Luchon de Bagneres to Col du Tourmelet

It was a beautiful morning as we left Luchon, it's roundabouts all still decked out artistically for the recent tour de France. Our journey to the Col de Tourmalet took us through some exquisite valleys and over the renowned Cols of the Peyreseude and Col de Aspin. It was here that we opened 'The President', as we now have affectionately named the Camembert we have for lunch. Joining it was the salami or sausisonne. We had a beautiful view from the top looking right down into the valley as the road snaked seemingly endlessly up to the top of Aspen. There were lots of cow bells clanging, a heard had its home in among the picnickers. One particularly cheeky cow tried to splice Andrew with it's horn. This years Tour de France had come in the opposites direction to which we were Travelling, but I think on alternate tours they switch direction as the Cola are equally tough and as beautiful on both sides. Soon the sign read, Tourmelet, a famous and very well known mountain climb in cycling circles. By the way, there are almost as many bikes here as cars! The road starts gradually at first but soon leaves two or three little villages behind as it enters the forested slopes of the mountain and then the gradient steps up a gear or three. The switchbacks are not that short on the east to west climb as we were to see on the west to east climb the following day. Passing the massive ski resort and passing through avalanche tunnels on the way one comes out of the trees and then the switchbacks begin in earnest, with LANCE and WIGGO still painted in big letters on the road. We found a place to camp up on the top of the Col behind a ski lift and were immediately taken by the large number of very inquisitive Lama's roaming with little tinkly bells around their necks. We had a lovely Braai tht evening with a bottle of cheep but very palatable red wine. Oh tht ws after the Gin and tonic Andrew had prepared for us, with slices of lemon. What a place to sit and take in ones surroundings, facing the massive rock cliffs, with Vultures swooping up high on the evening thermals. Oh they were also joined by a para-sailer. That night small gusts of wind pulled the fly sheet off Caitlin's tent, however getting out of the camper gave me an opportunity to witness an enormous amount of activity in the night sky. Short flashes of shooting stars, something to remember.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad