It really is a long way home! Especially when the silly moo at the Lufthansa check in counter ignores your very specific requests and puts you in what must easily be the worst seats on the plane. The longest 10 hrs of my life.
And then to top it all, I forgot my duty free bag at the XRay machines at OR Tambo security.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Running Tourmalet
They wanted to ride Tourmalet again. Enough is enough! Decided I was going to run some (all) of the way up. And if you thought riding was tough then trying running up. Discretion became the better part of valour with 12k to go and I turned round. I'd never thought how I was going to get down and on such a hot day where I was going to get something to drink. Despite all this still managed a 20k run for the day.
Spent the rest of the day watching the tour prologue on TV and packing the bikes.
Dinner was served by Regine's daughter again. Awesome. Entertained by Terry for the rest of the evening. There's no end to this man's stories.
Spent the rest of the day watching the tour prologue on TV and packing the bikes.
Dinner was served by Regine's daughter again. Awesome. Entertained by Terry for the rest of the evening. There's no end to this man's stories.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Tourmalet and Luz Ardiden
Up the Tourmalet AGAIN. This is the only disadvantage of where we stay. If we want to to get to most of the famous Pyrenean climbs we have to go over the frikkin Tourmalet.
Not too bad today though. Think the "easy" day yesterday helped me recover a little. Really am amazed at the tolerance of the people her. Halfway up all the traffic was delayed while 2 shepherds moved there flock accross the main road to the upper slopes of the mountain. For about 10 minutes no cars could get by - I was able to worm my way through the sheep. But I was amazed - no hooting, no swearing (flocking sheep!!!), no threats of violence. Everybody just waited patiently and tolerated another human being going about his livelihood. I could really do with that kind of stress free society.
On the way up passed a kiwi (they're all nuts that lot) on a mountain bike towing a small trailer. Met up with him at the top and stood chatting to him while I waited for Nicky and Mark. (they'd stopped for drinks in La Mongie so took almost an hour longer to get up.)Interesting chap old Dennis. Travelling round Europe on his bike - and reminded me why you need a special laid back personality to do that kind of thing.
Cycling off the top of the Tourmalet we descended into some quite thick cloud. This made for some tricky riding. Stopped in St Saveur for a "Schwarma and chips". Dennis caught up with us again and entertained us with some more stories and photos of his travels. Think he must have been lonely as he seemed reluctant to see us go.
Luz Ardiden is "that" climb that Lance's handlebar hooked on a young girls bag and he crashed, bringing down Mayo and almost Ulrich. 2004, I think. Wished I'd been able to do this ride on a clear day. Unfortunately the cloud a bit thick so that you couldn;t see very far ahead of you. We missed out on the view and the full effect of the switchbacks (and there were a lot of them) as they snaked up the mountain.
Agaain not thaaaaat tough a climb. I'm actually coming to the conclusion that the Pyrenean climbs are, dare I say it, "easier" than the alpine ones!!!!! They're not as steep, but they do seem to be longer. And then also the road surface here is not as smooth as in the alps. But hey this is just my opinion.
Not too bad today though. Think the "easy" day yesterday helped me recover a little. Really am amazed at the tolerance of the people her. Halfway up all the traffic was delayed while 2 shepherds moved there flock accross the main road to the upper slopes of the mountain. For about 10 minutes no cars could get by - I was able to worm my way through the sheep. But I was amazed - no hooting, no swearing (flocking sheep!!!), no threats of violence. Everybody just waited patiently and tolerated another human being going about his livelihood. I could really do with that kind of stress free society.
On the way up passed a kiwi (they're all nuts that lot) on a mountain bike towing a small trailer. Met up with him at the top and stood chatting to him while I waited for Nicky and Mark. (they'd stopped for drinks in La Mongie so took almost an hour longer to get up.)Interesting chap old Dennis. Travelling round Europe on his bike - and reminded me why you need a special laid back personality to do that kind of thing.
Cycling off the top of the Tourmalet we descended into some quite thick cloud. This made for some tricky riding. Stopped in St Saveur for a "Schwarma and chips". Dennis caught up with us again and entertained us with some more stories and photos of his travels. Think he must have been lonely as he seemed reluctant to see us go.
