The day started with a quick zip up Col d’Izoard – the third time the guys have been to the top of this mountain. Down the other side and then up Col de Var (again!) - the guys did this from the other direction on Friday.
Ben and Chris were up before the van and didn’t hang around. Dave was close behind and he joined them off down the other side.
Rae and I grabbed ourselves an Iced Tea and a deck chair and waited in the sun for the rest of the crew. We had been driving around Guillestre for some time trying to find a service station as we were nearly out of diesel. Unfortunately it was market day and, not only was it very busy, the roads we needed were all closed for stalls. Nightmare time for me again in the old town narrow streets and then we had to do a u-turn... I kept my cool and just inched the van slowly in both directions until it hit something (the kerb I hope). It was a several point turn but we made it. Rae had some good French language practice asking where the supermarket was and we were glad of the relaxation at the top.
The café owners at the top were great. I had filled up all the water bottles there on Friday and she remembered us. I was glad we gave her the business as drinks and a few snacks for a crowd this large hits the 100 euro mark – not a bad boost to takings out of season. She gave Rae and I presents as we left – a wolf whistling cuddly toy key ring and a jar of home made marmalade.
Unfortunately I did not notice any signs telling us the road we need to take to the lunch venue would be closed for 3½ hours from 1pm. We had waited at the top for a while with Kevin and both he and the van arrived too late. It was a 2 hour detour in the car or a 2½ hour wait in the mountain sunshine so we waited..........
and waited..........
We made some new friends including a crowd of dutch bikers and another british cyclist whose girlfrind was accompanying him in the car. The closure was because of digging high up on the mountain side - the avalanches being caused were why we were being kept away.
We made a vast procession as about 50 bikes, followed by a fancy sport car, then us, and many many more vehicles, turned onto the deserted road at 4.30pm, soon it seemed everyone had turned off and we were once more on very quiet roads.
The weather turned to wind and rain, there was the last big momma to climb, Col d'Allos. We took the van up and over the top - the worst road of all but desolate except for the huge herd of sheep that came our way and made for an interesting wait. We had three large groups in total take over the road from the other direction and the guys had fun piling through them. The first, and most interesting included goats and several donkeys!
Kev, quite rightly, had retired from cycling for the day and beavered away on his blackberry as I sang along to Winners Song by Geraldine (Peter Kay) much to Rae's embarrasment. We had it on a CD and I love it!
I realised, once the van arrived at the hotel late that evening in the lashing rain, that the rest of the guys had been so lucky to have passed through the road before it had been closed. We didn't arrive until 7pm, co-inciding with the last group of cyclists. Some had been hanging around for a while and it had been a long day for everyone .
The hotel rooms were the worst of the week and there were several glum faces. The rooms were so small you could hardly walk around the bed and those that had bathrooms were confronted with scratchy baths and little air flow to speak of. There was no hot water left by the time I was ready to use the shower down the hall - but my screeching made sure no-one else tried to come in.
There were several locals in the bar and in the restaurant and when the food arrived we saw why. The crappy rooms were instantly forgotton as we tucked into the best meal of the week. A lovely salad nicoise followed by lapin (a few concerned faces at the thought by a small minority), lots of clean plates and a choice of great desserts.
Although it was the last night there was still some more cycling to do - a small game of poker ensued and a few retired to the bar for a last drink, but for most it was another earlish night.
Ben and Chris were up before the van and didn’t hang around. Dave was close behind and he joined them off down the other side.
Rae and I grabbed ourselves an Iced Tea and a deck chair and waited in the sun for the rest of the crew. We had been driving around Guillestre for some time trying to find a service station as we were nearly out of diesel. Unfortunately it was market day and, not only was it very busy, the roads we needed were all closed for stalls. Nightmare time for me again in the old town narrow streets and then we had to do a u-turn... I kept my cool and just inched the van slowly in both directions until it hit something (the kerb I hope). It was a several point turn but we made it. Rae had some good French language practice asking where the supermarket was and we were glad of the relaxation at the top.
The café owners at the top were great. I had filled up all the water bottles there on Friday and she remembered us. I was glad we gave her the business as drinks and a few snacks for a crowd this large hits the 100 euro mark – not a bad boost to takings out of season. She gave Rae and I presents as we left – a wolf whistling cuddly toy key ring and a jar of home made marmalade.
Unfortunately I did not notice any signs telling us the road we need to take to the lunch venue would be closed for 3½ hours from 1pm. We had waited at the top for a while with Kevin and both he and the van arrived too late. It was a 2 hour detour in the car or a 2½ hour wait in the mountain sunshine so we waited..........
and waited..........
We made some new friends including a crowd of dutch bikers and another british cyclist whose girlfrind was accompanying him in the car. The closure was because of digging high up on the mountain side - the avalanches being caused were why we were being kept away.
We made a vast procession as about 50 bikes, followed by a fancy sport car, then us, and many many more vehicles, turned onto the deserted road at 4.30pm, soon it seemed everyone had turned off and we were once more on very quiet roads.
The weather turned to wind and rain, there was the last big momma to climb, Col d'Allos. We took the van up and over the top - the worst road of all but desolate except for the huge herd of sheep that came our way and made for an interesting wait. We had three large groups in total take over the road from the other direction and the guys had fun piling through them. The first, and most interesting included goats and several donkeys!
Kev, quite rightly, had retired from cycling for the day and beavered away on his blackberry as I sang along to Winners Song by Geraldine (Peter Kay) much to Rae's embarrasment. We had it on a CD and I love it!
I realised, once the van arrived at the hotel late that evening in the lashing rain, that the rest of the guys had been so lucky to have passed through the road before it had been closed. We didn't arrive until 7pm, co-inciding with the last group of cyclists. Some had been hanging around for a while and it had been a long day for everyone .
The hotel rooms were the worst of the week and there were several glum faces. The rooms were so small you could hardly walk around the bed and those that had bathrooms were confronted with scratchy baths and little air flow to speak of. There was no hot water left by the time I was ready to use the shower down the hall - but my screeching made sure no-one else tried to come in.
There were several locals in the bar and in the restaurant and when the food arrived we saw why. The crappy rooms were instantly forgotton as we tucked into the best meal of the week. A lovely salad nicoise followed by lapin (a few concerned faces at the thought by a small minority), lots of clean plates and a choice of great desserts.
Although it was the last night there was still some more cycling to do - a small game of poker ensued and a few retired to the bar for a last drink, but for most it was another earlish night.
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