Au revoir!

[Kirstie]

So long everyone - tomorrow I head south with my other half for a nine day tour in and around the pyrenees followed by a week in a gite eating cheese.
Thanks to my other half's over ambitious route planning we'll be heading up the port de paliheres, as featured in this year's stage 14 of the tdf, with a full camping load...I'll let you all know if I'mstill married at the end of it!

I've printed off my Sheldon Brown French vocab so I'm all prepared!

Byeeee!

 

[summerdays]

Have a nice trip and I will wait to see the good photos that usually appear at the end of your trips...

 

[rich p]

Bon voyage. We did a few Pyreneean cols this time and as long as you do it at your own pace with stops if necessary, I'm sure divorce proceedings will be averted!

 

[frank9755]

Good luck. I went up the Col de Pailheres last year, with panniers (but not camping gear). It's a fair old climb. I went up from Ax (opposite way to TdF). Was rotten weather but cleared on the top so I could see the view.

Hope you enjoy it!

 

[asterix]

I'm hooked on the Pyrennees - a magical part of the world. In 2007 we did the Raid Pyrenean (10 day touring version) and in June we did it again (100 hour masochists version). After these experiences I'd definititely recommend touring at your own pace!

 

[Fletch456]

Happy Holidays. May be off their next year to the Raid Pyrenean - though it's next September I currently probably couldn't get up a couple of Cols in the same week never mind day after day :[

 

[andyfromotley]

Fromage?? Tres bien.

 

[hackbike 666]

Good luck Kirstie.

 

[Crankarm]

Have a nice time. Did you know there are wolves in the Pyrenees? Yep the French re-introduced them in the last few years amid much controversy, not to mention the risk of spreading rabies ......................

 

[asterix]

Have a nice time. Did you know there are wolves in the Pyrenees? Yep the French re-introduced them in the last few years amid much controversy, not to mention the risk of spreading rabies ......................

I think you mean bears?

Bears have been reintroduced amidst some protests and it's not unusual to see the slogan 'Non aux ours' painted on the roads.

A lot of the local dog breeds do look a bit wolf-like, especially the eyes, but they are domesticated. My avatar is a Pyrenean Mountain dog I met whilst it was guarding sheep on the aubisque. It was completely unaggressive since I was no threat to its flock.

 

[Crankarm]

I think you mean bears?

Bears have been reintroduced amidst some protests and it's not unusual to see the slogan 'Non aux ours' painted on the roads.

A lot of the local dog breeds do look a bit wolf-like, especially the eyes, but they are domesticated. My avatar is a Pyrenean Mountain dog I met whilst it was guarding sheep on the aubisque. It was completely unaggressive since I was no threat to its flock.

You sure about that .............. .

 

[asterix]

You sure about that .............. .

or..

Ewe sure about that?

The answer is no, I've nothing to be sheepish about. Besides the temp was 8C and it was p1551n6 it down.

 

[Kirstie]

Well, I'm back. I didn't see any bears, but I did see evidence of wild boar...
Anyway, the photos are being sorted out next week. We had a brilliant time - 3 days of the canal du midi and its boneshaking riding surface, a day into the pyrennees, and then three days of climbing which featured: col de jau; port de pailheres; port de lers and col d'agnes on consecutive days (port de lers and col d'agnes were done in one day). The climbs were torture but the descents were the most fun I've had with my clothes on - especially the port de pailheres. We came out of the pyrennes on a descent which lasted 40 (four-zero) miles which was like mannah from heaven for my poor legs. One day of the ride generated the most ridiculous set of stats I've ever seen: 7,500 feet of climbing in just 52 miles. We camped on all but one night and were really impressed with the french attitude to cycling in general.
I really recommend doing something like this but *do more training first and make sure you eat properly* then it will be slightly less torturous...
Here endeth the brief post-tour report

 

[theloafer]

hi kirstie
welcome back sounds like you had a great trip looking forward to seeing your photos last year we did the french alps which were brill thinking of poss the pyrenees once i get fitness back ..

larry