Sun, showers, rain, lightning!

Started: 9am

Finished: 7.30pm

Total Distance:145km

3400m of climbing
State at finish: cold/ wet/ tired/ Mission accomplished/ happy.

Day started warm and sunny but with confirmation col du tourmalet was closed  from the side we were supposed to climb due to snow! However other side was open but going around to get to start was going to add 45kms to day.

Climb of 17km col d'aubisque I felt quite good for first half (the easy part).and not so good the second half but was happy to get to the top without a stop. After the horrors of the col de Marie-Blanche the evening before, not bad. Plus the scenery going up the aubisque is spectacular.

Next 60km were showers and pretty tiring. By the time we reached the bottom of tourmalet for a break I was not too confident. 100g bag of crisps and a load of choc cake later I felt better, but not confident. Even less so when the thunder and lightning started, followed by an in depth conversation as to whether the cm or so depth of rubber tyre would insulate you from a lightning strike?

Took tourmalet very slow and was rewarded with success - rained pretty much whole way up but given effort I was  nice and warm. Plus didn't get struck by lightning!  Only stayed a couple of mins on col as 5degrees and soaked. Descent through clouds was freezing but got to hotel in one piece - long day but good day.

Forecast for tomorrow rain all day with new information last 4kms of col de portet de aspet are like Marie-Blanche! Redemption or more punishment?

Nice and sunny for start

Col D'aubisque - 1st HC cat climb of day done

Early lunch venue on Col D'aubisque

Col de Soulor - cloud building

Discussing Lightning Before Tourmalet

Rain Rain Rain at Start of Col Du Tourmalet

Into & the clouds, and lightning!

Col Du tourmalet - Route closed from original side

View down other side of Col Du Tourmalet

On myown at top of col Du tourmalet,
I thought I was smiling but maybe that was tricky!

Snow Banks at Col Du tourmalet