bike up Col d’Izoard 2360m / 7,743' from Guillestre 1044m, then down to
Briançon, train to Eygliers 881m bike back up to Guillestre 1479m vertical, 31.5km uphill, 21km downhill
Monday morning I was pretty wiped out mentally.
Physically I still felt pretty good.
High chance of thunderstorms today, but I was going to get up Col
d'Izoard no matter what.
I slept in a little, enjoying the fact that I was going to start
today's ride from my hotel and wouldn't have to drive anywhere first.
Finally I ran out of excuses and got my butt on the road.
08:30 Europe time 17:30 California time
Market Day in Guillestre
08:44 Europe time 17:44 California time
Looking west back toward Guillestre
09:10 Europe time 18:10 California time
Looking west back toward Guillestre
09:13 Europe time 18:13 California time
Looking east up the Guil valley
Very pleasant morning!
The river valley was gorgeous...
09:15 Europe time 18:15 California time
Looking back downhill
09:43 Europe time 18:43 California time
Monument to war victims
09:46 Europe time 18:46 California time
09:47 Europe time 18:47 California time
It was 15km up to the turn to the actual road up the Col - it was
longer than I expected even though I've already driven it twice..
09:48 Europe time 18:48 California time
09:49 Europe time 18:49 California time
09:52 Europe time 18:52 California time
09:58 Europe time 18:58 California time
09:59 Europe time 18:59 California time
10:10 Europe time 19:10 California time
10:34 Europe time 19:34 California time
The sky was getting pretty gray, and the scenery was nowhere near as
pretty as the last two days.
The sunny river valley was much more enjoyable..
10:42 Europe time 19:42 California time
10:56 Europe time 19:56 California time
10:57 Europe time 19:57 California time
10:57 Europe time 19:57 California time
Looking south back the way I came
10:58 Europe time 19:58 California time
10:59 Europe time 19:59 California time
Fabio Aru is an Italian professional cyclist... we are only
a few miles from the Italian border here...
11:16 Europe time 20:16 California time
11:25 Europe time 20:25 California time
11:29 Europe time 20:29 California time
Under dreary skis I finally reached the Calle Desert.
I was extremely glad that I'd already taken pictures here in excellent
sunlight a few days ago.
I'd wanted to see this for years, but I must admit it was a bit of a
disappointment.
From TDF footage I assumed Calle Desert went on for miles and was
enormous.
Having lived in the desert southwest, this was.... pretty tiny, all
things considered.
It only went on for a couple of kilometers.
However the prior two days rides had greatly exceeded my very high
expectations, this was pure gravy....
11:30 Europe time 20:30 California time
Calle Desert
11:30 Europe time 20:30 California time
Col d'Izoard in the distance from the south
11:32 Europe time 20:32 California time
PANO - scroll right
11:54 Europe time 20:54 California time
I made it!
Three cols in three days!
and I haven't been rained on today... yet....
I didn't linger long on the top, storms continued to form to the south.
I took a few more pictures then headed downhill on the north side.
This was the first time I've traversed a col instead of taking the 'safe' route back downhill the way I came.
However this traversal was still pretty safe since I planned to take the train back...
11:54 Europe time 20:54 California time
11:56 Europe time 20:56 California time
Looking south back the way I came up... at storm clouds....
11:57 Europe time 20:57 California time
PANO - scroll right
12:31 Europe time 21:31 California time
12:32 Europe time 21:32 California time
12:55 Europe time 21:55 California time
Briançon
12:55 Europe time 21:55 California time
13:08 Europe time 22:08 California time
I made it to Briançon!
Time for a beer while I waited for the train to take me and the bike
back south to Guillestre
Meanwhile in Spain with Ray's family
Ray's pic
Ray's pic
Ray's pic
12:51 Europe time 03:51 California time
Ray:Sitges isn't bad!
13:04 Europe time 04:04 California time
Ray: Can you believe my wife took this one? Girl was clearly showing
off, doing back bends and handstands while playing beach volleyball
Ray: Had attention of everyone on beach at 1st - now it's ho-hum
13:05 Europe time 04:05 California time
Ray: Here's what rest of Playa de San Sebastian looks like..
Ray: Awesome weather, too
Ray: Rained in morn, perfect now.
13:16 Europe time 04:16 California time
Dusty: Col d'Izoard today, the one I drove the first day
Dusty: 2360m 31.5km last 8km are pretty brutal
Dusty: Sprinkled at the top
Dusty: I went up the south side and down the tree lined north
side into Briancon
Dusty: There's a train at 248pm back to town near Guillestre from
Briancon
Dusty: Real men would ride back
Dusty: Sprinkled most of the way down the mountain but never
rained
Dusty: Now Afligem!
13:20 Europe time 04:20 California time
Dusty: I'm going to try to drive 3hr tomorrow morning to Locana IT then
bike 40km up Colle del Nivolet 2641m 8th highest paved road in the Alps
Dusty: That will make 5 of the top 8, I'm at 4 now
Dusty: Weather is supposed to be nice.
