The Pyrenean Challenge June/July 2011

The RAID Pyrenees route is available on the internet. It is 700 km long and involves climbs totalling 11,600 metres - that's 10,000 feet more than climbing Mt Everest!

Clive on the Corniche!

With Nigel as roadie we set off on Sunday, 

Sailed through the night with bikes on the Volvo; 

Lunch in Laredo and then on to Hendaye, 

Tomorrow - we start the Big Daddyo!

28-30th June 2011 to Bidarray, Bielle and Argeles-Gazoste

Day 1 Hendaye to Bidarry

62 miles and 3926 feet

Last sight of the Atlantic after leaving Hendaye

Finding sheep's cheese in Ossau Iraty, 

And sweet little villages like Sara 

With hard courts for playing pelote - 

The biggies come nearer and nearer!

I imagine she was good at pelote, too!

Day 2 to Bielle

55 miles and 4145 feet over col d'Osquich (500m)

Nearly went into Spain!

Potage, hors d'oeuvres and pieces of pork 

For lunch, and then tartes aux pommes; 

Col d'Osquish, now we're starting to talk - 

Said Nigel, with his Grand Camion.

Day 3 to Argeles-Gazoste

35 miles and 4762 feet over Col d'Aubisque (1709m) and col du Soulor (1404m)

Top of our first biggie (15 km of climb)

The camaraderie of the ascent of Aubisque 

The pain of the hour by hour slog; 

Savage ravines, tunnels and distant peaks, 

But the summit was shrouded in fog!

The col du Soulor was sauvage!

1st to 3rd July to Ste Marie, Luchon and St Girons

Day 4 to Ste Marie de Campan 

(Bagneres de Bigorre)

 41 miles and 5761 feet of climb over the Col du Tourmalet (2115m)

Looking west down the route we had ascended

Iconic, the ride up the Tourmalet;

Our minds, determined by absence of stress, 

Feet pedalling, pedalling thro' fields of hay, 

Views and inclines that sure took our breath.

OK, we just had to have this picture!

Day 5 to Bagneres de Luchon

31 miles and 4909 feet over Col d'Aspin (1489m) and Peyresourde (1560m)

Engineers working on the bikes in the morning!

Peyresourde came after col d'Aspin, 

Roller-coaster ride down to Arreau; 

Climbed up like a bird, down like a Zeppelin, 

Met buses on corners, so narrow!

Lunch on skewers at Arreau, after an amazing descent

Day 6 to St Girons

54 miles and 3838 feet of climb over Col des Ares (797m) and Portet d'Aspet (1069m)

This had some of the steepest sections of the whole trip (24%)

Grey skies and threats of rain in the day 

Leaving Bagneres de Luchon 

Col des Arles and Portet d'Aspet 

Enlivened our progression.

32 degrees in St Girons 

With thunder in the evening 

Alpine flowers and ice cream fun,

 This love of France we're feeling!

4th to 6th July - to Ax, Villefranche, Argeles

Day 7 to Ax les Thermes

53 miles and 4274 ft over col de Caougnouse (940m) and de Port (1249m)

Imagine descending this hill from le Port,

Swooping round hairpins again and again; 

Black olive salad - Carolina's best sort, 

Then cowboys and indians in the rain!

Day 8 to Vernet les Bains/Villefranch Conflient  

65 miles and 5708 feet over col de Puymorens (1915m) and Mont Louis (1585m). Descended 6646 feet

28 km climbing out of Ax - 

While Nigel was off to Andorra - 

More climbs after lunch our bodies did tax 

And the vistas got taller and taller.

Mont Louis started the 10/10 descent, 

Catalan lunch in Bourg-Madame; 

The end of the swoop was heaven sent, 

The reward a double choc Magnum!

Looking east from Mont Louis

Day 9 to Argeles sur mer

50 miles and 757 feet. Descended 2917 feet

Our wheels have turned 700 K 

We've climbed higher than Mt. Everest; 

Nigel's swim just made our day, 

RAID Pyrenean - the best!