Le Alpes

Spain

Pyrenees Pics

Subterrenian cycling

Pyrenees foothills
Allez les Bleu in Foix

These are a few of my favourite things…..

Emma and JJ, for letting me share two and a half months with them in France

Lisa and Kevin and their hospitality in London and Wales adventures

The patisserie (or more specifically, whats inside). Does une tarte aux framboise count as one of the ‘five plus a day’ ? surely ! ! Plus all the other tempting treats along the way

Cycling in France. Even though its been a bit limited due to Bordeaux antics, its still been fantastic : exploring cities, the rural villages and countryside, cols and alpine foothills…. Ca c’est tres jolie

The french…. Friendly, welcoming and tolerant of my butchered attempts at their language

A Bientôt France

Back in Clermont Ferrand, preparations are slowly being made for the next voyage to the States. We climbed Puy de Dome, another of the classic Tour monts, with a summit of 1465m. Although it hasnt been part of the tour for a while, it was made famous in the 60s and 70s, particularly the famous picture of Anquetil and Poulidor in the 1964 Tour. Even though there was low cloud, the view of the plains and volcanic mountain chain are breathtaking.

Back to France for a week in the Alpes and Le Tour de France

From Barcelona we arrived in Vaison-la-Romaine to thunder and lightning amongst the grapevines. Clear blue skies greated us the next day and we wandered around the roman ruins in the town, then to the Haute Ville and Château. Back on the road we decided to head up Mont Ventoux (1912m), the cycling mecca and site of Tommy Simpson’s memorial following his death durig the 1967 Tour de France. Shirmy, our trusty stead, unfortunately decided to overheat about five kilometres up the mountain, so while we waited for her to cool, Emma hopped on her trusty velo and made the assent. There are literally hundreds of cyclists riding the mont and the view from the top is spectacular, particularly with the white rocks covering the summit (which give an impression of snow from the plains). Following Emma’s impressive effort, we continued onto the Alpes to a campground at Gap and enjoyed the celebrations and fireworks put on for Bastille Day in the Centré Ville.

We stayed for the next week in Veinnes, 30 km from Gap, accompanying Emma while she attended a triathlon training camp. With a lake on our doorstep we swam and relaxed while Emma hit the Cols of the Alpes for her training. The Tour de France rolled into Gap on on the 16th of July so JJ and I rode in while the triathlites went for a training ride. Even as we rode into Gap, team buses and vehicles passed and Gap was filled with the Tour village and all things cycling. Meeting up with the others at a café, we set ourselves up with cold drinks and took in the crazy antics of the caravan as it rolled into the finish, flinging out hats, key rings, food and a heap of other ‘trinkets’ as we harassed and cheered on the floats and team cars. At last the cyclists appeared and although it was fleeting, it was great to see them fly past. Luckily we had been able to watch the race as it progressed in the café. On the ride back, Emma was lucky enough to catch up with some of the Team Phonek boys and have a chat- pity she didnt get an autograph though, especially since Floyd Landis won the Mallot Jaune !

Our next trip was to the imfamous Alpe D’Huez. Emmas group decided to go for a ride first, so JJ and I got a lift to the base of the Mountain on an alternative route. As we started to walk up we were told it was a 10km climb up the hill before even hitting the road to link to the Alpe d’Huez climb so we desperately started trying to hitch a ride as we continued up the road. Luckily we got picked up by a french family and were dropped off at the top of the road which linked to the 5km to arrivé sign of the cycle route. The atmosphere was fantastic : people from all over the world with a passion for cycling. We met up with some aussies and had a yarn about the prospects of their countrymen : particularly Evans and Rogers, as well as some fellow kiwis on a cycle holiday at the top of the climb. After a beer and some frites we eventually found a possy at the 2km arrivé mark. If you watched the stage you may have seen the ‘specialized angel’ blowing bissous to the crowd : we were about 10 metres up the road from her. Although we werent as profitable from the caravan this day (the caravaners being temporarially distracted by the angel) we had a great view of the cyclists as they went past. The walk down the mountain was just as crazy with hundreds of cyclists desending. After 14km of downhill we were pretty wasted, especially our sandelled feet…. It was really just a case of trying to get to the car before it rained, regardless of blisters. Regardless, it was a fantastic day in an amazing place.

