The Pyrenees

29.08

Well we did it!  We finally extradited ourselves from the

evil clutches of Simorre and it’s temptations of food and drink!  Had a last coffee with Richard and Ingrid and drove the 115k to the Pyrenees passing  through Tarbes, Lourdes, and Pierrefitte-Nestalas to the little ski town of Luz-St-Sauveur.  Despite a slight hangover we didn’t stop at Lourdes for a quick fix.

 

We are 8k into the famous “Col du Tourmalet” the highest road pass in the Pyrenees that will take us through to Spain.  It is the famous route used in the “Tour de France” races.  We’ve found a nice little camp called “International Camp” with a pool about 1k before the Luz village.  We’re now back to having the camps mostly to ourselves as school has restarted and most everyone is back at work. 

30.08

Got our walking shoes on today and hiked a three hour circular route around the foothills of Luz-St-Sauveur in the Hautes-Pyrenees  A delightful ski town with hillside villages and ski stations on each side of the valley.  

 
31.08

Frank and Bron

An hours walk this morning along the hillside to Sazos before Frank and Bron (who we met in Paris) arrived for lunch in a small cafe in Luz-St-Sauveur.  Frank is in training for his ‘Raid Pyreneen’ which has him riding from Hendaye on the Atlantic coast to Cerbere on the Med along the backbone of the Pyrenees.  The distance is 810kms in 9 days, climbing over 28 Cols  the highest being  Col du Tourmalet at 2115m.  An incredible achievment as it’s 16000m of constant climbing!

01.09

A beautiful day so we decided to continue on and have our own assault on the mountains!

We crossed the Col du Tourmalet (2115m) passing the statue of the 'Geant du Tourmalet', who recognises the feats of ‘all giants’ who make it to the top.

 

Fantastic views over the mountain range and the winding road we had climbed but rather chilly, watched several groups of cyclists celebrate their arrival at the top.

Had our first encounter with a marmot on the downward side, like a large cuddly guinea pig.  Down through the ski village of ‘La Mongie’ with it’s huge cable car taking passengers to the ‘Pic du Midi’, the highest peak around at 2872m. It has an observatory and lookout platform.  We passed Frank at this point on his training ride heading over ‘Tourmalet’ (he’s mad), most people would be happy to do it once!!!

The alpine scenery is like a scene out of ‘The Sound of Music’ for those old enough to remember, with endless green fields, pine trees, pale cows, goats,
horses and marmots all with a magnificent backdrop of distant bare peaks.

Fantastic, we love it up here!

The next Col was ‘Col d’Aspin’(1489m) equally majestic with fantastic views all around.

We stopped for a late lunch at the beautiful small ski village of ‘Arreau’, a river runs through it’s center and many small ponds have been created throughout the village planted with colourful flowers. 

Onward through Borderes Louron and the third Col, the ‘Col de Peyresourde’(1569m) into our camp at Bagneres-de-Luchon, another 19^th Century ski town.

Lefty performed well over all the mountain ranges and we are not too leg tired!!

A quick orientation  before dinner and bed.
 

02.09

Had a bike ride to the local tourist office to gather information about the sights and spied the ‘telecabine’ working and taking people and bikes up the 1800m ascent to ‘Superbagneres’.  Thought we needed a workout first so biked the first 7k uphill towards the mountain and then had a fun descent back to the telecabine for our trip to the skifields.

Paid 9 euros each for return ticket and had an exciting trip up the mountain arriving at the skifields and a hotel that was used in a ‘Bond Movie’ (trying to establish which one!)

Hiked for an hour or so upward passing several pale cows and their calves for endless views towards Spain which is very close.

 

We then decided not to return by lift and took a bike trail 18k down the mountain side.

Probably a little rough for our poor bikes but they lasted the journey as we did!! Good fun!

 

 

 

 

Olympics, Scotland, Back in France

24.08

Well!  Here we are again after a months absence!  Sorry to keep you waiting!

 

What a month!  Pam spent an enjoyable three weeks with Keith, Kirsten, Sandy and Edi.

Swimming, biking, shopping, pub lunches, walking dogs and even got to the Olympic Kayaking.

 

I had an unforgettable time at the diving with plenty of time off to visit the sights of London.

Great to be part of a truly well organised event and to catch up with friends from home.

 

 

The accomodation, the food, and the event itself was fantastic but will be glad not to see another “dive” for a while.

I then took a train to Edinburgh, hired a car and made my way to Loch Trool in South West Scotland to meet up with Pamo, Keith, Kirsten, Edi, Sandy and their friends, to be throughly spoilt for a week at Trool Lodge.

