I love driving my Morgan convertable. Now en-route through France, from Bandol to Roscoff in three gentle stages (two stop over nights), so that no leg is more than 5 hours long. French roads are stunningly beautiful and far surpass the English apology for its broken system. Firstly the pothole - a British pothole will often have a white paint circle sprayed from a can to indicate it's presence. Some are not marked as such but contain a puddle of water or selection of gravel and stones at the bottom. The shape of a British pothole can be catagorized into groups - useful or lethal. The useful serves as a random speed reducing speed-bump. The lethal can be a foot deep wound that will cause a blown tyre or shattered alloy wheel. Most at risk from these British road features is the motorcyclist but since their vehicle is only one wheel in width it can more easily be manouvered to avoid falling into the hole. The British hole is frequently not a hole but more of a trough, that can extend for several car lengths or cover the entire width of the carriageway. France has none of this nonsence and so the difference is enormous - the enjoyment makes for a blissfull breakaway from my home in Devon, UK.
We have county council websites where the reporting of potholes by the road user is designed to make the authorities aware. I have used the reporting method just once but was insenced to discover that a load of preamble included some moral blackmail warnings against doing so - because repairs cost money that might prevent or delay other road projects !!!
Enough of the grumbes and more about the journey.
One especially scenic section of road is alongThe Gorges de l'Ardèche. Of several stops to admire the views the most exciting is one of the highest points where Alpine Swifts can be spotted.
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