Luz Ardiden is "that" climb that Lance's handlebar hooked on a young girls bag and he crashed, bringing down Mayo and almost Ulrich. 2004, I think. Wished I'd been able to do this ride on a clear day. Unfortunately the cloud a bit thick so that you couldn;t see very far ahead of you. We missed out on the view and the full effect of the switchbacks (and there were a lot of them) as they snaked up the mountain.
Agaain not thaaaaat tough a climb. I'm actually coming to the conclusion that the Pyrenean climbs are, dare I say it, "easier" than the alpine ones!!!!! They're not as steep, but they do seem to be longer. And then also the road surface here is not as smooth as in the alps. But hey this is just my opinion.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Lourdes
Today we decided to send the Canadians off on their won. The "racing" is turning the riding into a little bit more of a suffer fest than we'd like.
Still Mark and I started off the day with a run to Campan. I needed some new gloves and a spare tube. On the way stopped off for a coffee at a pavement coffee shop. On the way back decided to try running one of the hiking trails. FANTASTIC. Turned our run into a 2h30 "adventure", but really beautiful. This area is littered with hiking trails. Nicky is keen to try and walk up to the Pic du Midi. The highest peak in the Pyrenees.
Rest of the day spent taking a more relaxed ride into Lourdes and back. Gone over to the dark side have I - lunch at Macdonalds. Really a nice day out.
Had dinner at a restaurant at Peyolle. Usually the restaurant is closed, but Regine organised for them to open specially for us. Highlights were the duck carpaccio starter and the "orange" crepes.
Evening ended with Matt slamming Brent's finger in the mini-bus door. Must have been really painful. Didn't quieten him down much though.
Still Mark and I started off the day with a run to Campan. I needed some new gloves and a spare tube. On the way stopped off for a coffee at a pavement coffee shop. On the way back decided to try running one of the hiking trails. FANTASTIC. Turned our run into a 2h30 "adventure", but really beautiful. This area is littered with hiking trails. Nicky is keen to try and walk up to the Pic du Midi. The highest peak in the Pyrenees.
Rest of the day spent taking a more relaxed ride into Lourdes and back. Gone over to the dark side have I - lunch at Macdonalds. Really a nice day out.
Had dinner at a restaurant at Peyolle. Usually the restaurant is closed, but Regine organised for them to open specially for us. Highlights were the duck carpaccio starter and the "orange" crepes.
Evening ended with Matt slamming Brent's finger in the mini-bus door. Must have been really painful. Didn't quieten him down much though.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Aspin, Col d Perysourde
Got to my bike this morning only to find a flat tyre. Thought I did a good job changing the tube and looking for any embedded debris. Not so! Didn't even make st m d Campan before being on the rim again. Being a blazing hot day - found myself a nice little sit down spot by the river to change the tyre. This time found a little piece of glass. Hoped that this would be the last of my tyre problems - especially since everybody had gone on ahead and I was down to my last tube.
Cycled up the Aspin easier today, despite the heat. Must be acclimatising. I'm glad I'm getting to Hawaii a full week before the race. Definately takes a few days to get used to the heat. Met up with everybody on the top of the Aspin and then free wheeled down into Luz ? (forget the last part of this town's name - better look it up). Mark flatted coming into town.
Met up with everybody in the town square. Where we got stuck into some pasteries. My diet is going for a ball of shit here. These rides are just too tough to be counting calories. I'm on holiday!!!
And then it was on to the Perysourde. Not a bad ride. The top was again not that remarkable. Except that we couldn't help notice the HUGE thunderstorm that was building. It was mean enough for the SA's to skip lunch in Luz and make a dash for home. We didn't even make it out of down before it came down. Lightning and all!!! We hid in a convenient bus shelter for a bout 45minutes until the worst of it had passed. And then proceeded in the rain up what turned out to be probably the nicest ride of the week. Again I forget the name of the pass - its not a famous climb but stunning all the same. Passes through lush forests with a gentle gradient. Although it does go on a bit (20 odd km) its definately worth it. The descent is through the Pyrenean national park and joins up at the foot of the Aspin at Peyoulle.
Tonight Regine's daughter served us dinner. Paste de Mer. Love the way the French eat. Salad for starters, then main, then dessert and always cheese an biscuits.Awesome.
