Breakfast again was not on offer so I shot out the door as soon as I could and got on the road. Thank you so much Agnes, both sets of cycling clothes were cleaned and fresh. I slept really well too.
Today was going to be quite simply legendary as I had a climb ahead of me that defied logic seeing as I had ridden for 6 days and totalled about 750 miles so far. Today I planned on getting over the lump between France and Spain called the Pyrenees. The road I chose was the Col d'Ares which is one of the toughest climbs in Europe. I did some Level 2, 3 & 4 category climbs this week but to end on this Category 1 climb was madness and a challenge that I remember thinking on day one of the planning process 7 months earlier on Boxing Day was going to be the hardest thing I have ever done.
I have no idea why but after passing the sign on entering this region of the Pyrenees, the quality of the road improved and I encountered many more cycle lanes on the roads, wider and better quality than any others I had used during the week. Was this the areas affection and need to attract cyclists or the Spanish influence !?
Breakfast on the go... caffeine, cholesterol and carbohydrates S'il vous plaît !!!!
First sight of the Pyrenees, they must be super big mountains as I am about 30 miles from them at this point just outside Perpignan and they stand proud along the entire horizon. Very impressive, awe inspiring and absolutely petrifying !!!!
It's getting hot too and it's only just 11 am....
Perpignan is a massive city and has some cool art....
Mmm . Barcelona, that gives me a great idea !!!!
Second breakfast...
The climb starts in Le Boulou and it winds its way up the 5,000 feet of the eastern French Pyrenees for about 40 miles. I dropped into the Hotel Le Neoulous at the bottom of the D115 to ask for some water and they were very nice topping me up with cold water and ice.
Pyrenees getting nearer and nearer...
Now this was so cool, I stopped in a lovely town called Ceret which has 3 parallel bridges over the Le Tech river. On the oldest one of these bridges known as the Pont du Diable was a photo shoot for the local firemen. They were all laughing and posing for all the men and women (mostly women) who passed, cheered and beeped their cars in recognition.
There was also a Boules tournament underway in Ceret.
Starting to climb a bit more now, it starts very gradually at first but it eventually culminates in a massive 8 mile finishing ascent at 7% average. Some points have 12-14 % sections. It is a beast !!!!
I cannot believe it, just 28 more km left in France to go !!!!!!
Get your free water top ups here....
Le Tech
Tunnel... but I have no front lights on my bike eek !!!
First sighting of the yellow ribbons which denote the campaign for Catalan independence and supports the politicians who were punished. In Catalonia, yellow ribbons began to be used in late October 2017 by the Catalan independence movement as a symbol of solidarity with the leaders of two secessionist organizations, ANC and Òmnium Cultural, (Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez).
The beautiful town of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste.
I remember taking this picture of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste. I stood there with a huge smile on my face feeling like I had completed this trip from the most northern part of France right there on the beach at Bray Dunes and I was just about to turn around and head up the hill for the last 8 miles or so and enter Spain. I had no idea how steep and hard this final Col would be. It was the hardest climb I had ever done in my life. The Tour de France came this way in 1968, the year I was born !!!
It averages at 7% but I know what 7 feels like and it felt much harder. It felt more like 8-9% for most of the way. It is 8.15 miles to the top from Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste and you climb nearly 3,000 feet.
I may have finally started to feel the effects of the 800 plus miles but I honestly did not know if I could do it after a couple of miles. It was horrendous. After every mile there was a marker that stated the next miles average gradient of 6 - 9 %. At one point I thought of getting off and walking up but pride and determination kept me going.
I noticed this sign, the French definitely know how to respect all road users.
However, even though the climb was tough the views were absolutely stunning.....
It went on and on and on.......
This last 8 miles was split into 3 mini Cols or cycling challenges, this one was the first... Col de la Seille. At this sign I chatted to a couple of people who also stopped in their car to take some pics. I shouldn't have been surprised but was to hear they were Spanish. "Hola mucho gusto"
The only sound I could hear for miles was the clanging noise of cow bells, it was wonderful. The air was so clear and crisp if not a little thin !!! Maybe that was what was affecting me too. Altitude !!!
I couldn't resist stopping to take photos all the way up, well that was my excuse ! hehe
Second Col complete. Next stop... The top !!!
I think that dot just to the right of the red pole on the picture below is the border into Spain and the finish point !!!! I started to cry like a baby !!! After 7 days and nearly 850 miles I had about a mile to go !!!
The cowbell sound was getting louder and here is the owner !
The last mile had a series of 4 hairpin bends that I had to struggle with !!
Finally, I rounded a corner to see the sight I had begged for... The border with Spain at the crossing point and the very top of this mountain !!!! I have never felt so relieved and completely elated. I was overcome with emotion and a feeling you would need to pump a lot of illegal substances into your body to replicate. I had done it !!!!
I remember adding a similar picture below to my blog downloaded from the internet months ago and here I was actually there taking my own picture with a huge smile and a years supply of endorphins racing around my body and brain !!!!
Hola Espana !!!!
This was the right place to plant my flag that I carried all the way from the layby in Belgium near the most northern point of the French mainland !!! From Bray Dunes to Col D'Ares with Love !!!
I wonder if it is still there ??
I realised at this point that the other completely brilliant thing about today was that I had booked a great hotel for tonight and it was 8 miles down this mountain and the next day I had a 35 mile downhill ride to the gorgeous city of Girona and a flight home to see my family and Debby. I love you so much and thank you for making my dreams come true XXXX
I was really cold stood there at 5,000 feet high and when I started to descend at 35 mph I was shivering but could actually feel the temperature pick up slightly the lower down the mountain I rode.
My hotel... Hotel Calitxo in Mollo
My room, wow what a sight !! I had a lovely bed and great views of the mountainside too.
I had booked dinner too so I was all sorted for food and I ate like a king. Table for one !! From memory it was 3 courses with pasta to start, chicken and then cheesecake. I felt sorry for the people sat around me as most people were savouring every mouthful, dressed well for dinner whilst sipping their wine and then I walked in with Lycra shorts, flip flops, a creased and filthy t shirt, a sun tanned neck, legs and arms and with a stupid permanent smile on my face. Not only this but I basically demolished the plates of food put before me with gusto and in record time.
I found out later on that it was the festival of St John called St Johns Eve tonight which is traditionally 6 months before Christmas Day and the tradition in Catalonia is to let fireworks off all evening in every town for miles around so I watched it from the balcony until I could not keep my eyes open and I stuck the ear plugs I brought in my ears, kissed the photo of Deb Jess & Cal I had on my phone and fell asleep for what would be the best night's sleep I think I have ever had.
More on St Johns Eve here...... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_John%27s_Eve
I also had a new best ride I had ever done too... today !!! Say hello to the number one spot Saturday June 23rd, 2018 from Narbonne in France to Mollo in the Spanish Pyrenees.
Today was just 96 miles but 8,000 feet climbed again.
FINAL TALLY:
7 days 890.85 miles 51,123 feet climbed
I love the profile of this days ride, it's like a childs slide in reverse !!!
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