Now the dust has settled

Packing up Rose at Nice airport

Well, I'm home now but what a way to finish a great adventure! Ventoux was the last of my climbs. From there I went to Nice for a few days before flying home to New Zealand. It was a great end to a fantastic adventure, but I suppose you want to hear about the numbers…

Did it! Mont Ventoux three times in one day

So wow, what a day! One of the big names for mountains to climb, and I did it three times just because the first time was so great. I did get a puncture though, saw the memorial of someone who died climbing the mountain, and more white rocks that you can shake a stick at.

Mont Ventoux three ways!

The mast atop the Mont Ventoux summit which can be seen for miles around

The infamous Mont Ventoux. A mountain that stands by itself in amongst almost flat land. Three roads up from three different towns, all over 20 kilomtres away from the summit. I cycled all three today.

Most metres climbed by a Kiwi....or at least Strava thinks so

Taken at 2pm, but it felt like dusk

Well the weatherman promised it to be light rain and winds last night. Turns out overnight he changed his mind and this morning it was thunderstorms and gale force winds. Not the best weather for climbing mountains. So I stayed in and looked at my Strava data....

Little bit wet today

Well a little bit cold and a little bit wet today – starting to sound like a cracked record with the cold huh! Still, I saw a lot of lavender fields, a very pretty gorge and bumped into a couple of small cols.

Bit of a let down to end the Alps chapter with Bonette closed

Just a random peak with some clouds playing on it

Well today didn’t go as planned, and I have had to miss out on climbing the Bonette which is a real shame but out of my control. However, I did get to ride a big red bike, see some people playing petanque, and saw more of the country today whilst looking for a place to stay. Not as expected today, but certainly not bad.

Almost didn't get to the top

Tough day in the saddle today for the last of the second climb, but got to the top and had a great day. I saw a desert in the hills, the Combi guys again, and some random looking white water rafting guys looking for a way into a gorge.

Recovery ride

Beautiful lake, but no one on it - maybe because it was Monday?

Well today was about some recovery for the legs but I didn't want to be static. A short ride with not too much in the way of climbing allowed me to finish the detour I started yesterday and prepare for the next few days, which will be tough.

The massive detour!

So point A was were I was last night, point B is where I wanted to go. The red skull and cross bones are where the road is closed. The blue lines ended up being the only options. Choices, choices.

Tough day!

Top of the Col de Sarenne

well, a tough old day in the saddle today. I think I had forgotten what it was like to carry 7kgs of additional weight with me and struggled a lot on the climbs. I also saw a big red bike, did Alpe d'Huez one and a quarter times by mistake and saw a big rock and a house. Still, another day of oer 3,500m of climbing and another couple of HC climbs done (HC stands for hors catagorie, which is designated when a climb is "beyond categorisation, as in it is really hard).

Galibier, Galibi-yeah!

An incredible day! Sometimes you get excited about something and when you see/do it will let you down, other times it will exceed expectations. Today was a day of exceeded expectations! I touched some snow, saw some art made out of hay, and saw a town that enjoyed a lot of wooden animal carvings. Ripper day!

Sore feet but a stunning day

High altitude fishing. Unsure what he was trying to catch but the view is worth it!

Such a stunning day weather wise, and a stunning climb to match (with a couple of other good ones as well). I had to give way to cows, saw a man fishing in a pond at 2,000m altitude, and have sore feet from wearing my icebreaker socks.

Surprise snow fall

That gap in the mountains in normally filled with the Madeleine

So the rain I expected to fall yesterday and overnight was delayed unfortunately, and also carried with it a lot of snow. The kind receptionist informed me this morning that snow had fallen to 1,400m overnight. No problem, over breakfast I make a quick change to the plan got dressed and ready. 

Doing up my laces!

Top of the Lacets de Montvernier

Interesting day. Started off amazing with the Lacets de Montvernier, then was OK over the Chaussy and up the Madeleine, then finished off amazing with one of the most fun descents so far. I saw lots of bikes used as decorations, a VW Combi gathering, and saw lots of roads carved into the sides of hills.

Testing the waters after tummy trouble yesterday

Nice day for it!

Well after a day of tummy trouble yesterday and not eating anything all day, today everything seemed fine. Just to make sure I only did a small ride and thankfully all seems well! Had a great day up to the Col du Grand Cucheron, saw Obelix (from Asterix and Obelix fame), and Rose sat in a meadow.

Two climbs to lakes, and sun!

Yesterday I ended after climbing the highest paved mountain pass in Europe (forgot to mention that), and today I have finished surrounded by famous Tour de France climbs. It is all going well! I climbed into clouds again, I saw two lakes, I got smashed by a headwind again, got pulled off a motorway, and raced against to try and beat the rain...again. But it was a great day!

Rain delayed but one of the best climbs to date!

Rain, rain go away...

Well today started out as planned, until it rained just as I was on the road. I waited it out before heading off to see the best dressed stop/go man I have ever seen, saw some famous ski fields (again), got sleeted on (better than rain!) and have a new best ride to date. So all up, after a rubbish start it all turned out aces!

Going to see Bernard's second home

It got a bit wet today

What an awesome day! I was tricked by the weather reports, eat some crepes, saw some random carved animals, met up with St Bernard again, had a hard time against a headwind again, and got drenched on the way home. It was just awesome at the top though and well worth it!

Not the best of days, not the worst of days

Umm, looks like a slight detour may be in order

Well today I was rained on, my front wheel slid out (twice!), was almost blown off by strong winds, had to make a bit off a detour because of a blocked road. I guess sometimes the universe is trying to hint a bit huh, so I cut things short today. But, the top of the Cormet de Roselend was just awesome even if there were no crepes up there!

Back on the road again!

Top of the Colombiere!

Well Rose is back on the road and to prove it she went over four (well, three and a half really) cols (mountain passes) and her new shiny wheel went well too! Today I saw about a million ski fields, a red and white striped bike, had a small nose to tail with a car, and saw a random place to try and sell cow hides. Interesting day!