July 11 Walking Tour Of Argeles-Gazost

Not much in the way of photo opportuinities. It was late and the sky was gray. I'll add some more later of the "Centre Ville". Click on the Cross photo.

July 12 Lourdes

Today is a day "off the bike". A zero day. I took the local bus to the pilgrim city of Lourdes at 10:15 this morning. It was a 25 minute ride and I hopped off the bus into the drizzle and searched out the Tourism Office. Once I had a city map in hand I was off, only God knew where. But soon I discovered a blue line painted along the streets that turned out to be a walking tour of Lourdes. There are a number of churches in town, but the main church, the shrine, THE SANCTUARY is why the pilgrims are here. The plaza around the Sanctuary church can handle 80,000 people. I saw "a league of nations" parading toward the Church. One youth group broke into clapping when they first laid their eyes on the Church in the distance. This is obviously a sacred place to Roman Catholic Christians. And I'm sure many others visit out of curiosity. I'm glad I got to spend some time praying here. I hope the paintings/murals are clear enough in my photos. There is a hotel for just about every saint including the "fuzzy" St Charles! Must be my friend at WCCC library. He's a little fuzzy in the head. "Buy me something Charlie".

July 13 Col du Soulor - Col d'Aubisque - Pont d'Espagne

What an incredible day. I got to climb three of the famous Tour De France Climbs. And in doing so I discovered that two of them are really one climb with a 2K downhill in between. I started out of Argeles-Gazost with a 3K steep climb, then it went up more gradually but it still was climbing until the village of Arrens-Marsous where you begin the climb up the Col du Soulor. There are signs every Kilometer telling you the gradient/% and number of meters ascended and how far to the top. Soulor was 7 1/2 %, then 8%, Then 8 1/2%, for 11K. Once on top of Soulor there is a 2K incredible descent (you don't want to go off the side) and then you begin the climb up the Aubisque (Oh - beesk) (I call it ahh - biscuit). The Aubisque itself, for all it's fame is only 5K. But the last Kilometer is at 8% at the end of a 16K climb from Arrens-Marsous and 30K from Argeles-Gazost.

After the downhill run back to Argeles-Gazost and my campground I headed off to Cauterets to climb Pont d'Espagne. Turns out it's only flat until Soulom, then you have an 11K climb, a beautiful climb, to Cauterets, and then you begin the 8K climb up the Pont d'Espagne. Truly a fabulous climb. The phots hopefully give you an idea of the scenic beauty. For 19K / 12 Miles you are riding along cascading waters.

July 14 Tour de France - Hautacam

A dream come tue to be at the Tour De France at a mountain-top finish. At 9:15 in the morning I began cycling up the Hautacam. The Hautacam is a mountain with a ski resort at the top with the same name. The climb is very difficult and long. Over 14K / 9 Miles. Quite a bit of the climb is at 10%. I carried one of my panniers loaded with clothes and food. The race wouldn't reach me until 5:15 in the afternoon.

The climb was very challenging, but fun as well. There were thousands of people walking and cycling up the mountain to find a spot to watch the race go by. Truly a party in the making. Those with seats already would cheer those of us still climbing up. The last 2K has barricades along both sides of the road to allow the competitors the ability to pass one another at the end of the race. Up until then the racers pass through an ever-opening funnel of fans who just move out of the way before getting run over. I was one of those fans on Hautacam.

After completing my climb (race officials stopped cyclists 50 meters from the finish line) I descended back down just below the 2K banner to a spot I could see down onto a hairpin turn and then see the cyclists coming up a steep grade. Well, at least that was my intent. I was positioned on the mountain with the Basque. The Basque are, how do you say, crazy fans. Once the riders arrived there was no seeing the 100 meters down the steep grade. All you could see was solid mass of people parting like a wave. Then about 5 meters before the cyclist gets to you a hole opens and there is the cyclist baring down on you and fully expecting you to get out of the way. Just enough time to snap a photo and jump back. I'm sorry to say I missed my photo opportunity of the two lead riders because I wasn't ready for the speed of them coming at me.

Before the riders arrive a caravan of race sponsors parade by for about an hour throwing things to the fans like hats and decks of cards. Even before the last of the racers comes by those who have finished already begin to cycle down the mountain parting the fans in reverse. Pretty crazy I thought. Once the race is over guys on road bikes are trying to find TDF racers to descend with off the mountain.

July 15 Argeles-Gazost to Luz-St. Sauveur - Cirque de Troumouse 76K

Today I moved my campsite 18K to Luz-St. Sauveur to position myself to do a couple climbs without my panniers. I realized cycling the 18K over to Luz that my legs were a little drained of power, but I decided to still do the ride out to the Cirque de Troumouse. I would save the climb up the Luz Ardiden until tomorrow. Wow, you know what happens when you assume something. I assumed the ride to Troumouse wasn't one of the BIG climbs. Well live and learn. How about 28K / 18 Miles of climbing with a 14% section and the last nearly 8K was a monster climb. Howbeit my legs were a little toasted. And half way up the final 8K I look back down a couple hairpins and spot my Campground neighbors from my 4 nights in Argeles, Rinehart & Olika, climbing up behind me. So I just had to accelerate because I knew Rinehart would want to catch me. Can you believe he left his wife behind to catch me? And he did with about 200 meters to go. That was fun. The picture looking down on the switchbacks has two riders in it. They are Rinehart and Olika. And yes, I need a haircut!!! And in case you were wondering about my outfits? It's about the function, not the fashion.