THE DAY STARTED WITH A 6 MILE CLIMB AND THEN A LONG DESCENT (18 MILES) INTO THE TOWN OF BRIANCON WHERE WE STOPPED FOR OUR COFFEE BREAK.
WE STARTED THE 20K (12 MILES) CLIMB WHICH IN THE BEGINNING WAS VERY REASONABLE BUT THEN AFTER 5 MILES THE GRADE KICKED UP TO 9 -10% TO THE FINISH. OUCH. AGAIN, I AM SO PROUD AND AMAZED AT M’s CYCLING ABILITY. SHE PULLED ME UP THE 2,500 M (7,500’) CLIMB FOR MUCH OF THE WAY. I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW STRONG SHE IS ON THE BIKE.
AFTER REACHING THE SUMMIT OF COL D’IOARD WE HAD ANOTHER LONG DOWNHILL WHERE OUR SPEEDS REACHED IN EXCESS OF 40MPH (70KPH).
AFTER ANOTHER CLIMB, WE REACHED OUR HOME FOR THE NIGHT. WE’RE IN THE BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE OF SAINT VERAN, ANOTHER ONE OF THE “MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN FRANCE”. WE ARE STAYING IN THE **** HOTEL ALTA PEYRA AND ALL WE CAN SAY IS WOW! THERE’S A SKI AREA JUST ABOVE US WHICH LOOKS SPECTACULAR. INTERESTING FACT: SAINT VERAN IS THE HIGHEST INHABITED VILLAGE IN EUROPE SITTING AT 2042 METERS (6,000+ FEET).
TONIGHT WE DINED AT THE HOTELS MICHELIN STARRED RESTAURENT. DELICIOUS.
TOMORROW IS ANOTHER TOUGH DAY BUT THERE IS A LONG DOWNHILL AFTER A MORNING OF CLIMBING. TOMORROW WE CROSS INTO ITALY.
CIAO,
M AND BIG
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