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And there it was!!... Mission complete
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Day 12 - Sant Julia Vilatorta

Strange suburb full of multi-million pound mansions!!.. Bit wierd really, not exactly a standard stop over town.

We cycles 69 miles today, the first 15 took 2 and a half hours as we climbed up to 1700 meters, we then had a 40 mile down hill stretch out of the foothills, and took us less than 2 hours!.. The last miles were a slog through Vic.. Looking forward to finishing tomorrow.. About 50 miles left
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Day 11 - Puigcerda

59 miles completed, cycling over the pyrenees ascending three cols along the way

Col 1, Chioli - 1491 meters high
Col 2, ax-3-domaine - 1740 meters high
Col 3, Puymorens - 1920 meters high

After each col we descended to around 900 meters, making the full days ascent 2451!!.. The run in to puigcerda was about 10 miles of pure downhill, and was absolute bliss!

Spain is a lot more buzzing than our recent french evenings, and the tapas on our arrival a welcome break.

Another day of mountains tomorrow, and then down hill to barcelona the day after, for one almighty piss up!
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Day 10 - Belcaire (a day late)

Didn't post a day blog yesterday, not much to report a 30 mile stretch into the foothills, got upto 3000 ft

Dodgy hotel in belcaire! Worst of the trip!... Day 11 magnificent .. Report later
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The last col today was a little surprise, as we had assumed we could go through the puymoren tunnel on our bikes! Nope, we had to go over, scaling to 1900 meters, the highest of the day, and the 4th for me, 3rd for steph
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Arriving at the hotel, feeling very chipper, and knackered having completed our journey over the mountains
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The border into spain was a little dissapointing!!
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Our first sign to barcelona!!!
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Early this morning high in the mountains (very cold)
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Made it!
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Reaching 3500 ft
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Day 9 - Mirepoix

A relatively short day at 45 miles, in preparation for the pyrenees, celebrated our earlt arrival with a bottle of rose, which promptly saw us to sleep after the market closed.

The ride was all about the wind today, capable of knocking us off!, helping us to free wheel up hills, or more annoying having to pedal hard down hill!

Another short day tomorrow as we nestle ourselves at the base of the ax-3-domaine, ready for the big one, and our entry into spain.

Thanks again for the comments... Not much further now
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Arrived in Mirepoix to be greeted by a Medieval Market.. Lots of brits, the holiday season has begun!!
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Arrived in Mirepoix to be greeted by a Medieval Market.. Lots of brits, the holiday season has begun!!
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Base of the pyrenees
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View from pool down to the pyrenees,
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Day 8 - Puylauren (cap de castel)

60 miles today, awesome yet again, rolling hills and great weather, and we arrive to the most fantastic hotel, with our room facing out to a view that stretches right down the pyrenees.

Feels like we are getting close, the bar we are in is offering paella and sangria!.

It was fun watching the tour finish in paris today, down the same road we started on! They were a bit slower than us
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Day 7 - Caylus

What a difference a day makes, a little slower and a little more controlled in our ascents, and the 54 miles were a joy from start to finish. Scenery through the quercy region beat yesterdays Dordogne.. Lovely weather starting overcast but breaking mid morning, however cool throughout. Very very quiet, no one anywhere, some towns we pass through seem completely deserted, but for the odd stray dog.

I offended our hotel patron on arrival by suggesting we would like to look around town before confirming our dinner reservation.... After a long look round it became apparent that he has the only restaurant in town. So I was met with a smirky smug french grin when I returned this evening to confirm our table!!

60 miles tomorrow, and then the pyrennees!!
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I told him to only have one beer!
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Not that swing from one extreme to another, but today has been simply perfect, 40 gorgeous miles under out belt just 15 to go, superb scenery along the way.... Beer and croque monsieur.. The usual saturday lunch
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Feeling much brighter, our first cafe in the town below
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Day 6 - Rocamadour

We started the day in the same fashion as the previous two.. Namely up hill!.. The weather had improved, perfect for cycling, and after 15 miles we were treated to what we had started to believe may never come.. A downhill run.. Ten minutes later, a 1500 ft drop, 6 miles completed and it was all over, and the tredge up the hills began again.