Cycled up the Aspin easier today, despite the heat. Must be acclimatising. I'm glad I'm getting to Hawaii a full week before the race. Definately takes a few days to get used to the heat. Met up with everybody on the top of the Aspin and then free wheeled down into Luz ? (forget the last part of this town's name - better look it up). Mark flatted coming into town.
Met up with everybody in the town square. Where we got stuck into some pasteries. My diet is going for a ball of shit here. These rides are just too tough to be counting calories. I'm on holiday!!!
And then it was on to the Perysourde. Not a bad ride. The top was again not that remarkable. Except that we couldn't help notice the HUGE thunderstorm that was building. It was mean enough for the SA's to skip lunch in Luz and make a dash for home. We didn't even make it out of down before it came down. Lightning and all!!! We hid in a convenient bus shelter for a bout 45minutes until the worst of it had passed. And then proceeded in the rain up what turned out to be probably the nicest ride of the week. Again I forget the name of the pass - its not a famous climb but stunning all the same. Passes through lush forests with a gentle gradient. Although it does go on a bit (20 odd km) its definately worth it. The descent is through the Pyrenean national park and joins up at the foot of the Aspin at Peyoulle.
Tonight Regine's daughter served us dinner. Paste de Mer. Love the way the French eat. Salad for starters, then main, then dessert and always cheese an biscuits.Awesome.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Hautecam and Tourmalet (Luz St Saveur)
Mark arrived last night from Greece. Looking nicely tanned. Good to see him again. With everybody still sleeping after a late night, we went for a run. Ran up to St M d Campan and then back. My foot seem to be OK. But for safety sake have all but given up the idea of trying to run off my toes.
Got quite a late start and headed down through Bagnere over a really nice little route down to the outskirts of Lourdes. The Canadians mean business. They hade a pace line going and were really hammering along the valley floor.
Hautecam would turn out to be the toughest climb of the week. I suffered like a dog. For starters it was as hot as hell and maybe I started to fast. But needless to say with about 2k to go I ran out of puff and had to stop for a break. Fortunately even a 10 second break makes a HUGE difference. Also as so often is the case I stopped probably 100m from where the climb seemed to flatten out a bit. (only 8%)
Hautecam has 2 summits. One where they finish the tour stages - which is just a big parking lot. WITH NO WATER. This forced us up another 2k to where the ski lift is that at least has a kiosk. With cokes a mere R30 for 200ml. Bought 2. Nearly forgot Nicky's camera on the counter. Would not have been thrilled to ride up again to fetch it.
Rode back down to St Saeveur for lunch - which turned into another bit a hammer session. And it also started to rain. Yuck.
St Seaveur is really a beautiful village. Heard that it has won the prize for one of France's most beautiful villages. Easy to see why. Think if I had to plan this trip again, I would consider this as a base.
We bought a few things from the supermarche and watched the Canadians buy a Lot of things. I'll be honest I was not in the mood to get going again. And if knew what was waiting for me I would not have moved.
The climb up the Tourmalet was probably one of the hardest things I've done on a bike. I nealry died. The 1h30 it took to get up felt like 13 hr. There were many places that I stopped enjoying myself. Getting to the top was more with a sense of relief than achievement. The guys were spread all over the mountain with some losing more than 1hr30 over 22k's!!!!!! They had lots of photo's though.
That night went into Bagneres for supper. Had a good laugh at the Canadians. Not a quiet bunch. Learn't what a "Dirty Sanchez" and a "Donkey Punch" were. DEFINATELY CENSORED READING. Eventually leaving just befor 1 am. Only to see a another group of about 10 people arriving for supper.
Got quite a late start and headed down through Bagnere over a really nice little route down to the outskirts of Lourdes. The Canadians mean business. They hade a pace line going and were really hammering along the valley floor.
Hautecam would turn out to be the toughest climb of the week. I suffered like a dog. For starters it was as hot as hell and maybe I started to fast. But needless to say with about 2k to go I ran out of puff and had to stop for a break. Fortunately even a 10 second break makes a HUGE difference. Also as so often is the case I stopped probably 100m from where the climb seemed to flatten out a bit. (only 8%)
Hautecam has 2 summits. One where they finish the tour stages - which is just a big parking lot. WITH NO WATER. This forced us up another 2k to where the ski lift is that at least has a kiosk. With cokes a mere R30 for 200ml. Bought 2. Nearly forgot Nicky's camera on the counter. Would not have been thrilled to ride up again to fetch it.