13:22 Europe time 04:22 California time
Dusty: First time I've been able to have a beer on the ride without
worrying about driving back after the ride..
Dusty: I need another!
13:23 Europe time 04:23 California time
Ray: Great job, Dusty! What's next today?
13:26 Europe time 04:26 California time
Dusty: Today is over except getting home on a train
Dusty: Slight climb back to hotel from train, will be non
trivial
Dusty: Already paid for hotel, told them I'm leaving 1 day
early....will try to go back that excellent restaurant for the beef..
Dusty: loved the lamb and fish...
13:26 Europe time 04:26 California time
Dusty: That beach looks awesome Ray!
13:27 Europe time 04:27 California time
Dusty: But first spending an hour watching Briancon go by while i drink
beer
Dusty: Getting a little chilly, hoping it doesn't rain, haven't
found the train station yet
13:31 Europe time 04:31 California time
Ray: That sounds fun
Ray: So climb to hotel is on bike, too? Maybe you better not drink too
much! 🤮
13:50 Europe time 04:50 California time
Dusty: Storm pretty much the entire way between Ray and I
Dusty: Looks like I've barely escaped the rain riding north but
that may soon be over
13:56 Europe time 04:56 California time
Ray: Yeah, you could get doused again, looks like
Ray: We are now in sunny skies, well west of Barcelona
Ray: Warming up a little, but it's pleasant in our sunshade
Ray: I had a long swim
Ray: Life is good
14:10 Europe time 05:10 California time
Dusty: Found the train station all of 2m of riding and 4m of googling
Dusty: 6.60 euros back, the velo is free
Dusty: Train station is warm and has no wind, which I'll take
right now.
14:14 Europe time 05:14 California time
Dusty: The 4 rides I've done in this area - from the top Col du
Galibier last year, Col d Izuord today with the start and end arrows,
Col Agnel 2 days ago, Cimme
de la Bonnette yesterday
14:16 Europe time 05:16 California time
Dusty: Italian border is the purple line on the right, Col Agnel
ride ends there
14:53 Europe time 05:53 California time
Ray: You should give up the hotels and ride across Europe
Ray: Looks like you've already done the hard parts
Ray: Cut the cord.
14:54 Europe time 05:54 California time
Dusty: Nah, I work hard riding up Alps so i can justify eating too much
fine French food
Dusty: These hotels are one step up from a hostel..
Dusty: they may not be cheap but they aren't glamorous
14:57 Europe time 05:57 California time
Ray: Luxury biker! Ok, my idea would involve some misery
Ray: That's why I haven't tried it
Ray: Amy's uncle once rode his bike up US coast from Mexico to Canada..
14:58 Europe time 05:58 California time
Ray: He said it got much easier after about the 4th or 5th day.
15:10 Europe time 06:10 California time
Dusty: My legs were worked the first day but have been fine since
Dusty: I don't think i could possibly eat too many calories right
now...
15:22 Europe time 06:22 California time
Kent: Nice job Dusty! The tour is heating up after yesterday's
cobble stage
Kent: Mountains should be good
Ken: Ray, good job with the beach photos (and it looks very cool there)
Kent: And good for Sophie! When in Rome!
15:49 Europe time 06:49 California time
Ray: She has moxy, for sure
Ray: She's been partying with other people for over an hour now,
playing cards and "helping" the counter girls at the concession stand
Ray: Princess of the beach
14:35 Europe time 23:35 California time
In France your bike rides for free on the train (a bike costs as much as a person in Switzerland!)
I watched a couple of teenagers with a mountain bike struggle with the
bike rack.
The bike rack was only designed for road bikes, it wouldn't fit their
mountain bike with wider tires.
15:18 Europe time 00:18 California time Place forte de
Mont-Dauphin
from the train.
Other than the mountains, this was supposed to be only sight worth
seeing around here.
I never bothered.
I got off the train at Eygliers 881m, which is 163m lower than my hotel
in Guillestre.
I decided to take a back road along the Guil instead of the busy
highway.
The road was dirt and gravel for a couple of kilometers but not too bad.
15:42 Europe time 00:42 California time
My road crosses the bridge then winds up the hill - my hotel and
Guillestre are on top of the plateau.
15:44 Europe time 00:44 California time
I couldn't believe how small the kids kayaks were... those kids
were only about 5 and 7 years old!
16:15 Europe time 01:15 California time
Hoodoo in the foreground
The sun finally came back out!
16:17 Europe time 07:17 California time
Dusty: On the steep road up from the river
Dusty: Hoodoos all over the place here.
16:41 Europe time 07:41 California time
Ray: Looks fragile!
16:41 Europe time 07:41 California time
Ray: Nice photo!
I crashed for a while in the hotel.
I had booked the room for 4 nights, now I cancelled my last night and
paid my bill since I'd accomplished everything I wanted to in this area.
