Review

Ok, it's been way too long since I've left anything on this.  I did keep a wee bit of a journal along the way so here it is:

Tuesday 1 July - 7.20am

I'm awake long before I need to be - nothing new there...  I'm sitting on the bed in my attic room, high in the eves of this old gite hotel.  Shuttered windows look onto a dramatic hill, swathed in lush forest, overlooking the outskirts of the village.  I've been awake for about an hour now, reading, and listening to birdsong - the screech of swallows, the chatter of sparrows.  Owls hooting last night.  We're in a rural village about 10km from Lourdes called Argelès-Gazost.  The mountains looked broodingly ominous last night as we arrived from Toulouse, covered by haze.  I imagine that they'll look ever more dramatic in the bright early morning sunshine.

Today, we're out to do a 68km training ride.  From our base in Argelès to Luz-Ardiden, a mythical climb around 30km  away.  Part of the lure of this trip is to be on this cycling pilgrimage around all the famous climbs of the Tour de France.

I've managed to forget a few items.  Firstly, my USB cable - so no photos for the moment.  Likewise with the safety pins for sticking the number to my jersey.  Must try and think what they're called en français.

The group is smaller than I first believed.  I thought it was a group of 50 - but there's only 20 here - so much the better.  I'd have to say, that I reckon I'll be the weakest cyclist of all here.  Everyone looks so much leaner and fitter!  I'm sure I'm probably not the only person thinking like this.  I have 5 days to get to know everyone.

Simple meal last night - soups, shellfish quiche, beef with pasta, potatoes, and salad.  Washed down with 3 small glasses of red wine.  Conversation was stilted.  We're all a little anxious to get out on the road.

Got my bike set up fine.  Some people had problems with bolts or things that suddenly didn't work, but my bike seems ok - touch wood...

Later