We did have a slight reprieve in the stretch along the dordogne river, yet this drew us into a sprint, and the next hill became our most trying moment of the trip so far, we just simply ran out of puff and ran out of will.

We limped home slowly, which was a sad end to a day which showed stunning views all of the way!

Have now enjoyed a snooze and a shower, and can reflect more positively on the whole day.

We are now half way in terms of miles completed, having done 57 today.

Rocamadour is stunning, however as we arrived you could have mistaken it for a motorhome festival, these things just get everywhere, a real tourist mecca... Mum and Simon have you been here yet?

Tomorrow is another day of cycling apparently...... Good..... Really looking forward to it!!!

Maybe a couple of beers in the direction of one of the motorhomes tonight.. And we could sneak a cheeky lift!! Hmmm if only!!


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A beautiful town greets the end of our most testing day (mentally!)... Rocamadour
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More hills!
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Day 5 - St Poudaix la Masillac

So we started out poorly, choosing the wrong road out of aubusson, and choosing not to correct ourselves, as we had climbed 300 feet before we noticed and so we refused to simply roll back down the hill.. Instead we took a 5 mile detour which encompassed a further 600 feet of climb!

We completed 70 miles in total, and now sit in a 3 star Logis where the service is lovely but the hotel a little dated

We look forward to tomorrows ride which will take us 55 miles south through the dourdogne region, and follow the banks of the river lot for some 30 miles, and as such promises to be the prettiest day so far. All yesterdays problems have gone.. And now we have successfully handled a number of tricky hills, steph is thinking about attempting the pyrennian ascent planned for day 10

Fitness levels are definately improving, I even felt comfortable having a cheeky vin rouge at lunch.

Weather is set to improve, everything chipper.
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So this cafe is about 500 metres from where the hotel is supposed to be according to google maps.. But it isn't there!.. After a minor panic.. I have discovered it is in fact 7 kilometres south.. Worth a beer!
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This was served to me at a cafe this morning.. It was a scary place in french red-neck territory.. I decided not too ask too many questions about the black slime on the saucer, but judging by the colour of the coffee I'm guessing it was supposed to go in the cup. We are now sat in Meymac enjoying a far nicer cuppa.. Looking foward to another 20 miles in the rain! The climb continues peaking at 2800ft this morning.. Ankle holding out nicely.
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Unfortunately steph shrunk in the rain!
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Day 4 - Aubusson

Rain, Hills, near crashes, achilles tendon sprained, split toe, more rain.

Came down the direct route of the D990 which cut the distance to only 45 miles, because of the rain, so we were in Aubusson by lunch, but not without incident and pain, we climbed to over 2000 ft, we hadn't planned for hills, assuming France was pretty much flat until Dordogne!

Whilst I was flying down one of the hills, a camper van failed to see me as he cut across to make a left turn, I had no chance to take evasive action, due to speed (35mph), and rain, and was therefore destined to hit him full on. he spotted me at the last moment and I managed to squeeze through the small gap left on my side of the road. A very sobering moment.

Aubusson is lovely, however the dramatic thunder storm has kept us from exploring fully. This however has given steph the chance to dry some of the clothes and the shoes with a hair dryer, whilst I rest up and nurse my sprained achilles and split toe. I have strapped up my ankle with insulation tape.. Looking Good!.. Picture to follow

Thanks for the comments guys.. Big hugs and kisses to imy and riggers.... We haven't found a tour de france lion yet.. But the pressies are building up. Well done imy at prize giving.
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Up hill all day, think this is the top... 2024 feet!
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The picture from our balcony this morning! Very happy to see an overcast day.

