Day 10 (my last day) Biescas to Benasque

Whatever happened i knew Sunday would be my final day as i knew i was close enough (120kms) to make to my house in Benasque. It was a long ride so i left my cosy hotel at just after 9am. I went to a bar across from the hotel and got a couple of rolls to last me the day. The road started to climb again but the views were great so i didn't mind that much.

All i could think about now was getting home and putting the bike in the garage.

On the way i passed through some really nice towns and if i had more time i would have liked to stop to check them out a bit better.

8 hours later, having covered 1030kms of the 1050kms total, i pulled into a petrol station within sight of the finish line, bought a coke and mars bar, got off the bike and finished my journey there and then.

I had enough, i called a taxi, and 15mins later i was in my house.

Success or failure - you decide!

Day 9 Louvie-Juuzon to Biescas- Spain!

Saturday 2nd October 2010 was without doubt the toughest day on a bike i ever spent.

I left my hotel just after 9am ready to cross the mountains from France into Spain.

I had cycled up Alpe Duez before and although its hard, its an hour and and half of pain and then its over, but not the Col de Portalet on a bike weighing almost 30kgs including my luggage.

If there was one consolation it was the scenery - it was magnificent!

I called my brother Paul at the bottom of the climb and it was not that difficult so i was feeling good about the rest of the climb. I had no internet connection the day before and was hoping Paul could give me some info. but he was out training on his bike and couldn't give much on the climb. The climb went up and up and up for about 30kms and since since i could only manage 6kms per hour, well it took along time to get up.

I eventually made it to the top and crossing the border into Spain you couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

Leaving my hotel and France

Halfway up!

I was going to stop at El Formigal at the top of the mountain but i shot down (at 60kms per hour) to Biescas to be a bit closer to final stop in Spain.

Day 8 Roquefort to Louvie-Juzon

It's getting hard to get out of bed!

I was looking forward to my last full day in France as i thought i should cross in to Spain tomorrow evening. The ride was hard as the roads stated to rise as i approached the Pyrenees. The landscape started to change to the typical Pyrenees look. Passed through Pau on the way with no problems with the navigation. As i approached Gan, an ederly man on a race bike saw me reading a map and offered his assitance. He insited on going to Gan with me. He showed me to the hotel in Gan but after he had gone i discovered it was closed down. I will break his neck if i ever see him again!     I had to cycle through another 3 towns (30kms) before i found a place to stay as every where was full for the weekend i suppose. In the end i covered 120kms in 9 hours but i pushed myself to the limit and could pay for that tomorrow. Off to bed, Im wrecked!

Near Pau

Big mistake listening to this bloke!

The landscape is changing

Shattered

Day 7 Libourne to Roquefort

Left my 3 star hotel this morning at 10am. I was expecting a short day so i wasn't in a big rush.

No problem getting out of the town as the last night i got a map of the town at the tourist office. You can waste a half an hour easily trying to get out of a big town but the map had me out in 5mins.

Stopped at a little shop about 10kms in for supplies (water and sandwiches).

From early on i saw the signs for Bazas which would be my stop for the day so navigating was easy.

Before i knew it i had arrived at Bazas having only covered 65kms. Last night while planning my route i made a mistake as i had Bazas at about 85kms. It was way too early to stop but i hadn't checked the route further on as i was sure i was going to stop at Bazas. A quick phone call to Paul and Sue and they were able to tell me that the next town (Captieux) had 2 hotels in it, so i decided to push on. I arrived there about an hour later but i didn't like the look of the place. I saw the sign for Roquefort 30kms further and was happy to carry on. Today i felt very strong on the bike and felt i had about another 50km in my legs if i needed to go that far. I arrived in Roquefort at about 5.20pm having covered 111kms in 7.25 hours.

I booked straight in to a lovley hotel owened by a Dutch guy for €67 for the night.
I have attached a link on Roquefort cheese to add a bit of culture to the blog!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roquefort

The state of me!

Approaching Roquefort

Roughing it in my bedroom in Roquefort.

Tomorrow i aim to finish in Gan which is the far side of Pau and within striking distance of Spain!

Day 6 Saintes to Libourne (Bordeaux)

Today was all about the wine. I set off this morning at 9am and the sun was shining, so plenty of sun cream.

Straight away i was feeling much better on the bike and i had a feeling it was going to be a good day.

After about 15kms the vine yards appeared and stayed with me for the rest of the day. The smell of wine was everywhere.

Stopped of at a town called Pons to stock up on water and food at 20kms. When i left the shop i had left one of the carrierbags open and my runner fell out of the bag, luckily spotted by a car behind me or otherwise i was goosed!
I finished the day at Libourne just to the east of Bordeaux having covered 116kms in just under 7.5 hours.
Tomorrow i plan to stop at Bazas following in the footsteps of Rick Stein and Chalkie!

Day 5 Marrans to Saintes

Got out of bed this morning at about 9am and had a chocolate and custard bun for breakfast that i had stored in my bag from the day before washed down with a swig of water from my water bottle.
I eventually rolled back on the road at just afyer 10 in the morning. Today i was only going to do 85kms so i was in no rush and i was feeling a bit brusied from yesterday so i wanted to finish the day early.
From the moment i got i the bike, the pain was unbearable, the most i was use to cycling before this was about 2 hours, so going to 7-8 hours was too much for my body to take. Sitting on the saddle was just constant pain and it took about 40kms for the pain to become bearable. After that the ride became quite pleasant as the sun was starting to shine, the weather has been overcast since i started.

I didnt really stop on the road today and i arrived in Saintes at 3.30pm some 5.5 hours later (my shortest day so far) having covered 85kms. My average speed on the bike since i started has been 17.5 - 18.5 kms per hour. In Ireland i was averaging about 20kms but on 2 hour journeys. The extra effort required to get just another 2kms per hour over the longer journeys is just not possible for me and i know if i tried i would just blow up. Im off to bed early tonight and see if im in less pain tomorrow!

Day 4 Reze to Marrans

                                                  Happy to see the D137

Once i cleared Reze this morning i was straight on to the D137. This is the road i would have to track today and for the next 2 days after that. The up side of this is that navigation is straight forward, but the on the down side there is a lot of traffic on the road including heavy trucks (and camper vans) what is it with the French and camper vans, there’s thousands of them. The other thing about the D137 is thats its more or less straight for about 400kms so it’s not the most exciting road and most of the towns i am passing through are run down with not much signs of life.   After cycling for 90kms i stopped at a tiny tourist office in Ste-Hermine which was where i was planning to stop for the day. I asked the girl working there if there was a hotel further on down the road and i was happy to here there was one about 30kms further on in the town of Marans.                                              I finished the day in Marans after covering 120kms in a little over 7 hours. Bumped into a retired Irish couple this evening in a while having dinner in a small bar, they are caravanning in France for a month, they are mad – not my idea of a holiday!  My Achilles tendons’ are giving me a bit of trouble, both of them were paining me from the start today but the last 30km the pain was getting stronger. Tomorrow i plan on doing no more than 80-90 kms as i have noticed once i go beyond 100km i tire very quickly and the pains get much worse.

Passing 100kms on route to Marrans

Marrans

My hotel for the night

Everything in France is a 2 star. This can range from a not half bad place serving food all the way down to a cow shed. My hotel for the night was somewhere in the middle.