Life in the Old Dog…yet ?

I couldn’t make my mind up whether to go for a long walk, or another ‘ascent’..of somewhere, and as it was expected to rain later in the day I decided I may as well go for a bike ride, even if I did get soaked, I planned to wash all my dirty clothes today anyway…

So, where to go ?, for an old codger like me…-up to Gavarnie sounded good, not quite as high as Luz Ardiden, but not far short, and I thought the road, although longer, didn’t have as steep a gradient..

I set off, shortly after 10-30 a.m., having breakfasted outside in the morning sunshine, and the great part it started with a descent down into Luz St Saveur, and across Pont Napoleon, where I turned right…to start my climb… well, I thought my legs were going to ‘blow up’, it was quite hard, although I just kept pushing, and occasionally stopping for a drink/snack… I was sat in a village ‘Gedre’ as I saw a ‘portly couple’ setting off from there – that was it, I couldn’t be beat by them – could I ?

I got a bit more into my rhythm then, and soon past the couple, and was happily (!?) spinning along, climbing at a nice gradient, with occasional flattish pieces of road, which helped !

Soon I was passing the car park for the via Ferratta in Coumely, and I realised that I didn’t have too far left to Gavarnie – which helped, and as another (younger!) cyclist passed me, it helped that he spoke English, and I was able to take a breather behind him for a while, although he did leave me behind on a steep pull, but I’d had a couple of minutes out of the wind, which makes a big difference.. as I sat having another snack, I looked ahead, to see a dark misty Cirque de Gavarnie, ahead , but now – achievable ! and my tired legs kept going, and soon I was in Gavarnie village,which seemed to be overrun with ‘tourists’ !! Lots of coaches, and wheelchairs…must be having a day trip out from Lourdes  –pity they didn’t come yesterday ! It started raining just as I arrived, and i sheltered for a short while, had another scoot round the village, getting a plastic bag to put the camera in, and zipping up I was ready for my  speedy descent…which was great, jetting down the road, nothing overtaking me on the twisty turny road, as I sped along, taking both sides of the road, and straight down the middle..it was fun, reaching 30+ mph, before my Speedo once again stopped working (probably going too fast ..) and after about 20 minutes I was back at the Pont Napoleon, by now in sunshine, and having a look over the parapet at the Via Ferratta route below – I should have climbed all the way up to this !

Then it was the dreaded bit..I had descended from the campsite to Luz…now I had to climb back up it – the road to Luz Ardiden, so now I can say I’ve done it all – only about 120 mts climb…but it was sore, and I was glad to see the campsite in the distance, and one last spurt…I was home..back to Wally, and a lie down in the sun !

A nice few hours riding, 775 mts climbing..and I could still walk !

Now though, the real test- packing up and doing all my washing, before I set off on my travels in the morning…so I’ll say an early Bonne Soir, and Bonne Journee..to all !