Day 5, July 16

LWell today was all about the Tour for us, and I did not forget the memory card!

We  took off after breakfast, and were heading for a viewing spot at the foot up today's first climb, the Col de la Portet d'Aspet, which should have been only a 90 minue drive at best.

Unfortantely to get to our spot, we had to cross the Tour route and the police had already stopped all traffic eventhough the riders were not due for more than two hours.

So we after a few tense moments, and some shouting between the navigator and the driver, we picked out an alternative spot, which turned out to be a true gem.

We were just outside a tiny little town, just 35 km from the start.  We were able to park our close very close to the route, so we only walked for about 20 minutes.   Although the road was relatively flat, we could see several hundred yards down the road, and best of all there was no one within 200 yards of us either way.  This isolation ultimately led to us collecting six different water bottles from the riders who toss them as soon as they're finished with them.

The riders arrived in about one hour.  A breakaway group of about 12 riders, follow by a couple of chasers, and then the peloton.  All in all they were  all past use within 22 minutes, but we loved it never the less...and I got some great photos.

Once the riders were gone, we quickly packed up, returned to the car, and drove for about sixty minutes to the town of Luchon, which is the largest resort area in the Pyrenees.  It's filled with beautiful buildings and a thermal spa tha for more than century has provided relief from the summer heat for wealthy Frenchmen.

We at at Trip Advisor's #1 rate restuarant and had an delicious mea.  Despite the 100 degree temp, we sat outside, under an awning.  We skipped the wine and gulped Perrier.

The pastry shell is filled with baked goat cheese!

We each had a stage, mine in the foreground is covered in onions and garlic.  

And for dessert, we each had a pear had been soaked in a reddish liquer, and the white stuff to the right is chantilly, aka whipped cream.

Joni is smiling despite probably fracturing her shoulder or collar bone last night after missing one of  the steps in our room and taking a nasty fall.  It looks like I'm going to be carrying her extra bags through the airport on the way home.

After a quick walk and some post card purchases, we drove back to Arreau, over the Col de Peyresourde, a regular climb on the Tour.  A beautiful ride.

We got back to the hotel with just enough time to watch the finish of today's stage...Chris Froome held off all his challengers and kept his comfortable margin as the overall race leader.

Tonight will sadly be our last dinner at Hotel d'Angleterre, but were heading to Provence tomorrow for six nights at Le Mas Perreal, which is a little bit of heaven.