Before I arrived, Pam, Keith, Kirsten, Sandy, Edi and the dogs had hiked to the highest point around called  Merrick (850m), took most of the day and they were treated to amazing views all the way to Ireland.

 

 

The rest of the week was spent walking the Loch, Kayaking, biking and water skiing ( Keith and I after a long rest and Sandy getting up for his first time.)

 

 

We ate and drank far too much and are now exercising madly to try and shed a few kilos!!

 

 

 

An incredible week and one we will never forget!

A plane ride from Edinburgh to
Toulouse where we were met by Richard and Ingrid and whisked back to Simorre and Lefty.   Richard had rescued Lefty from the Gendarmes evil clutches just before she was towed away for being reported stolen or abandoned!!

Have now spent nearly a week in the municipal camp (Camping du Stade) getting reaquainted with Lefty, swimming, biking, walking, meeting and being entertained by Richard and Ingrid and their many friends.

 
The longer we stay in Simorre the more we find to do!!

 

 

 We continue to be astounded and overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness shown to us.  We are incredibly fortunate!!.

From here we plan to head for the Pyrenean Mountains and the “Col du Tourmalet” from “Le Tour” fame (may even try and bike some!!!)   We hope to spend some time in the alpine villages before decending into Spain and onto Barcelona.

 

 

Paris

22/7        

After spending the night in Toulouse we caught the 6:40am Air France flight to Paris, a short one and a half hours.  Four changes on the metro to Hotel Mary’s, a comfy little Hotel opposite the Palleport Metro stop in Menilmontant, Paris’s 20^th arrondissement. 

We took the Metro to the City Centre getting out at the ‘Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre’ stop to scout out the best ‘spot’ for a ‘bird’s eye’ view of the final of the Tour de France.  We headed to the Place de la Concorde passed the Louvre with it’s glass pyramid smack bang in the Cour Napoleon through the symmetrical Jardin des Tuileries.  There is a large ferris wheel with fun fair next to the Gardens and The Eiffel Tower looms in the distance.  

Paris is as beautiful as ever!!! It’s wonderful to be back in our favourite city!!

 The prime ‘viewing spots’ are disappearing rapidly as enthusiastic supporters line the Place de la Concorde and Champs Elysees.  We found a great ‘spot’ along the Place de la Concorde where we could stand on the wall above the crowd for a ‘birds eye view’ of the peloton. We met Frank and Bron, a great Aussie couple who had chosen the ‘spot’next to us.

After an array of colourful floats with dancing, blearing music and blasting horns passed us, at around 4:30pm, the crowd roared as the peloton ‘whooshed’ passed.  High energy and very exciting!!  They raced the circuit up the Champs Elysees another 7 times with Cavendish winning the sprints.  There is an awesome vibe!!  

We celebrated with Frank and Bron.  An excellent night!!!

23/7
Up early and caught the Metro to the Bourse where we met Rowy and picked up Col’s Olympic Games accreditation.  We then walked to the Arc de Triomphe and the massive Place Charles-de-Gaulle (better known as place de l’Etoile), the worlds first organised roundabout.  Twelve Avenues make up the star (etoile) of which the busiest is the Champs Elysees.  We explored the Avenues including Avenue de la Grande Armee where Col worked on the Rugby World Cup in 2007;  we had lunch at ‘Jour’, a favourite salad bar. 

We walked down the wide tree lined Avenue des Champs-Elysees with it’s cafes, glamorous shops and magnificent apartments to the River Seine and the Pont Alexandre III with a view of Les Invalides.  Practically every building of note in Paris is either along the River Seine or within a stone’s throw.  We continued on to the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais to the Place de la Concorde and through the Jardin des Tuileries.  We followed the Seine stopping to watch the massive bateaux mouches pleasure boats cruising sightseers up and down the river.  We’ve seen some great cycle paths around the city and have decided to  bring our bikes next time!   

We crossed the ‘Pont des Arts’ over to The Left Bank of the Seine.  The ‘Pont’ glittered in the sun with the many padlocks, decorated with endearments, locked onto the side of the bridge by tourists.  Frank and Bron met us for a beer and a laugh at a small corner cafe in St-Germain des Pres!!  We then headed to the River Seine and on to see the Notre Dame on the Ile de la Cite.

 

 
Dinner at a little cafe near our Hotel after an incredible day!!

24/07

Up early and took the metro to Orly Airport to catch our 12:20 Air France flight to Heathrow, London.  We received ‘VIP treatment’ as we were welcomed and whisked through the special Airport ‘Olympic Games Accreditation’ lanes.

Pam made her way to Banbury in Oxfordshire to stay with Keith, Kirsten, Sandy and Edi.  Col made his way to the Docklands in London where he will be roughing it in a five star Hotel!!

Col is covering the Diving in the Olympic Games.