For the remainder of our Alpes holiday we cycled, watched the Tour in cafés and nursed our aching feet… JJ and I managed a few cols although the final day we conquered our biggest col yet only for my rear derailier to snap off as we went over the top…. At least it was all down hill from there !

On the road again… Languedoc, Pyreneés and Espanol

At the end of another hot day in Clemont Ferrand, we packed up the car and bikes, and made our way south, spending the night camping savuage next to a petite country lane in the Upper Languedoc. The following day we headed through the Gorges du Tarn for a walk along the limestone cliffs for a closer view of the vultures that have been reintroduced into the area. After a picnic lunch and swim at the River Tarn we found a café to watch the last hour of le Tour and enjoy some cool beverages, before making our way through Millau, towards Carrcassonne. The journey took us underneath the Viaduc de Millau, the new viaduct designed by Sir Norman Foster, which was very strinking. Good camping spots were few and far between but we managed to find a quiet forest road for the night.

While Foix was the destination for the next day, we stopped in Carrcassonne with its fortified medieval cité and château. Another hot day allowed for us to continue our glace sampling, while wandering around the very touristique Cité. Back on the road, we continued to journey towards the Pyreneés foothills and arrived at a campground complete with the two key requirements : a picine and a venue for the Football Coup de Monde. After a swim and a few drinks we headed to the camp café for dinner, drinks and football…. With the ‘Zidane il va marqué’ song ringing in our ears until the notorious ‘Mariselles kiss’, followed by the highs and lows of the penalty shootout and then defeat to France… Although some took the defeat to heart, the music continued and we enjoyed a night of french pop.

With JJ feeling a bit worse for wear, Emma and I headed for a ride in the Pyreneés foothills. While not exactly like riding the cols of the Pyreneés, it was a great way to see the countryside, with a couple of reasonable climbs thrown in for good measure. The ride also included a passage through a subterranean road called the Grotte du Mas d’Azil, which is also one of the regions more important prehistoric sites and the only drivable cave in Europe. We camped the night at Le Mas d’Azil and returned in the evening to see the cave.

Barcelona was the destination for the following day so we packed up and headed over cols cycled by a few brave people to Andorra. The mountains and people riding them are impressive, however a month of no riding and pastries did not lend itself to any attempts at a col. Andorra is a shoppers paradise, although very mountainous, and after a little duty free shopping we continued to Barcelona, camping adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea. It was definitely a contiki kind of place and the karaoke continued to the wee hours of the morning.

As expected, the next day dawned hot and we headed into the city to take in the architecture and ambiance of Barcelona. Highlights of Bacelona included the street artists/performers, tapas and vino in the evening, however it was very hot and it would have been a bit better to have gone in winter. The next day we went to the garden designed by Gaudi which was particularly impressive, then it was back to France for some relief from the heat !

Allez Les Bleu

The sporting spectical continues…. On Wednesday night Thierry Henry scored against Portugal to launch France into the Final of the Coupe du Monde. Emma and I have brought our matching chic french shirts and will be ready to support France against Italy on Saturday night in the Pyrenees.
Le Tour de France also continues. Tom Boonen continues to hold the Millot Jaune although Kessler fron Team Mobile won a stage and Micheal Rogers holds second position in the general classification. Credit Agricole (French team) is the only team to have a New Zealander : Julian Dean, so might have to throw a bit of support behind them.

Anyway, am off to the Pyrenees via Toulouse for a bit of cycling and siteseeing before heading to Barelona.

Viva Le France 1-0 win against Bresil

After touring round the volcanoes and lakes around Massif Central for the day, including a swim at Adayt to provide some relief from the heat, we watched Theirry Henry lead France to a match against Portugal, one step
closer to the Coupe du Monde…. Viva le France ! ! ! !

