Day 19-Back to Reality

All good things must come to an end, and our Tour de France was no exception.  For me this was a special trip.  Special because our friends, Paul & Pam Garès, and Bill and Rosemary Carlough joined us in the Pyrenees.  I was pretty sure they would have a good time.  Who wouldn't love the incredible scenery in the Pyrenees, the luxurious accommodations and cuisine at l'Hôtel d'Angleterre, and the excitement of the biggest cycling race in the world.  Of course, not everyone thinks the way I do, so I was a little nervous that our travel companions might be disappointed.  Fortunately, they weren't, and I honestly think their expectations were exceeded. 

We started our final day with another leisurely breakfast at l'Hotel d' Angleterre with Bill & Rosemary. The four of us had flights out of Toulouse; the Carlough were heading to New York and Joni and I were heading to Montreal.  Paul and Pam had already left us on Thursday,  They were first heading to Provence for a few nights, then heading to visit friends in Megève , and finally spending a night in Paris before flying home.

Arreau is such a beautiful village, so before breakfast I took a final walk down the main street and snapped a few photos.  

Looking down Arreau's main street, Route de Luchon

Our hotel's courtyard

Morning fog rolling over the hills of Arreau as seen from our room

The rear entrance to our hotel

I won't bore you with the details of our return flight to the U.S., I'll only say we made it.  And of course I agree with Dorothy who declared when she returned to Kansas that, "there's no place like home."  

But there's a lot to be said for travel, so on behalf of the Aging Hippies I will say, à bientôt.

Day 18-Pyrenees

Our last full day in France was a good one to say the least.  

After another delicious breakfast at l'Hotel d'Angleterre we drove east to the les Grottes de Gargas (Caves of Gargas) where Bill and Rosemary explored the cave art created by prehistoric man 3500 years ago.  Joni and I had visited these caves on a previous trip, so we drove to nearby Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, which considered the Mont Saint Michel of the Pyrenees.  It is a hill top village and recognized as one of the  Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.

Visitors to the village must park in a lower lot and either walk or take this train up to the community.  We took the train.

The Cathedral Saint Marie was built in three different stages which are reflected in the three different types of arches.  The organ was built in the 16th century.

The Cathedral Saint Marie built in three different stages which are reflected in the three different types of arches.  The organ was built in the 16th century.

Joni vainly carried this box up to the hilltop village and into the church in search of a post office where she could mail a few items to the USA.  Sadly post office in Saint Bertrand wasn't functioning until Monday, but we finally found an open post office in Luchon.

Bagnères-de-Luchon 

Lunch in Luchon

The Col du Peyresourde and Peyregudes

For our last dinner in the Pyrenees, we drove to Saint-Lary-Soulan and dined at Restaurant La Grange, that is owned by Marie-Hélène's brother, Nicolas Aubiban.  Our dinner was superb, and  Chef Nicolas clearly upheld the high standard of cuisine that his sister offers at l'Hotel d'Angleterre.

Day 17 in the Pyrenees

Today the six of us went our separate ways after a group breakfast.  Paul & Pam headed to Provence, stopping in Carbonne, where Paul's parents lived after their retirement.  Bill & Rosemary soared up to the 9,000 ft. Pic du Midi on a cable car.  Joni and I resumed Tour watching in the village of Laruns, where the climb up to Col d'Aubisque begins.

It was market day in Arreau, so before leaving town each of us visited the market.  Although we each visited it independently we all were impressed with it.

Paul &Pam picnicking outside Carbonne, and dining at La Terrace in Joucas, in the Luberon

Bill & Rosemary on the top of the Pic du Midi

Hang-glider seen from the Pic du Midi

Joni and I had a two hour drive to get to our viewing site along the Col d'Aubisque.  We arrived at the foot of the Col around 11:00 am.  The posted signs indicated that the road was not closing until noon, but unfortunately it was already closed, so we made a U-turn, headed to the western edge of the town of Laruns, where the Tour de France sprint line was located.  On each stage of the Tour a sprint line is chosen for which points are awarded to the first riders to arrive at this line.  It's a way to create a competition within the completion for the Yellow jersey.  The rider with the most cumulative sprint points is awarded a Green jersey, and this year's sprint champion will most likely be Wout Van Aert who has more than double the points of his closest competitor.

Wout Van Aert

Our viewing spot today was unique for us.  We have never had a viewing spot that afforded us unobstructed views of the Tour route for probably 1 km in each direction; and 360° views of the mountains in every direction!

Today's temp's soared into the 90°'s so we were very happy to have our 36 Euro pop-up sun shade for protection.

Since there were mainly flat roads until the Col d'Aubisque, the caravan and the riders were moving at a very high pace and actually arrived 15 minute before the anticipated schedule.

And here come the riders!

...and just as quickly, within five minutes, all 143 of them, were gone!

Our return to Arreau took about two hours.  We arrived around 5:30 PM, showered quickly and then Rosemary and Joni headed into the center of town for some quick shopping before dinner.

Dinner was outside and delightful:  pea soup or calamari for starters, duck for our main course, and fruit salad for dessert.  We had our usual bottle of rosé too.

Arreau to Col d'Aubisque