I had my sights set on Colle del Nivolet in Parco Nazionale Gran
Paradiso tomorrow - about 3 hours away.
I went out to dine one last time at my beloved la Bolee, but it was
closed!
I was not too surprised to find a restaurant closed on a Monday.
I had a backup plan...Michelin rated Dedans
Dehors
They were able to seat me, I again got the last table in the house...
I was a little disappointed but also a little relieved that they had an
English menu.
One of the waiters also spoke English, which made things considerably
easier once they figured out I was an American...
19:14 Europe time 04:14 California time
19:13 Europe time 04:13 California time
My table
19:19 Europe time 04:19 California time
Fried foie gras on bread with blackcurrents with salad.
It was good, but not as good as la Bolee's foie gras...
19:40 Europe time 04:40 California time
The waiter recommended the blueberry wine, it was excellent
18:36 Europe time 09:36 California time
Paul: Damn
Paul: You guys look to be having some good days there
Paul: Ray, you do anything in Sitges other than the Beach?
19:41 Europe time 10:41 California time
Dusty: The blueberry wine is fantastic! One of the staff actually
speaks English here, feels like cheating
Dusty: The fois gras was fantastic.
19:43 Europe time 10:43 California time
Dusty: Different place than last night, they are closed Mondays
18:57 Europe time 09:57 California time
Paul: When's the cruise start and where are you going?
19:01 Europe time 10:01 California time
Ray: I'm weightlifting now
Ray: Yes - the girls also shopped there
Ray: But it was a full beach experience
Ray: We just got back - went straight to area where we're doing dinner
Ray: So we got to Sitges at 11:30, beach at noon, stayed there till
4:30, then caught train at 5:30
Ray: Easy train
Ray: Silly website! We board Mickey's cruise at 3 tomorrow
Ray: Next day: Cannes, Nice and Monaco
Ray: Or is it Monte Carlo? I forget
20:37 Europe time 11:37 California time
Dusty: Monaco is the country, Monte Carlo is the casino
19:04 Europe time 10:04 California time
Paul: You get off the boat at all 3 of those? I liked Nice
Paul: Did not go to Cannes
Paul: Monte Carlo was interesting to look at, but the over-opulence of
the place made it so I did not really want to do much there other than
gawk
19:06 Europe time 10:06 California time
Ray: Some British turistas were having a loud chat about Trump and
Reagan this morn at hotel before we left
Ray: I really wanted to ask them how the Brexit was going, but I
restrained myself...
20:41 Europe time 11:41 California time
Dusty: Cannes Nice and Monaco sounds like s very full day
Dusty: I assume you'll dock in Villefrance-sur-Mer.
Dusty: in fact here's exactly what a Disney tour group there looks like
http://el-granada.com/france2007/july162007.html
19:46 Europe time 04:46 California time
Duck breast with honey caramel source and grilled almonds.... amazing!
19:43 Europe time 10:43 California time
Paul: Psssst
Paul: When you saw blueberry wine on the menu, that was a hint to get
up and leave.
19:47 Europe time 10:47 California time
Kent: That looked super dusty!
21:36 Europe time 12:36 California time
Dusty: English speaking waiter read it to me
21:36 Europe time 12:36 California time
Dusty: Google translate is useless w menus
21:38 Europe time 12:38 California time
Dusty: The duck was amazing
20:15 Europe time 11:15 California time
Kent: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VVrDjJixbSc
20:46 Europe time 11:46 California time
Ray: I hope I get another stamp in my passport for Monaco!
Ray: We are with Luries at Canate restaurant in the Raval neighborhood
Ray: Grungy and awesome
Ray: Photo of menu slogan:
20:51 Europe time 11:51 California time
Ray: The French menu also says in English "$%$# your diet."
20:51 Europe time 11:51 California time
Ray: I just asked how to say that in Spanish
Ray: Guy hands me a Spanish menu which translates roughly to "Happy to
ruin your diet." Waiter laughed and agreed when I told him it's not
similar...
20:51 Europe time 11:51 California time
Kent: Nice, in the international language
21:37 Europe time 12:37 California time
Ray: I didn't use Google translate.
21:57 Europe time 12:57 California time
Ray: Sophie's cracking up because I flicked food off my elbow and it
went about 10 feet
Ray: I'm blaming it on the liter of beer
22:04 Europe time 13:04 California time
Ray: We have a few hours still in Barcelona tomorrow morn - what should
we do?
22:04 Europe time 13:04 California time
Paul: Go back to Sitges?
22:05 Europe time 13:05 California time
Paul: Go see the abandoned Olympic sites?
22:07 Europe time 13:07 California time
Ray: Not a bad idea...
22:27 Europe time 13:27 California time
Ray: La Rambla at night
Ray: Terrific place
Ray: Kinda like a tamer version of Bourbon Street.
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Sunday July 15, 2018
Cime de la Bonette
France wins World Cup!
