Start before Dawn
Sunday - this is why I'm here, the two days drive over the mountains and down to Barcelona, first more miles heading south, then past Pau it starts getting more interesting:
Left the hotel early before 07:00 and headed south on the D19, early morning fuel stop on the automatic/unmanned pumps, then into vinyards, and a breif stop near Peyrine to warm up & manually de-mist the windscreen and mirrors.
It may look stunning, but until the sun is fully up its absolutely freezing, I also was a little unsure of the grip level, with limited light and damp/low cloud/mist conditions. Winding roads around the vineyards, no traffic to speak off but alternating between pitch dark, mist in the valleys and biting cold..
...as I crossed the bridge, in the background, at Langon I could see the cobbled area next to the river so hunted down the route to it for this picture...
What followed was long, mile after mile of straight forest lined avenues, still cold the sun couldn't warm the road, except for the welcome rare field that leat its rays heat me a little...
Elevenses
Over the next bridge at Aire-sur-l'Adour just had elevenses written all over it, another stunning river side stop to relax for a while. Again a few locals walking dogs etc wanting to chat about the car, one only noticing mid conversation it was from the UK and driving position on the other side. One chap was trying to describe a local racetrack, or classic car meet and, I think, his previous driving career - but my French is very poor so mostly the conversation was through smiles and pointing...
You could tell this was France just from the pictures, no one else does scenery like this:
Mountains!
Now it begins, after driving through Pau, mountains in the distance, roads becoming more interesting.
Coffee and pint of lemonade, I was parched, stop at a Cafe in Eaux-Bonnes.
Hot again, shirtsleeves now even at speed.
The "Casino" label usually means a supermarket, but this place feels more like a gambling centre nestled in the foothills.
...and a peek of the next peak...
Nope, These are Mountains...
Out of Eaux-Bonnes the road meanders like a gooden through Gourette to the final peak of Col D'Aubisque at 1,709 metres.
Half way, it just keeps going...
Not fantastically fast, I was too busy concentrating on avoiding cyclists and taking in the amazing views. That peak in the distance is massive, my picture looks a little washed out - thats what you see with your eyes - the light is so bright and clear.
The next few dont need words; except to say you can't get the concept of size and vista in a snapshot, the whole thing is awe inspiring... lots of ways to get here in normal cars/motorhomes etc, even motorbikes are close - but I suspect nothing quite like a low slung open top sports-car!
... and too my hotel still high in the hills near Cadeac.
Yes, I cheated again; looked for a nice quiet place for dinner, not too many guests. An English pub themed bar! No English spoken though, all French as expected - good food and Rugby world cup on the telly (also in French of course)
Final challenge for the day, returning to the hotel, tried the combination they gave me for the front door... nothing... tried again, nothing... hmmm. Worked it out - they had transposed two numbers on the paper, didn't fancy sleeping outside!
(I do have video footage of this entire day, will edit and post in due course)
Great posts, Richard - is your heater no good at all? Obviously you haven't got a roof on but doesn't it least some warm air from your feet level? I used to have a normal convertible and I found you don't keep the heat but I got a nice flow of warm air (as it left the car :-) ).
ReplyDeleteHi Neil,
ReplyDeleteYes the heater is good; my feed were warm - just no good keeping your face/head warm & I didn't have the sense to stop and wrap up properly; I was partly just enjoying the buzz, and partly thinking 'must only be a couple of minutes to sun up' :)