Le Tour

Oh No ! ! ! Disaster has struck ! On the eve of the prelogue for Le Tour De France Jan Ullrich (plus other main Mallot Jaune contenders including Basso and Vino) are out having been caught up in a spanish doping scandel !

After a little crying into my vino (not quite but its definitely disappointing, especially as it is yet to be proven) it was time to cheer on England in the World Cup…. A win would have seen them potentially fancing France. Unfortunately Becks Boys didn’t pull it off…. Sorry Kev, maybe next time.

Clavicals, Velos and summer in Massif Central

On return from England I went to the doctor for an xray and consulation. Good news is that the bone is healing well. Its still achy at times but I can move it a bit more and dont require a sling. Also, while the doctor said that I shouldn’t do anything that would cause trama to my clavical (he suggested no rugby haha) I’m able to ride my bike again !

So, I’ve started getting out on my bike again, although am fairly unfit and out of condition since the accident. Summer has definitely come to France so its generally a ride in the morning, and staying indoors out of the sun in the afternoons…. Ca c’est chaud ! Still, Tour de France is coming, and its in the afternoons, so I’ll be quite content staying cool on the couch and watching le grande boucle…. What a difference it makes watching the football and cycling during the day rather than early in the morning in NZ !

Wales

Following the Half Ironman, we continued on to ‘sunny’ Wales to continue the summer holiday….. a pity noone informed the weatherman ! Unfortunately the broken clavical hampered my participation in the mountain biking, but there was plenty of football, including wins by England and France to keep me entertained. Based in a cute ski cabin in the Rhinog’s some great mountainbiking and walking is located in the vicinity, and the weather reflected the ambience of the forests, glacial valleys and windswept farms, with the weather more like autumn in NZ than the heat of the last week in London. A wee pub was located up the road for Dylan (JJ) to sample his fish and chips, accompanied by his friends Rhys (K), Imogen (E), Gwenyth (L) and Myfamwy (S).

We also took a trip to Holyhead, an island located to the west of Anglesey. On our way there, we took in the sites of Blaenau Ffestiniog (unfortunately the slate mining town wasn’t quite as festive as the name suggests) and stopped at Llanberis to join the older ladies and gentlemen on a trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Some fantastic views although the train only went 5/8 of the way up due to repairs on the line. The highlight of the trip however was visiting with Emma’s Aunt and Uncle, Sue and Godfrey at their Farmhouse on Holyhead. After partaking in their generous hospitality, we took in the rugged coastline, cliffs and lighthouse at Southstack. We made our way home through Caernarfon with a quick stop at the resident castle and then back home.

Wales: Bang it out !

Once reunited with Emma and Jean Jacques in London, we headed to Exmoor National Park, South West England to begin our countryside retreat from the city with Lisa and Kevin. Wimbleball Lake was the destination with Emma racing in a Half Ironman the next day. As the support crew, we cheered as she emerged from a 1.9 km swim , held our prime spot on the distinctly hilly 90 cycle leg and after a 21 km run, cheered Em onto a 6 h 45 min finish (ninth placing for her age group) ! Fantastic !

Heading South West.....

Olla amego´s

Firstly, sorry for the lack of commentary: my access to the internet has been pretty limited and will continue to be for a wee while. When I´m back in Clemont Ferrand (before leaving for the States) I´ll update with tales and pics of the trip in Wales, France as we made our way to the Pyrenees and Barcelona. In a few days its off to the Alps to cycle and then Marseille and Provence.

Needless to say, all is well. The collar bone is healing nicely and I´ve started cycling again: some nice rides around Clemont and then in Foix, in the foothills of the Pyrenees.

Hope you all enjoyed the Football... was great to be in France with their team in the final, apart from the headbutting incident eh? What was Zizu thinking? The Tour de France continues and we´re looking forward to seeing the climb up Alpe d´huez. Should be pretty manic but if you´re watching the tour, keep a lookout for two crazy kiwi chicks and a french frog!

Anyway, its at least 36 degrees here so will probably head back to the campsite and go for a swim in the med sea...