Provence

Alas, the blog is falling way behind, limited internet access is my main excuse, however I have been happily occupied with greater things such as a cycle tour of Mt Ventoux, the pool at The hotel des Pins at Bedoin, Massage from Roger and of course the usual eating and drinking and talking.
I think it best to let a few pictures tell the story:

On route - bikes and van

Lunch at Malaucene after Ventoux

Hotel des Pins

in the Pool

more hills and moving on

Since my last brief update of the blog the pace has not lessened, we ride, we eat and then drink a little then sleep. Our last day in th Pyranees included climbing Luz Ardiden and the Hauticam for those that did not top this one on sunday (or whatever day it may have been).
Luz Ardiden was a favourite from last year and after a second ascent remains so. Good roads, varying and spectacular scenery, classic swithbacks and plenty of photo opportunities.

From here it was back down to Luz St Saveur for lunch then to the Hauticam for a complete days riding.

Pretty weary by now, back at the Beau Site Hotel Arnaud had a few of his own wines for pre dinner tasting which went down exceptionally well, followed up with the usual 5 course dinner and then an adjournment to the local café/bar with some live music and a few more "leffes".

A good finale for the Pyranees,..... bit sorry about the final "leffe" next morning.



we ride, eat, talk and sleep

This is going to be very quick, just an update to say we are right into the riding with a couple of big hills being overcome - Hauticam, Spandelles, Soulor, Aubisque, Tourmalet and Aspen..... so far. Some legs and bodies are tiring but the group is mostly keen to do more. The days have been pretty much filled with riding and what time remains seems fully occupied with eating, sleep recounts of the days glories and a few domestic catchups. Hence the brevity of this posting, it's late and I need my sleep. Basically we're all having a good time pretty much fully occupied with cycling and taking in the local food and beer and the details will once again be related at a later time.

Bon nuit
BB

gathering at Pau

Very quick comment tonight, - everyone has made their way to Pau in readiness for the transfer to Argeles Gozost and the beginning of the cycling.
Picked up a rental car, a VW Touran this time, loaded bikes and bags then had a long and uneventful drive to here from Paris, some 800 kilometres with the main highlight being a couple of circuits of the roundabout at the Champs de Elysees, (like a giant dodgem car track). The rest travelled by train; much quicker and less stress and highly recommended.
Have just been out to dinner together, enjoyed the company as well as the food, had a quick look around the central/dining part of town, but am now very keen to get some sleep. So details and few photos may follow tomorrow, but for now .... Bon nuit.  BB

another Parisien day and the crew come together

Everyone has now arrived in France and soon the cycling can commence.
Today I did a little more Parisien style strolling before heading out to the airport to meet seven travel weary cyclists disembarking from 24 + hours of mind numbing constriction in an economy class plane seat. Seemed pretty good considering - Met up with Arnaud our local guide and carrier and the bikes were loaded into his van to be transported south to the Pyranees. Then found our way to the metro, purchased tickets and headed to our hotels for a much anticipated wash, beer and laydown (not sure of the order of priority).
In the meantime, Stacey had dropped her bike off at the Hotel Elysees Ceramic to be transported with me and tomorrow we will all be making our way to Pau. Most by train, I'll be picking up a rental vehicle and hope for an uneventful journey out of Paris.
As an aside I found a great little bar come café, "Café de Ponce" in Rue Poncelet in the 17 Arrondissement. At the end of a market a comfortably small bar frequented by an array of locals serving beers, wines, coffees, meals and I think a tobacconist. Anyway , I liked it, had a beer a wine, dinner and a chat and felt it was a good place to hang out, which is what I suspect people do here.... all you see is people rushing around to find somewhere to sit eat and discuss and there's an abundance of places to go and they're full every lunch time and evening. And given that they don't get up early, there is not much time left to get much else done,.... no wonder the economy isn't thriving, but it seems pleasant.
Anyway, I have to get up early tomorrow, its going to be a long drive - so
Bon nuit...

Je arrive au Paris

Not much of any great interest to add, this is just a note to say that I have arrived in Paris,... on time with bike and bags intact.
The flight was tiring, 14 hours in a seat followed by 3 hours at Dubai airport in preparation for another 7.5 hours flying. Feeling a bit numbed from it all there was a brief moments excitement with my bag finally appearing on the wrong conveyor and 20 minutes after everyone else had collected and left. But was OK in the end and bag and bike were transported to the Hotel Elysees Ceramic where I could at last lay down.... But not before a bit of a stroll, which seems to be what one does here to take in a bit of the atmosphere, (people watching) along with food and what turned out to be a little too much wine.
Eventually got to bed and passed out immediately, which I could tell by the fact that I woke several hours later with lights and TV still on. Slept some more and eventually awoke for a bit of a rest day to take in a little more of Paris.  Details of which I may report on later.
Tomorrow is a trip to the airport to meet Arnoud and the crew to help load the bikes and hopefully manage to get in contact with Stacey re dropping her bike at the hotel plus more Parisien perusing.
Well that's it for now, should be an update tomorrow
Au revoir
BB

It begins

Bags packed, in transit at Sydney airport and I do believe that it is the right day.
Have had plenty of time to be organised, so hope that I have considered all things necessary - have a bike, (which is on it's way) a ticket and passport, feeling fit and looking forward to some summer sun and another cycling adventure, pretty simple really. Unusually, i'm ahead of myself and have little more to do than have a "corona" and contemplate the trip ahead.
So, that's it, will be boarding in a another hour and a half and hopefully next reporting the journey from a hotel in Paris.
Regards
Bob B.