Sometimes is pays not to google around too much. Like today, we did not really know where we were about to ride. We just chose one of the few roads leaving from our hotel (after getting a new front wheel for my bike; the outer tyre went bad yesterday while descending from Tourmalet).
The road we chose leads to Gavarnie, a place at about 1300 meters. The ride is not hard at all. Road is quiet, there are more cyclists than cars. It is not steep, mostly about 6%, at some points closer to 10%. It is a bit scary for the first few kilometers from Le
Pont Napoleon upwards.
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| Le Pont Napoleon |
I rode a few kilometers on the left side of the road to avoid seeing the deep gorge. Then the gorge got shallower and I could continue on the right side.
It took us some 1h20 to reach Gavarnie. We rode easily for most of the time. I did some intervals and the waited for Sirkku, who rode steadily.
In Gavarnie, we had a cup of coffee and sandwiches in the first bar we saw. For the terrace we could see something awesome. It turned out to be the Cirque de Gavarnie.
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| First glimpse |
Of course, we had to ride closer the amazing view. This is what we saw there.
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| As close as one gets by bicycle |
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| Sirkku and Cirque de Gavernie |
The
Cirque de Gavarnie is beyond words. The mountains are about 2000 metres high above the valley, the
tallest waterfall 422 metres. Incredible, one has to see it oneself to have a proper idea. Victor Hugo and many others have written about the Cirque. Go and google.
From Gavarnie, it is all downhill back to Luz. As always in the afternoons, strong wind blew up the valleys - we had to pedal to descend when the road was less than 3% steep. Strange feeling.
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| Downhill |
A nice, easy ride today. Some 45 km total, with 750 metres of climbing.
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