Started the morning in Barcelonnette.

Started the morning in Barcelonnette. Saturday morning market starting to organize in the town square. We were in search of cheese and bread for the day. At 7:11 am we happened upon a very nice man who was setting up for market and sold us cheese. There was a boulangerie where we found beautifully baked bread and Chris filled his hands with patisseries.  We were greeted by the most cheerful lady in town.

The morning was cool and overcast yet the rain from the night before was almost dry. After breakfast and bike prep we began our departure from Barcelonnette about 8 km until starting up one of the highest roads in Europe "The Col de la Bonette". A few drizzles made us put on some rain jackets but luck on our side we did not see much rain just low lying clouds.  We started the climb together when after a few km Chris and Geoff road off and I was happily accompanying John on the climb. Again joined by Geoff and Chris hammered to the top (very top). A lovely climb 2715 meters and 2802 meters to the Cime de la Bonette of which Chris was the only one to venture above the Col which earned him the Marmot Award for tomorrow.

The climb itself was beautiful with low gradient climbs through open landscape where the low lying clouds sat in the belly of the valleys and the peaks graced us from time to time and the clouds moved up and down. It was quite nice at times biking into a cloud with very little visibility except the white lines on the sides of the road. Made the ride quite mythical.

At the top of the Col were greeted by sunshine yet ambient temperatures still cool.

Not quite knowing where Chris and Agnes were and no communications we decided to descend, hoping to all join somewhere in the middle.  That was not to be.  John started the drop and Geoff stayed with me.  I immediately found out that I was a little unprepared for the downhill as it was really cold. Geoff waiting on me and John ahead I could not get rid of the shivers and the bike was shaking really hard underneath me and had to stop to try to warm up numerous times.  All of up were at different places for a while, John ahead wondering if he had gone too far and Chris still on top of the Cime de la Bonette and Geoff and I in the middle.   Geoff directed me to eventually follow him on some uphill sprints to warm up before could complete descent.  Amazingly enough we all ended up at the rendezvous place for lunch at a pizzeria in Saint-Etienne-de-Tinee

I walked into the restaurant to start warming up and within a few minutes we were all inside for lunch. A nice French family were inside enjoying a very jovial Saturday afternoon lunch. The eldest man of the family was most gracious and gave me his jacket to put on and warm up. I accepted and found it very helpful. They also gave us to plates of their fries.  Very fun.

Fueled with cappuccino, coffee,fries and pizza margarette John lead the train down the road about 25 km to deliver us to our next Col. Eventually we swapped leads down the road and bike path to begin Col de la Couillole (a nice Geoff Hunt deviation). A beautiful narrow winding road of 18km approx.  Went into a nice town Roubion built into the side of a hill. With a couple of more km to go, all met on top for our short descent into Beuil where we were met by friendly faces recognized by Geoff from previous stays at the Hotel L'Escapade. We enjoyed a multi course meal of Michelin Star quality. We all needed a small walk before heading to bed and happened on a singing play in a old old church.  Very vibrant costumes and eloquent singing.

Forgot also upon our arrival enjoyed some Italian opera coming from a house where a man outside was tending to his garden.  Ciao he said as we pedaled up the hill.

Very beautiful day.
Bonne nuit.  Off to Col de Turini tomorrow.

Sent from my iPad  Brandi Beauvais