Pau - La Mongie Day 4

Last night was the best meal of the ride. As mentioned yesterday had to do divert to downtown Pau. We were well fed up but worked out to be a real treat. It was a strange set up -  nice apartments in the middle of an industrial area, no eating or drinking in the complex but strangely an amazing restaurant that only can only be described as Gallagher Park Pau? We head off this morning after a hearty breakfast and the request of bacon. Cooked specially for us. Again the breakfast conversation drifts to ablution information. ,'Have you been windy on this ride' ? the commander asks i'm always windy I replied 'but maybe more windy than usual' we discussed the intricacies of farting through Butt Cream and both agree it's not pleasant. 

We leave Pau again to a good climb - The temperature is already getting higher and perspiration begins almost immediately - The damp road is splattered with dead frogs and snails - that's that's probably why they've exploited them for eating?

The road takes is to Lourdes it's been freshly surfaced for us. It's beautiful riding through mountain villages as as we circumnavigate the foothills. I feel fed up with  cars who should feel The need to share them with us. In Lourdes ( which incidentally has the biggest ratio of nuns to bars than anywhere else in the world) over our chocolate stop we make our decision - we'll get the Toumalet done today. A phone call to the hotel on the descent in La Mongie confirms our decision. From Lourdes we take an amazing road through some beautiful mountain  villages. This however only occurred due to The blow the whistle and a strict telling off from Gendaramarie as we attempt to chug up a no cycling Road. The gorge that leads you to base camp for the Tourmalet is breathtaking. I felt fearful as I  popped my head over less than sufficient safety barriers. We lunch and off we go - Big boys like me are not designed for climbing. It was cracked but it wasn't pretty. The last 2 km hit some 12% for good periods. The commander was more than pleased with himself having got to the summit before me (and so he should be) for sure though I will be gloating over the downhill tomorrow! It's ironic that last night we sit in Pau  eating outside in 22° at 9 o'clock in the evening and tonight we find ourselves in a ski resort on the other side of the Mountain (3k from summit)  in the only hotel open in the resort. It's freezing, it's damp, it's misty, it's desolate  - being in a ski resort when there is no skiing is like walking into a party the night after it's happened. However it's good for the commander and I - with the Tourmalet box ticked and and planning to consider for the next few days who needs company? As I climbed the Mountain it occurred to me how most people have hobbies that should the pain get greater the enjoyment would be less. Why are we different? Without pain there would be no pleasure. I just think we are all weird masochists.  I think 57 miles today and some 7 / 8 thousand climbing feet ( The commander is the statistician) Touch base toomorrow love and regards to everybody ( whichever is appropriate to you) 

Commander and Spall