We got up slightly later today because the ride we are planning is shorter and there is no harm being 10 minutes later to breakfast. After a leisurely breakfast we packed, went down and loaded the bikes. It was quite pleasant out, only a little bit chilly but I put the thermal top on anyway. We then climbed up to the top of Col, this is the first time we have been all the way to the top. I took my time as it is not the main event today. Paul was taking cow photo's again, lots of them. After the obligatory Col photo it was down and it was quite a nice descent, fast in places, 64 kph. We ended up at the high end of St. Lary, which was good.
We rode through the town and with no problems at all onto the Col route. Only 1.7K's of flat so far today! The climb is rather intimidating, you can see it from a long way away. The climb starts with two incredibly long straight sections. It turns out that they are not straight, they wind along the side of the climb so you can't see that far ahead, which is just the way I prefer it. The first half of the climb is difficult, but not too difficult. I came upon Paul and Claude about 4 K's up the climb stopped by the side of the road. There was a nice waterfall there, I think Paul had been there a while. I didn't want to stay long as you just cool down. From there I rode all the way to where the road divides without a stop, about 8 K's. There was a big sign with St. Lary 1700 left or 1900 and 2400 right. Of course we took the right road. St. Lary 1700 is the Pla d'Adet, we wondered if this is famous from the Tour but I think that is the Plateau d'Abet.
The first few K's of the climb from here is switchbacks. And, unfortunately, there is quite a bit of gravel. I knew that the road had some gravel near the top but I thought that meant a K or two, not 8 K's! I stopped for a snack, a mini fruit cake from the lunch pack, after a K or so more. Claude was not too far behind, Paul not too far ahead. Then there was a huge stretch of switchbacks going up the side of the mountain. A couple of K's later Paul stopped for a photo of me, so I thought I'd get one of Claude when I got there.
But he wasn't in sight but I did get several switchbacks all in the one photo. A few hundred metres on Claude came into view so I took another photo. Sometime later the final long straights to the Col came into view. I was going quite well. I expected to get to the top at midday but it might be 11.45 now. I stopped again, the fruit cup this time. The road might actually have deteriorated even more in the last few K's. Just near the top there was a tunnel, pitch black, with cows in it. A car came up just as I was about to go in so I followed it as it had lights. The tunnel was almost flat which was good. Then there was just the final two straights, they were not too long, but quite rough. In no time at all I was at the top at last. I arrived at 11.41, pretty good, 2 hours 41 for 17 K's and 1500 metres. When I got to the top the bike hit some gravel and just stopped! Good enough.
I walked around for a bit to stretch. Then I sat with Paul and ate lunch, all of it, I was very hungry for a change. Lunch today was a demi-baguette, a piece of pork, pasta salad, water. Claude arrived about 15 minutes later, we clapped. He was really gritting his teeth for the last bit. Naturally we then took a bunch of photo's. I even walked over to the other side of the Col, past the cars and ski lifts for a couple of photo.
Another 100 Cols member had arrived earlier, VTT, and told us about another Col, 15 minute of gravel. Neither of us were keen. However he explained it all to Claude who was keen, so, given it was only a short ride, and since we were here we decided to join Claude. It was steep. Very steep. We had to walk sections of it. In a few places we could ride on the grass, in others walking was the only option, 3 kph. Then there was a short, steep descent to the Col itself. Naturally more photo's, then back up the hill and down the other side. It was a bit difficult on the descent because of the rough gravel.
We had a short rest and then it was time to, finally, tackle the 17 K descent back to St. Lary. It was very difficult, hard on the hands with all of the breaking required. At times we were only doing 6 to 8 kph because of the gravel. On a 10 % descent that is quite difficult. I managed to get up to 40 on a couple of the smoother stretches, eases the hands too. Then it got much rougher for a while. Very tiring. Finally we got to the long switchback section and it seemed easier, longer sealed sections. And then the end of the gravel. There is a small town around this spot so we went for a drink. Coke for everyone, I had two crepes, everyone else two boules of ice cream. Then I had tea and the others coffee. We talked with Claude about touring, this trip, places we've been in the past and about PBP. Claude did every PBP from 1979 to 2003! 7 times!!! I wanted to pay for the drinks to thank Claude for all he'd done but he insisted and it is hard to argue when you don't speak French.
Next we got our payback for all the hard work in the morning, a magnificent descent for the the remainder of the Col. 74 kph for me, many times just under 70 as well. The long sections with windy bits are almost straight in parts if you cut the corners so it was wonderful. Just as wonderful was that at the bottom we joined Claude in his car for the trip back up to Val Louron. It was such a relief not having to ride back up the Col :)
It was stinking hot in the valley so it was a lovely to be driven up. Claude went back up a different route to the way we came down. It had very, very narrow roads at the bottom. We almost clipped a building in one spot. We stopped at the top so that Claude could check for a place for the end of the event picnic tomorrow lunch time. There was a regional information sign and it talked about the bells the cows wear. Claude explained that the belts used to hold the cow bells are made of wood, not of leather! Just as we were descending it started to rain, big heavy drops. We had to stop a couple of time because there were lots and lots of cows beside and on the road :)
I was really hungry by dinner time today. It was a good spread tonight, see the photo. Gerald joined us, we talked for ages. No one is in any rush as there are no rides tomorrow. (Although a lot of people are going for one first.) There are going to be fireworks so we went back to the room for a while, then back to see the fireworks. The appointed time came, 9.30, and went. 10 pm came and went.
We waited one more song, the kids from the adjacent tower were all dancing, there were still no fireworks so we left. I went to take a final look down at the valley below, Paul went to the room. Almost immediately the fireworks began. I power walked back for a look. Not bad for such a small group.
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