Catalonia, Spain – Ax les Thermes
We woke up this morning and headed straight for the bar at the site to make use of the wifi.
After much pain and suffering we eventually got the correct password and could connect. We called the family and after talking to Amy's Dad who happened to be watching the Tour de France on the TV. We decided that we are just to close to not go. We packed up in a hurry and headed for the Ax les Thermes, a small that that the Tour would be coming through. We only managed to get near the town before we were confronted by police blockades. So we grabbed the bikes off the back of Ruby and proceeded to free wheel the remaining 5 miles down the mountain with the absolute fear of knowing one of us or both of us will have to ride back up to the car at the end of the day. Nevertheless it was all part of partaking in the Tour de France! Riding up the gruelling hills of the Pyrenees.
We arrived in town just in time to catch the floats coming through. ( for those who dont know the Tour is not merely bicycles. There are hundreds of cars,vans, motorbikes and more that come past in front of the riders displaying goods and advertising, tossing gifts and freebies at the fans waiting for the riders to come past.)
After about 1,5 hours of waiting the sky became alive with helicopters which was a sure sign that the riders were close. Then all of a sudden you can hear the fans erupting like a continuous Mexican Wave as the riders enter the town. First the leaders speed in then followed by the leading Peleton and then the rest. Some bloodied and bruised, some focused and some smiling and waving at the fans. All in all it was a wonderful experience.
After about another hour we decided we should go back to the van as it was getting close to 19h00, which was the time the blockade was meant to open. We donned our helmets and got on the bikes then started climbing out of what was a beautiful town soon became hell. Nevertheless we managed and got back to Ruby and cooled down and played a game of cards or two waiting for the traffic to ease. Once we thought it was a clear to go we started up and headed down the hill. How I wish we had just turned around and headed back the way we had originally come. We ended up taking 5 hours to get back to the town. As it was a mountain pass there was no place for us to pull off and if there was the previous 5 million people had beaten us to the decision.
Our view for the rest of the day
Finally we made it to a garage with a large parking lot with a whole bunch of campers parked and were settling for bed. I had one look at the bell tower convieniently right next to the bay we had stopped in and changed my mind about staying here for the night as it had just rung for twelve o'clock and I could not imagine a whole night of progressive ringing. We drove off only to be confronted by the traffic so we turned back to the parking lot as we were both smashed and thought there was no chance that the church bell could keep us awake.
We parked yet again in the same spot and made the bed then climbed in....... nope you guessed it. If Spain had a gang that loved to support cycling, they decided to pull in to the parking lot for a few beers, initiation ceremony and, well if you got to go, you might as we go next to Ruby. Luckily our Van neighbour was more nervous than us and called the cops who arrived 5 seconds after they left. Funny that? Anyway the cops fumbled through the garbage that all the “Homies” left and sped off after them. This was not good enough for the neighbour who packed up his scooter into his Van and followed in pursuit.
Finally we fell asleep at about 2:30, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00........
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