Chamonix

Hello all

After yesterday's rest, today it was a pleasure to get back on the bike that has treated me so well across France, (no punctures or mechanical problems in 670 miles) and give it a Sunday run to stretch its legs on a fine treat of a classic alpine col, as the last part of the journey to Chamonix. It was a bit shorter today, only 60-odd miles, so I threw in the Col de la Columbiere for good measure, rather than the easier route. This a regular feature col of the tour de France, and made for a very scenic route to Chamonix, across the Aravis range.

A nice cool morning and fresh legs and I found I whizzed up the thing in a couple of hours to an altitude of 1,613m. All dreams of breaking my PB descent maximum speed were thwarted by the precipitous descent on a very narrow and windy road down the other side, to the valley below Chamonix. Or was it the very tasty tarte aux myrtilles from the cafe on the col that slowed me down?! Max speed only 35mph today. Maybe I will get another col opportunity before I leave the Alps, it would be nice to try one unladen by my bumbag gear and go at full race speed.

The cycle part of my adventure is over for now, completed with a suitably large ice cream in Chamonix. The bike is safely locked up, and I picked up my bag full of mountain gear, ready for the first day's climbing tomorrow.

Stats will follow in due course.