hotel in the centre of Grenoble but will explore in detail tomorrow. There was a little challenge at the hotel. The lovely receptionist asked if I was aware that the car park was tiny. I had booked a space in advance. Anyway she said I’ll open the gate and see how you get on. I managed but was grateful for another recent software update that makes 3 point (make that 15 point) turns easy. Anyway I squeezed into a spot so all is well as it will stay there till Saturday. Dinner, across the street from the hotel was a joy. Excellent food and wine, great staff and a good vibe, even with Charles Aznevour music playing quietly in the background. So far Grenoble is providing a very enjoyable stay as the room is also very comfortable and quiet despite being on a busy corner. Triple glazing works! Anyway here are some picture starting on the climb out of Gap. My first side trip was to a winter resort La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar in the heart of the Parc National des Écrins. In fact I followed a classic glaciated valley to La Chapelle which was either shut or under refurbishment, as I expected. It was a very good road and the views were spectacular including the river which would rage when the major snow melt takes place. Despite the sun it was cold. Altitude will do that! Sorry for the large number of pictures but I could have included twice as many. My second side trip was less successful as the clouds had rolled in. My plan was to make the steep drive up to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette and her panoramic views but I gave up at the cloud base after an amazing and at times scarey drive with drops of over 1000ft by the side of the road. Fortunately I only had to avoid the French post van. I occasinally have unexpected emotional moments and had one on this side trip. Part way up there is a chapel, graveyard and memorial to the 58 people, mainly Canadian, who died in a plane crash on the nearby peak of Mount l’Obiou in 1950. There is a memorial made from pieces of the Douglas C54B plane and thre are simple concrete graves for the victims. It was not the crash that raised my emotions but the simple graves so far from their homes with no evidence of anyone having visited. With happier thoughts I’l finish with a few snaps here in Grenoble.