Rode back down to St Saeveur for lunch - which turned into another bit a hammer session. And it also started to rain. Yuck.
St Seaveur is really a beautiful village. Heard that it has won the prize for one of France's most beautiful villages. Easy to see why. Think if I had to plan this trip again, I would consider this as a base.
We bought a few things from the supermarche and watched the Canadians buy a Lot of things. I'll be honest I was not in the mood to get going again. And if knew what was waiting for me I would not have moved.
The climb up the Tourmalet was probably one of the hardest things I've done on a bike. I nealry died. The 1h30 it took to get up felt like 13 hr. There were many places that I stopped enjoying myself. Getting to the top was more with a sense of relief than achievement. The guys were spread all over the mountain with some losing more than 1hr30 over 22k's!!!!!! They had lots of photo's though.
That night went into Bagneres for supper. Had a good laugh at the Canadians. Not a quiet bunch. Learn't what a "Dirty Sanchez" and a "Donkey Punch" were. DEFINATELY CENSORED READING. Eventually leaving just befor 1 am. Only to see a another group of about 10 people arriving for supper.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tourmalet and Col d Apsin
Nicky and I were up fairly early and quite eager to get going. With the Canadians being sans equipment we decided to go alone. Being situated at 3k from the start of the Tourmalet, we decided to give it a go first.
How short one's memory is. The climb starts from the moment you turn onto the main road from our driveway. You first ride 3km to a little village called St Marie de Campan. We stopped here to fill our bottles at a fountain just outside the church (holy water?)and grab a few snacks at the local tabac for the trip up. Nothing like a chocolate croissant. I'm hoping to lose a bit of weight this week - so take a banana instead.
The climb starts just round the corner from the tabac. 16.9km said the sign. Up to an elevation of 2100m. A vertical ascent of some 1300m. No wonder Alberto Contador rates this as one of the scariest climbs.
The climb starts fairly tamely with gradients of 4% on average. Every km there is a big sign board telling you how far to the top, the average gradient for the next km and your present elevation. Really nice to have.
With about 12k to the foreplay is over and the Tourmalet grabs you behind the neck. It kicks up to 8.5% and then hovers between 8 and 9% for the next 7k's or until just before the ski village of La Mongie. This is where you get to the business end of the climb and it kicks up to 10%. For me a gradient of up to 8% is OK. I feel in control - in the sense that I can vary my speed. Between 8 and 10% you stop having a choice as to your speed. Its about keeping the bike upright and pointed up the hill.
Took about 1hr20 to get up. Didn't feel too bad though. Passed some French dude running up. Respect. Waited for Nicky at top and then rode back down to La Mongie for a Cafe Grande (Noir). Luv he stuff.
Free-wheeled down and then went up Col 'd Aspin. A much shorter climb - which I thought would make it a lot easier. Unfortunately it was getting hotter and suffered like a dog in the heat. Until you get used to the heat it's a real struggle to keep the heart rate down.
The top of the Aspin - except for the view - was quite disappointing. just a few smelly cows lying around. We didn't stay here long and went down to Bagnere de Briggore (sp)in search of lunch.
Eventually got home some 7 hrs later. Just as a Pyrenean thunderstorm was about to let us have it. Didn't stop the Canadians from borrowing my bike and going out for a ride up the tourmalet. These guys really are used to naaaasty weather conditions.
How short one's memory is. The climb starts from the moment you turn onto the main road from our driveway. You first ride 3km to a little village called St Marie de Campan. We stopped here to fill our bottles at a fountain just outside the church (holy water?)and grab a few snacks at the local tabac for the trip up. Nothing like a chocolate croissant. I'm hoping to lose a bit of weight this week - so take a banana instead.
The climb starts just round the corner from the tabac. 16.9km said the sign. Up to an elevation of 2100m. A vertical ascent of some 1300m. No wonder Alberto Contador rates this as one of the scariest climbs.
The climb starts fairly tamely with gradients of 4% on average. Every km there is a big sign board telling you how far to the top, the average gradient for the next km and your present elevation. Really nice to have.
