On Friday morning, feeling euphoric after experiencing the Tour de France “parade” but also sad to say “au revoir” to our new friends Lise and Arnold (Norway) and Jon and Fin (UK) we descend the Col du Tourmalet. 
What a change in weather! The day of the Tour was near perfect conditions for cycling – contrasting with today’s rain and low clouds!
Tag Archives: Pyrenees
Another tick for the bucket list
Tally – Ho Bruce!!….. onward and upward and upward…. and upward!!!!
The roads become narrower and zig –zag their way up the mountains!! We are in the Pyrenees – Sud Ouest (south-west) France.
Heavy morning cloud makes visibility very difficult as we approach our camping destination; La Mongie, in the Haute Pyrenees. Pulling off the road we can only see 10 metres ahead and make a judgement call not to go any higher. This is where we will wait the three days for the Tour de France!! Bruce finds a suitable position in an aire (free car park really), 1.5km from the small ski town of La Mongie. The book says “room for 100 camping cars”, we counted 152 on the first night, but when the Tour de France finally descended upon us, we guess close to 400 in our “spot”.
Fireworks welcome us
Fireworks welcome us to the medieval World Heritage village of Saint Emilion in the heart of Bordeaux vineyards! As well as our arrival, they are also celebrating Bastille Day!
The large “Kings Tower” where the fireworks were launched! Can you see us up there?
