Well having seen the forecast yesterday, we knew what was coming, but didn't think it'd actually rain from start to finish, but it did!
We partook in the traditional ritual of wetting or feet in the Atlantic, hopefully to be followed by the same in the Med on Saturday. Waved off by our ever-chirpy tour guides, we set off up the coast road and soon settled into groups of similar pace. The first mini-climb of the Col de St Ignace didn't seem to bad, although the descent was less than relaxing due to the slippery wet road. The guides yo-yo'd past us in the vans, making sure all were ok and gesticulating madly at appropriate points on tricky juctions.
A coffee stop at Espelette provided the first opportunity to get our Carnets stamped (a record that we have completed the route), by a very understanding cafe owner, who didn't seem to mind 20 drenched and smelly cyclists (literally) inundating his establishment, nor the crates of snack food brought in by the tour guides from the support van.
We charged on into the foothills, reaching St Jean Pied de Port for lunch, but the extended stop sitting I'm wet gear meant we left again shivering and keen to warm up again.
The only significant climb left was the Col d'Osquich, which was ok taken at a steady pace (a very steady pace in my case!), but again the wet roads rather spoiled what would have been a great descent.
The Hotel Au Bon Coin in Lurbe provided a hearty meal to finish off the day. Overall, a bit of a soaking but the legs didn't feel too bad. However by the time I sat down to write this the forecast suggested snowfalls above 1800 m tomorrow. And the highpoint of tomorrow's ride is the mighty Col du Tourmalet at 2115 m. I'm off to bed...
We partook in the traditional ritual of wetting or feet in the Atlantic, hopefully to be followed by the same in the Med on Saturday. Waved off by our ever-chirpy tour guides, we set off up the coast road and soon settled into groups of similar pace. The first mini-climb of the Col de St Ignace didn't seem to bad, although the descent was less than relaxing due to the slippery wet road. The guides yo-yo'd past us in the vans, making sure all were ok and gesticulating madly at appropriate points on tricky juctions.
A coffee stop at Espelette provided the first opportunity to get our Carnets stamped (a record that we have completed the route), by a very understanding cafe owner, who didn't seem to mind 20 drenched and smelly cyclists (literally) inundating his establishment, nor the crates of snack food brought in by the tour guides from the support van.
We charged on into the foothills, reaching St Jean Pied de Port for lunch, but the extended stop sitting I'm wet gear meant we left again shivering and keen to warm up again.
The only significant climb left was the Col d'Osquich, which was ok taken at a steady pace (a very steady pace in my case!), but again the wet roads rather spoiled what would have been a great descent.
The Hotel Au Bon Coin in Lurbe provided a hearty meal to finish off the day. Overall, a bit of a soaking but the legs didn't feel too bad. However by the time I sat down to write this the forecast suggested snowfalls above 1800 m tomorrow. And the highpoint of tomorrow's ride is the mighty Col du Tourmalet at 2115 m. I'm off to bed...
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