It’s hard to blog, work and do a peak week at the same time, but I guess it’s good practice for Haute Route, when I’m determined to put at least something up at the end of each day. So, apologies for the lack of wit and thoughtfulness here – I’m at wit’s end and too tired to think.
For Day Three I actually planned the route (Anne is usually trusted with this important job). What I wanted was a double ascent of Mont Lozère. I got that and even a couple more cols thrown in for fun.
The countryside on the northern side of the mountain changes pretty dramatically, as you might be able to tell if you’ve been looking at my photos carefully. Anne’s dad explained that it is a lot wetter up here, so no more garrigue and much more green. Far fewer sheep (although I have no idea what this hast to do with precipitation) and many more cows. It was a nice change anyway.
The photo below is on the descent of the southern side of the Col de Finiels (Lozère). I’d climbed this the other way a couple of years ago and it was a lot more pleasant going down.
At our toilet stop we saw two of these going up the way we came down. Some sort of assisted pedaling for mom, and the kid even had some work to do in the back.
After Finiels we hit one more col before the last ascent of the day. I casually suggested a photo with Erik and Anne at the sign and they immediately lined up like this. I think they’ve done this before…
The last climb – the 15 km Col du Prè de la Dame – was pretty warm, but we all got up it in fine form. On the way home the discussion began as to whether we would take the little farmers’ road back to home (like Erik and I did yesterday) or attack The Wall, a bad little stretch of road somewhere past this house that includes a few meters of 19%. It was decided that it would be better to get this out of the way (“we have to do it at least once”).
Below is the old guard house for the castle that is hidden behind it. Sorry, you’ll need to wait till tomorrow for the chateau shot.
Anne, already in attack mode. Erik, saying his last words before the climb.
And a final photo of the communal oven (in the background) and one of about 10 houses that make up the hamlet we called base camp.
Here’s our day on Strava. The distance (114 km) is correct, but the elevation is way off as usual. We climbed about 2500 meters: http://app.strava.com/activities/72145165
The Vicious Cycle 
Great photos Gerry, you’ve really done the area justice.
Thanks, but are you saying that because you took one of them..? Very nice area up there. More exploration needed.
I know, I know, I’m normally sarcastic, but it was legit kudos in this case.
Very nice indeed. Not long now until HR. Feeling ready?
As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess. This ‘peak week’ is turning out to be a nice confirmation that the training is working, so yeah, I’m feeling pretty okay about the whole thing at the moment. That doesn’t mean I won’t blow out on Day Two, of course!
Love the pictures, Gerry. Next time (if there ever would be one :), I’d plan my peaking training week there with you–much nicer than the doubling up of the same rides one does all year round just “to make the numbers”… You seem to really practice typical HR days. Hey, two weeks from now we’ll be in the thick of it–great!
I’m lucky I have mountains here, Jan. That’s all. I need some variety, too. Keeps me stimulated and motivated. Two weeks you say…we’ll be at the end of Day Two, I think. Hard to believe it’s nearly on us! See you soon.