With about 12k to the foreplay is over and the Tourmalet grabs you behind the neck. It kicks up to 8.5% and then hovers between 8 and 9% for the next 7k's or until just before the ski village of La Mongie. This is where you get to the business end of the climb and it kicks up to 10%. For me a gradient of up to 8% is OK. I feel in control - in the sense that I can vary my speed. Between 8 and 10% you stop having a choice as to your speed. Its about keeping the bike upright and pointed up the hill.
Took about 1hr20 to get up. Didn't feel too bad though. Passed some French dude running up. Respect. Waited for Nicky at top and then rode back down to La Mongie for a Cafe Grande (Noir). Luv he stuff.
Free-wheeled down and then went up Col 'd Aspin. A much shorter climb - which I thought would make it a lot easier. Unfortunately it was getting hotter and suffered like a dog in the heat. Until you get used to the heat it's a real struggle to keep the heart rate down.
The top of the Aspin - except for the view - was quite disappointing. just a few smelly cows lying around. We didn't stay here long and went down to Bagnere de Briggore (sp)in search of lunch.
Eventually got home some 7 hrs later. Just as a Pyrenean thunderstorm was about to let us have it. Didn't stop the Canadians from borrowing my bike and going out for a ride up the tourmalet. These guys really are used to naaaasty weather conditions.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Accommodation
The Canadians booked our accommodation, 3k from St Marie de Campan.
And so after flying to CT, then to JHB, then to Frankfurt and to Toulouse. And then catching a bus to the station, a train to Lourdes and a taxi to our house - we arrived at our house 25 hours after leaving JHB.
After our trip to the Alps last year Paul, Matt and Brett had gone and spread the gospel. This year 8 Canadians arrived. They're all part of a really sweet cycling group/team, known as the "Massive Hammerages" - with specially designed kit. With all (except Brent - he's their banker)in the medical profession the name is a play on words. Get it? Got it? Good!!
Bevan, Brent, Terry, Dave, Jens, Paul, Matt and Brett arrived not long after us - but with half their luggage missing. I'll admit I would have bee a lot more pissed off than they were. Without exception a nice bunch of guys. Loud. But nice.
And so after flying to CT, then to JHB, then to Frankfurt and to Toulouse. And then catching a bus to the station, a train to Lourdes and a taxi to our house - we arrived at our house 25 hours after leaving JHB.
After our trip to the Alps last year Paul, Matt and Brett had gone and spread the gospel. This year 8 Canadians arrived. They're all part of a really sweet cycling group/team, known as the "Massive Hammerages" - with specially designed kit. With all (except Brent - he's their banker)in the medical profession the name is a play on words. Get it? Got it? Good!!
Bevan, Brent, Terry, Dave, Jens, Paul, Matt and Brett arrived not long after us - but with half their luggage missing. I'll admit I would have bee a lot more pissed off than they were. Without exception a nice bunch of guys. Loud. But nice.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Temptation
No probs getting our bike onto the plane and booked through all the way to Toulouse. Wonder why the American's have such an issue with sporting equipment. Heard that fellow athlete travelling to Kona has been quoted $300/ leg to take her bike. That's insane!!! Probably because your average American traveller is just so grossly overweight.
Booking in in JHB were told that the plane was horribly overbooked. We were asked if we'ed be prepared to fly tomorrow. To sweeten the deal we were offered. Free hotel accommodation. Meal vouchers - enough to satisfy an American. And 600 euros. Nicky didn't want to shorten his holiday by one day so we turned it down. FUCK!!!!!!!!! Really could have done with the money. Would have paid for EVERYTHING. The things you do for your mates.
Booking in in JHB were told that the plane was horribly overbooked. We were asked if we'ed be prepared to fly tomorrow. To sweeten the deal we were offered. Free hotel accommodation. Meal vouchers - enough to satisfy an American. And 600 euros. Nicky didn't want to shorten his holiday by one day so we turned it down. FUCK!!!!!!!!! Really could have done with the money. Would have paid for EVERYTHING. The things you do for your mates.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Kimberley
Sitting at the airport in Kimberley.(All airports in SA under construction - 2010). The idea of getting away not completely sunk in yet. Until now everything been a mad rush. Fitting in my clinics and trying to get into the pool for a few sessions. Meeting up with Nicky in CT tonight.
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