Not out on the bikes at the break of dawn,today is the shortest day of the trip so far.

Still sore from yesterday
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Day 3 - Les Dryades

We set off this morning at 6.30... And arrived this evening at 4.45, so over 10 hrs on the road. Incredibly hot, incredibly long, and significantly more hills than the previous two days. So steph and I are absolutely shattered! The 85 miles puts us well over the quarter mark for the trip though.

Too tired to blog.
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Louis XIV is my Daddy!!
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Day 2 - Les Naudins

We sit under a shady tree by the lake of a grand chateau, as two of only 6 guests, with the opulence that could only be satisfied by a state banquet or a 400 guest wedding, yet without the occassion, we are unable to buy a bag of crisps let alone a high energy snack for our needs!!.. But that aside very nice end to good day on the bike.

Keeping to our word, we slowed it down and had more breaks, and it worked a treat, with one small side effect..... And to set the scene, steph doesn't drink coffee.... So after three stops, three rich Cafe au Lait, steph had more rabbit than watership down!!

Tomorrow is our longest ride, and based on inaccuracies so far, will be close to 90 miles!!.. And so should be about 30 degrees

Sadly the quality of hotels drops a tad, but then I'd happily swap my shady tree for a croque monsieur and a swimming pool.. So bring modest accommodation!

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Day 2 finish - 73 miles, chateau de la verrerie, les naudins
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Day 1 - Paris to Augerville

Currently sitting on the terrace of a 16th century chateau.. Overlooking spotless gardens stretching down to a empty golfcourse. Cloudless sky and about 75.. Cooling breeze and silent. (Oh and a petit biere)

Cycled 65 miles, a few more than planned due to the Seine not having a bridge in the right place! Hot and difficult, but rewarding once we broke through paris and into the wheat fields. We both passed out in the hotel room for a couple of hours, but didn't miss the tour de france which showed us the ascents planned for day 10... Steph is planning on supporting me by holding the bags at the bottom. We are both very tired

View of the day.... Cycling through a rolling wheat field on an empty track with distant combine harvesters working the fields, and a display of more than 50 gliders circling the skies above.

Lesson of the day....Tomorrow we will go slower and take more breaks!


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Day 1 finish - knackered!
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Breakfast.... Hot
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Watch the chins disappear... 7:40 depart eiffel paris
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Day 0.... Paris

About 7 miles of cycling today, bit nervous this morning and again now!.. Official start tomorrow under the eiffel tower.. Pokey paris hotel room tonight and the difficulty of not drinking in paris on a saturday night.. Having a coke in a bar opposite the paris opera house, where questions have been asked before.. The last question asked ended in us getting hitched. So not the first time I've been nervous sat here.
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And the prologue winners treat is!
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Not sure where this is?
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The tour prologue..... Victoria to st pancras.. This is the mall
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On packed train from horsham to victoria.. Regretting the chinese take-away I had for breakfast
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Em and scott wave us off at salisbury road horsham
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We're off

Sunny morning in southwater.. Leaving house 9:30... A little early!
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Saxon Weald

Not my only Job County Times! still the only one relevant to Horsham I suppose!

County Times

Check out my current location

Think we are going for the Ax 3 Domain - Profile below!

Yes, we have decided to go for the Ax 3 Domain, which is the finish of stage 14, which is happening on the 18th July, so we will be watching it after completing our first day, and we will be completing it half way through day 10

Ax 3 Domain

Col de Pailheres or Ax 3 Domaines

Steph and I are considering which col to climb! both are part of stage 14 of the tour this year>>> col de pailheres was always our first choice as it had the kudos of exceeding 2000m in height, however the Ax 3 Domianes is the actual finish for the stage, and is actually a more arduous climb but only half the distance.. maybe we'll see how we feel when we get there

County Times

looks like the county times are going to run an article on us, and we have the photographer coming on wednesday to take a picture... so time to practise sucking the belly in!