Into the Mountains

Guy wanted to see a different part of France and suggested we went down to the Pyrénées which are about 4 hours drive.  Guy organised a house on Airbnb and off we went last Wednesday to the Haute- Pyrénées near Lourdes (although not for a miracle!)  It was our first visit to this region.

We wanted to see as much as possible and Guy had an itinerary of  'the sights to see' and so, Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday morning was spent exploring the most important spots.
The first major stop was to go up to the Pic de Midi via the infamous (to followers of the Tour de France) Col de Tourmalet.

  (Half way up, looking back)

There were a number of cyclists testing themselves against the climbs the pros will do next week.

Looking back to the Ski station on the Pic.  We were intending to take the cable car to the top of the mountain but it was 40 euros each, so we decided that the view from any of the peaks around here would be similar.
So on to the World Heritage site of Cirque de Gavarnie, one of 3 craters with stunning waterfalls.

Our final stop for the day was to Pont d'Espagne.  This was an impressive water cascade issuing from a lake high up in the mountains, Lac de Gaube.

From the bridge we had to take the ski lift to get to the top for walk to the lake.  However, Sue wasn't too keen on the idea of the lift, but there was no other way.  A further problem was that by now it was half past five and the return lift shut at quarter past six.  But, hey ho, off we went.

(was this a smile or a grimace?)
Once at the top we walked about half an hour to the lake but it was amazing ... wild flowers, stunted and snow-damaged pines and fantastic views. 

 

When we reached the lake it was a turquoise blue from the melting snow.

A lovely spot and we definitely wish to go again, but now we had the final test ... walking back down to the bottom, and we had to walk down via a twisting wide 'path' which is one of the ski runs in the winter.

We made it in one piece, went to the nearest town, found a restaurant for confit de canard and chips and got back to the house at 10!!!!

Friday we were to see a couple more 'sites' but we woke up to cloud down to the ground and so we had an interesting drive along narrow roads through the mountains in mist.  At lunchtime we escaped the clouds and arrived at a small town with a large leisure lake where a number of para-gliders were floating over the water.

What was interesting for us was to see camper vans already pitched up on the sides of the road, particularly near hairpin bends, to be in the best spot when the Tour de France passes in a week's time.

We had lunch down in the valley and the owner was talking to us and said that one van had set up their spot on the Col de Tourmalet (perhaps the hardest hill climb) on the 7th July, 3 weeks before the riders will pass.  And really, all of the riders will go by in about one hour at the most!!!

And then, home, after 1000 km in 3 days.  It's tiring, this enjoying yourselves!!!