Stage 7 - Brioude to Aurillac (99 miles)
Hearty breakfast at 7am this morning of porridge and bananas set me off straight into 1700ft of climbs in the first 8 miles. Good morning Jonno! The road surface was really poor this morning which was dragging me back somewhat and made it all hard work.
Stopped at 11am for a feasty 4 egg and ham omelette which fired me up for the rest of the day. Great weather all day with the temperature in the mid 70’s and little wind. Cycled through some beautiful countryside in the Massif Central region. Can liken to it to the landscapes of the Lune Valley this morning into the Lakes this afternoon and reaching the Scottish Highlands near to the finish (just alot warmer!).
Fantastic but tough climb up the Col d’Entremont (1210m) with a 10% finish followed by a 20 mile descent and then straight into the Pas de Peyrol (1588m).
Feeling tired tonight with a few aches and pains but nothing to worry about for a man of my age !
Enjoying a dinner of steak and potatoes followed by stewed apple cheesecake washing it all down with a glass of red wine.
Managed to find a good campsite to stay on tonight which makes life alot easier - showers and bathroom facilities etc !! We will need to get organised tomorrow, I don’t think Jill will approve of parking up in car parks and lay bys - where would she plug in her hair drier ?? We’re picking her up at Toulouse airport tomorrow night, looking forward to seeing her.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Well Brookhouse boy you are doing fantastic for an old lad! Proud of you Jonno. keep twiddling mate and in two days in the high hills enjoy the cow bells and when the demons grab at your legs, remember you have done them with panniers full of “bricks” in the past, so am sure you will fly up. (obviously your panniers weren’t full of bricks, just a kitchen sink!) Thank Le Post eh?
Cool on the ups, warm on the descents, twiddler.
Well done mate, all the best, keep the vaseline handy. Speak via this soon. Night night, sleep well.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Well done, old bean. I am way too impressed to leave any (of my usual?) sarcasm here - even about hair driers. Mind you, that mechanic could do with one, couldn’t he.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:44 am
I’ve just noticed your earlier comment about post codes - has anyone since told you that (for navigating purposes), post codes are reliable in the UK and Holland only! Nowhere else.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
hi dad, its oli! just letting u know i havent been texting you back but ive been reading your day to day blogs and it seems your proving to be an unbreakble iron man on a bike!? your doing class mate:D i am flying home on sat morn and i will ring u from home to have a good chat with you. i am missing you and jilly, so get ya arse moving on that bike and get home sooner!! you are riding over a 100 miles a day my far and still having ya steak and red wine eh! NOTHING changes:P COME ON DAD!!!