Endless mountains

Sunday after completing the essential tasks of croissants for breakfast, and visiting the tourist bureau and supermarket, we headed to Bagneres-du-Luchon to collect Neil's bike for the Pyrenees leg of our trip. We programmed Victoria and she was going to take us over several cols so we decided that wasn't a quick route as it will be slow driving. Instead we mapped out our own route (much to the annoyance of Victoria) and enjoyed the scenic drive. We realised shortly afterwards that when driving in the Pyrenees no route will be "quick", not only due to the winding roads and villages with the houses on the roads, but also the hundreds of cyclists you are constantly having to overtake. Neil needn't have worried about cycling on his own as every cyclist and his dog is out there putting a notch on their handlebars for each Col they conquer. Any way, with bike collected and a quick lunch that ended up being four courses (we now know what plat du jour is - 4 plate set menu, not 1 plate as the name suggests), we took Victoria's advice this time and headed home over the Col de Perysourde and Col d'Aspin. Neil will be cycling them so it was good for him to see exactly what they were like and for me to see suitable towns I can amuse the kids in while he conquers his dream (with the hundreds of other cyclists). The drive was absolutely spectacular with incredible views, both up and down the mountain and around every hairpin corner (there were lots of those). We even encountered a deer crossing the road. Even though we have only been here two days I am loving France's summer. Warm days, blue skies with little white fluffy clouds over the mountains. Dragging out the shorts and t-shirts was a wonderful feeling.

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