Sept 16th day 8 Barcelonnette - Beuil

Sept 16th day 8

Some changes to the program today as the col de la cayolle is closed

After checking out the options we elect for the highest main road in Europe  col de Bonnette 2807 m

Thats only 32kms of climbing

The first 10kms go easy up to Jaisers but immediately we turn there it goes uphill.

climbing at 6-7% now is easy and we settle into the work and Dave decides it is his day to help Robina stay at the front and pushes her on anything below 8 degrees. His legs must have been burning at the top of the col

We climb for more than 3 hrs -out of the wooded countryside past small villages and into the upper valley - 9 kms to go =- seems impossible that it can be so far

We are all in our own zones - JR riding with Leigh until he runs out of surf stories and then he is gone and he rides on his own to claim the col for himself.
Dave is with Robina, Geoff and Leslie ride together, Mike  by himself mostly in the upper stages and Jonathan with Barry but they split near the top

At 2807 it is high in the world - nothing higher ( a lookout point) and a way in the distance the snow covered alps.  Below we can see 2okms of snaking road, but it is not until we are on it we realize how good the surface is- Perfect is one word but event that is not good enough. Ultra smooth tar, twisting flowing corners the road disappearing for ever.

On the first curves in the upper section following Dallas i seem to free fall down through a abandoned town 9or could be barracks for the gun emplacements scattered around the col (don’t want those Italians sneaking over the ridge

We are in the Mecantour Park  and it runs along the Italian border.

The road keeps descending - down and down until finally after 20 + mins of high speed descending we stop to regroup

But there is more - it takes another 20 mins to descend a tightening valley until we reach anything like a main road.

now it lunch time 1200 and we pull into the first available spot and enjoy a slow lunch in  .. . .. . .. . ..

After lunch its more descending and the A team stops to adjust clothing levels
(JR has finally warmed up)
Down some more but only at 3 % and we form a train and each takes long pulls on the front as we whistle down the gorge - riding slowly after lunch - just under 50kms hr.

A paved bike path provides some additional fun as it twists and turns alongside the road.

Soon it is climbing time again - from  . . .. . . . .Tirree it is 1000m of ascending up a small country road Mike and Jonathon enjoy a van ride and leigh the occasional door pull

At he pointed end dave, Geoff and Dallas ride tempo up the hill- the banter ‘get a cup of concrete in yar’ style soon brings the pace up from 11kms -to 12kms/hr and more banter pushed that up to 14kms hr uphill.
Riding three abreast we top the col and descend to Beuil and the fabulous hotel Escapade where we enjoy a 2 star Michelin meal that leaves us all full to the brim

The best fine french dining we have had