Day 8: Saint Cirq Lapoppie to Laguiole

Good evening from the Massif Central, nearly 3,000 ft above sea level.

Well, the first leg of the trip has ended and we are still physically (and mentally)

Some stats from the trip

Time bicycling: more than 32 hours

Miles bicycled: 367 miles

Total ascent of climbing: more than 18,000 ft.

Weight lost: still counting

Interest facts or thoughts from the trip:

1) climbing mountains is beyond difficult. Not only does it test your physical conditioning, but more importantly, if you have the guts to keep going.

2) I have seen so many beautiful sunflower fields in the last week than ever before.

3) I have never truly understood why cyclists unzip their jerseys and sometimes take off their helmets. While climbing uphill, the body overheats so much that all I want to do is take my helmet off. For most of the heat dissipates from the head.

4) Can somebody till me how sheep can stay upright on steep slopes at 1200 ft high?

5) The only thing more frightening than this bike trip is seeing my father drive a manual car at high altitudes.


Now, onto the photos for today




Lot River












Photos near the ascent of the terrain near Aurillac


Dinner at Michel Bras


Vegetable medley




Tomato with cow cheese




Special onion dish




Desert with sugar crusted cherry. A pastry filled with red sauce inside.

And lastly some beautiful pictures from our hotel:










Lastly I read thus quote from Cadel Evans today about his tough day bicycling and I thought the quote is quite applicable towards our trip:


" I suffer on my bike everyday, but I do it with pleasure."

On that note I bid you guys adeiu.

- Greg

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Laguiole

Puymirol to Saint Cirq Lapoppie

Good evening everyone.

Today we arrive in Saint Cirq Lapoppie after a 66 mile day. Yet we averaged 2 mph more than our previous days.

Tomorrow we bike to Aurillac to pick up the car.

Photo time




Creek photo




Overlooking Cahors and the Lot River













Dam along Lot River




Another good looking photo

And some photos of our dinner




Local river fish




Duck




Nougat dessert.

Until tomorrow in Laguiole

Greg

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Saint Cirq Lapoppie

Day 6: Eugenie les Bains to Puymirol

Good evening from Puymirol.

Today was at times stressful, but much less relative to the rest of the trip.

Due to the extreme temperatures in France this week, a direct bike ride to Puymirol of more than 80 miles was too difficult.

Instead we biked to the nearest train station in Mont de Marsan. From there we took a small train to Bordeaux. But the next train was very crowded ( ended in Marsaille) and getting the bags and bicycles on and off the bike was tough.

And here are the pictures to show:







Bikes and panniers aboard




Dad packing up in the train station




A row of the most beautiful sunflower

And dinner at Michel Trama




Vegetable ice cream




Quasi ravioli




Rabbit stuffed with foie gras




Consortium of desserts

Until next post

Greg

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Puymirol

Day 5: Arthez de Bearm to Eugenie les Bains

Good afternoon guys.

Today we have finally departed from the region known in French as the Pyrenees-Atlantiques.

Again, today provided little flat land and we biked over 2,000 feet in our 30 mile sojourn.

For tomorrow, we realized our planned bike route of 80+ miles is a little out of reach. Instead we will bike fifteen miles to the nearest train station to Agen, which is close to tomorrow's hotel in Puymirol.

This trip so far has proven to be challenging but not impossible. While my father tends to be more ambitious than me, while I am a little more practicable, we have seemed to find a middle ground that appeases everybody.

On Monday, we will finally have a rental car, meaning no panniers!!!!!

Considering we have biked through the Pyrenees, I am glad that we are still standing. I certainly have a new outlook on the difficulties of cycling in mountainous terrain.

Anyways, now on to the pictures!












Festival in Arzacq




Fruit stand




Gazebo at our hotel campus at Eugenie les Bains.




A thinner dad




Lobster




Sea Bass




Beef with a potato chip Bow tie




Island of sorbets

Until next post

- Greg

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Rue René Vielle,Eugénie-les-Bains,France

Day 4: St Jean Pied de Port to Arthez de Bearm

Wow! What a day.

This is a day that I could not fathom ever wanting to replicate again on the bike.

According to the Garmin GPS, we biked over 5,000 ft of elevation with panniers. Flat land did not exist. In fact I doubt that there is even 5,000 ft of hills in the state of Florida.

However we made and we have pictures to show




The start of the day




Pyrenees landscape




Near the top of Col d'Osquich














The top of Col d' Osquich








Post bike Stella Artois




Shrimp appetize




Chicken with broccoli and potatoes




Chocolate mousse

Well that is all for tonight. I'll be posting next from a flatter Eugenie les Bains

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Arthez-de-Béarn,France

Day 3: San Sebastian to St Jean Pied de Port

Good evening everyone. We have arrived in France after another ridiculously difficult day. Over three thousand feet of climbing coupled with temperatures in the high 80's to low 90's... And uh, the Pyrenees, made this a grueling day.

Dad needed a few Lipton iced teas to recuperate and make it through the day.

Although in France, we are still Basque country. In fact we are right near a jai alai arena.

Photo time:




Rest stop in Ascain




Some beautiful flowers




And now for some Pyrenees




St Jean Pied de Port

Bike miles today: 58
Bike miles total: 124

Dinner: Les Pyrenees




Crab Bisque




Langoustine tail




Pigeon ummmm




Compilation of desserts

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:St Jean Pied de Port