This morning we woke to cow bells and went down to a most scrumptious breakfast. Coffee, mango nectar, brioche with butters, three jams, and thick honey, your choice of homemade yogurt (Jesse & Sean) or homemade rice pudding (River & Bo)–both delicious, a plate of razor thin slices of cured ham and mountain cheese, baguette, and a bowl of perfectly ripe nectarines and apricots (we saved some in our pockets for lunch).
After breakfast we walked back all together to the cascades and waterfall from yesterday, deighted in the cool breezes, the campers keeping their drinks cold in the streams, and the cows milling about the lake.
Love these ones of River photo bombing us. Every shot.
The temperature was maybe 70, cooler in the woods.
After our walk, we just chilled for a couple hours. Sean and Bo lounged in hammocks (Sean ended up napping), River played with the dogs and went swimming in the icy lake, and mom read and painted her nails.
Around 12:30 we started trekking to the spot Sean had scouted for us to watch the stage, along the road leading up to the famous Tourmalet. From our Gite we’ve been watching a constant stream of hikers and cyclists and cars and trucks making their way up the mountain. We could hear cheers and honking and merry-making drifting down from the high road where folks have been camping in their camper vans sometimes for a week in advance to claim their favorite spot along the route.
It was less than a mile, but it was so steep!
But it was worth it for a spot at a steeper part of the climb up the Tourmalet, in the shade, just above an icy stream where River kept filling our water bottles.
We had a bit to wait before the caravan arrived, but we snacked, the kids played by the stream, I brought a book.
Then the caravan came through. We got even more swag than last time, and we all had a laugh at the cars going by blasting “it’s raining men, hallelujah” and the driver in the speaker singing along off key.
Then some more waiting for the riders. There were people trading swag (River participated), and men napping, and more cooling our feet in the stream.
Then, the riders made it to us! They looked mostly in pain as they climbed this giant mountain. We cheered loudly.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/eS9fESDmD2DPzGKn6
It was such a great time—my favorite of the stages we experienced.
Walking down the mountain with the stream of other fans was fun too. The weather was perfectly perfect.
We went back into the Gite, got cold beers, and finished watching the end of the stage in the common area with a quartet of older French gentlemen who all looked alike. After that it was showers and naps before dinner for three out of four. When we got up to get ready for dinner we saw River playing tag with a bunch of kids in the front yard.
Dinner was wonderful again, and we made friends with a couple from Holland, and reconnected with my Singapore buddies.
We ate perfectly ripe cantaloupe with prosciutto, something akin to a shepherd’s pie with duck, whipped potatoes and a toasty layer of Parmesan on top (sooooooo good), salad greens, a carafe of the Bordeaux wine, a cheese course of a local goat cheese (amazing), and blueberry shortbread tart for dessert. Then we sat outside and sipped coffee and watched the sun fade.
We watched the France-Morocco game while we packed (we’re getting better with so much practice).
Good night, and thanks for cheering us on.
Leave a Reply