Thursday, June 28th - Hiking With Pigs

Today the Monsters recovered from yesterday's ascent of Col de La Bonette with a leisurely start to the day and a "short" hike in the Alps.  We hiked the Circuit de Trecolpas, a moderate trail according to the guidebook, 1.7 km in length with 500m elevation gain. This was Peter F's idea of a rest day and he advertised a 2 hour hike -- however later we discovered that it's actually billed as a 4 hour hike by the guidebook.  In Spinster form a loop was added and pace quickened bringing on a full sweat.   Peter was right - we did each need two water bottles.

At the start we encountered a pig farm - some had more of a pig encounter than others; then we hiked at Peter's furious pace.  After climbing for close to 2 hours we came upon a restaurant tucked into a beautiful alpine setting (all food, etc. is carried up) and we enjoyed a great lunch..... sausage with tomato sauce over rice...and for dessert a delicous berry tart with coffee. This was not your father's AMC hut :).

After lunch the expected descent became a side trip (ascent) to a beautiful lake..some took a refreshingly brief (measured in seconds) swim and then continued the trip back.   Again, this became a Spinster pace assault on the trail through stunning scenery.  Proof below.


 

Suburban Kevin encounters a pig

Part of the group ready to hike

djk at trail head

Beautiful alpine flowers of varied colors were in bloom over the hillsides

View on the ascent

Lunchtime stop at the top of the trail

Enjoying the view

Lunch

Bob sampling the local wine via tradional delivery method

What words could describe this?

Brief swim to cool off in milliseconds

Beginning the trek back

The group descends

...more alpine beauty

The "press center" transferring photos and blogging on the deck at the Grand Chalet

Wednesday, June 27th - Highest Paved Road in Europe

Somewhere around two-thirds of the way into today's 35+ mile climb up to the Col de Bonette, at the top of Europe's highest paved road (9311 ft.) it occurred to me that waiting till I was 61 to do the most challenging ride I've ever done was either patently foolish or demonstrates incredibly poor long-range planning skills. In any event,  it was only mildly gratifying to know that the rest of the almost-50, just-50, a bit over-50-Monsters (and one 19 y.o. Monster progeny) here on the trip were all working pretty hard themselves as we all made the climb. 

Since my words are not up to the task of fully describing the grandeur of  the high mountain views by which we were surrounded at every turn, I'll let the pictures tell today's story.

Ride summary: 10 mile downhill followed by 35 mile climb to Col de La Bonette and then returned the way we came. Total day's mileage was a bit over 90 miles with about 11000 feet of climbing(David JK and I skipped the final 10 mile climb back to our chalet).

Here are the pictures...

At the start of our 35 mile climb looking up the Tinee River valley

The early starting group cruising through the valley

Philip, Jeff, and Bob lead the climb to the top... their breakaway begins here

Don climbing... 

Jason and David grinding it out...

Above tree line now...

Kevin's looking strong!

Sandy at the top

Duncan with support crew Ian and Peter

Lunch never tasted better!

Looking down on a small fraction of switchbacks to come on the descent

Philip flatted 2 miles from the summit, but rode it anyway (he must have heard that Lance did this at Leadville)

Monsters on the summit of Col de La Bonette

Peter and Ian keep the group going

Pausing for cafe stop after 15 miles of downhill with 20 more to go

Jason shows mild fatigue at the close of an epic accomplishment!

Monsters doing what they do best - enjoying post ride rehash & refreshment

Tuesday, June 26th - Cycling With Wolves

Our post-breakfast ride today was a short, but very scenic 12 mile round trip up to the Col de Veillos at the end of a very rough little used road that starts a short way from the Grand Chalet where we are staying. What it lacked in distance it made up in climbing with the 6 miles to the top gaining roughly 2000 feet in altitude through forest

A quick shower afterwards and we were off to see the feeding of wolves in their natural
habitat at the Alpha Wolf Park inside the Mercantour National Park. From behind a large plate glass window looking out into the woods, a pair of wolves skittishly approached the meat that had been hidden for them to find. Later we walked to another area overlooking the woods and were treated to the view of a pack of 5 wolves as they travelled by.

We then observed the feeding of the Monsters: Luc had recommended that we eat at the unpreposessing restaurant at the park which could have been mistaken for a hamburger and hotdog joint in the US.However we had an excellent lunch starting with a foi gras appettizer, followed by a polenta and egg dish (we thought we were done), followed by a main course of Guinea Fowl (trout from the pond next to the restaurant for me), and of course dessert. Tres bien!!!

A side trip to Saint-Martin, a small town near Valdeblore, almost completed the day -- but of course, Luc & Christiane had yet another excellent dinner awaiting us. Tomorrow our ride up to the 9230 ft. Col de Bonnette awaits us!

It's apparently a good thing some of us can't read French :)

Beautiful after-breakfast climb

Who is that rider from the Jelly-Belly team?

 

At the end of our 2000 ft. climb

Rawson, Ian, Dave & Peter

Headed back down the way we came.

One of the many wildflowers in bloom along the road

Wolves in their natural habitat at the Alpha Wolf Park (in the Mercantour National Park)

Lunch at the Alpha Wolf Park

Modest lunch...

Post-lunch napping Monsters

Relaxing in Saint-Martin after being thrown to the wolves

Monday, June 25th - Rest Day

Peter F is sparing no effort making this a memorable trip! Today is a rest day and he has planned a picnic lunch at a favorite spot followed by a trip to Gillette, one of the medieval hill towns found in this area, perched on the side of a mountain. After a rapid descent (by van) traversing dozens of switchbacks we reached the river valley below Valdeblore. Ian, our sag wagon driver extraordinaire, has turned out to be a former instructor at the Skip Barber Driving school and the road is a good test of driving skills - sometimes too good a test :).

After reaching the valley, we climbed once again till we reached our destination and parked at an almost unnoticeable trailhead where we set out on a short hike. After walking along a ridge with a sharp drop on one side to a canyon we reached a secluded spot for our picnic and a swim. After lunch most of the group hiked (swam?) upstream to a waterfall before we returned to our van for the trip to Gillete.

Arriving in Gillete, we found the streets almost deserted and we wandered around with the small picturesqe town virtually to ourselves, visiting the town's Chateau ruins with its commanding view of the entire valley below us before returning to Valdeblore and another lovely dinner.

Morning route planning & map reading

More map reading.

Short hike to waterfall and lunch

Abercrombie & Fitch - eat your heart out :)

Dave takes the leap.

Paceline in Gillete

In the hill town of Gillette

In Gillette at the medieval Chateau ruins overlooking the Esteron River valley

Taking a break at a cafe in Gillette

Dear readers...we're lost without you (back at the chalet)