Ruth and I hired a Getz in Geneva, and set sail South across legendary Tour territory to my Xterra France ski resort destination of Auron last Saturday. An epic drive neither of us were fully prepped for, but that leant to the awe of the surprises.
(The start of some proper humps and bumps)
(Visual masterpieces)
Some time was taken in trying pass a bike race of multitudes. Up and down passes where there isnt really space as is. And considering they’d visibly flown from around the globe to attend, they rode as if they owned the road. Fair play. I would have too.
(A tour name even I knew)
(Ruth’s a fan of the fallen great)
(Cyclists fighting up the Galibier)
(Some loosing the battle)
The ‘high’light, literally, was the Col de Bonnet. The highest pass crossing in Europe, summiting at 2802m. So so high. Towering above the Alpe’s in every direction. The climb just kept going. Onwards and upwards.
(A sight prefered from a car seat to a bike saddle)
Half way up, we passed a sheep herder. An elderly looking mountain man, as free as the winds blowing across the grass pastures feeding his flock of sheep. He was balding yet had long white-grey dreads, nearly as long as the wooden walking stick he leant on. I dont know whether he’d spoken to anyone. Ever. We were high, out of reach of all civilisation by the looks of things, and this was about half way up the climb, to give you an indication of how big this mountain was…
(Nearing heaven)
The tour goes over it on the 22nd. I’ll be watching wonder how when I was getting dizzy sitting in the car at the top. Most of the pass up and down is done in first or second gear!
(A worthy monument)
Eish, we rolled into Auron at 6pm. After leaving Geneve at 7:30am. I’d missed registration, and all chances of some pre-riding. Perhaps also any chance of fresh legs in the morn, after so much braking round hair pin’s…
