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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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