Bonette in the Bag!

WOO-HOO!! I did it! I climbed Europe's highest road today! 2,802 metres (9,193 feet). I'm currently celebrating with a glass of wine (after a pot of tea and chocolate cookie of course). I can't wait to crack open the champers once home!

How lucky was I with the weather! It had rained during the night, the wind had whipped up and the temperature had dropped. I confess to being a little nervous as to what lay ahead. Having cycled many cols in the French Alps in atrocious conditions (blizzards, hail, biblical rain, etc.), I knew what could lay ahead.

But the rain stayed off until I was back in Jausiers. I had all the right kit with me. And whatever lay ahead, I had probably pedalled through worse. The sun even popped its head out from time to time, usually when I really needed it when the cold wind started blowing.

Incredibly I did eat some breakfast after that ginormous pizza last night (agreed Mary - no pizza for some time! And you're right Mel, Pizza Express need to up their game!). I think that pizza was partly responsible for getting me up the Bonette today!

Each mountain has kilometre markers that count down how many kilometres to the top plus the average gradient for the next kilometre. These markers were so motivating today. I was a bit psyched out by the challenge but these markers helped me realise it was no different to any other climb I'd done. Just take it a bit at a time. And in full tortoise mode, I wasn't trying to break any speed records here!

There were not many other cyclists. I saw a handful of men go past on their light road bikes (Jealous? You bet!) and one went past on an electric bike - sensible (although I hope the battery didn't run out!). No ladies. Very rarely any ladies.

I had a bit of an idea what to expect on this climb having watched the Col Collectives video. I went past the little lake. I went past the abandoned barracks. I continued onwards and upwards.

And I would like to personally thank the road builders who decided to ramp up the final kilometre to 15%....cheers for that! My legs were already shaking, partly with the effort of the climb and the last few days but also with the cold at this stage. So cruel. I'm sure cycling in the Yorkshire Dales played a big part in helping me up this last bit. And then to add insult to injury, I turned a steep corner and a gust of freezing wind nearly blew me off. That woke me up! After regaining my balance, I could see the top. And a big grin broke out on my face as I made it - double woo-hoo!! A quick couple of photos and a moment to drink it all in before donning plenty of clothes to head back down. It was jolly cold at this altitude, just a few degrees above freezing.

For the descent, I wore my sleeveless top, one of my two long-sleeved thermals, my cycling cardi and my Goretex jacket plus the buff over my ears and my liner gloves over my padded cycling gloves. Oh my goodness, was that descent cold! My fingers tingled and then went numb. I felt pockets of warmer air as I got further and further down the mountain.

It's taken me hours to warm back up. And I'm so glad I got down when I did. A storm broke this afternoon and it was right over the Bonette. Conditions can't have been very pleasant up there. I was so, so lucky.

I've been hiding in this cafe ever since whilst the storm rages. And luckily again, I've been able to recharge my phone here.

It will be camp-cooking tonight and a much lighter meal. My stomach has suffered a little today from being a greedy-guts yesterday! I'm quite excited about the pudding I've got lined up - bananas and custard!!! I don't think I've had that since I was 5!!

Janny, glad you enjoyed your prison cell last night! (For everyone who doesn't know, it was actually the Malmaison in Oxford which was formerly a prison). And glad to hear you celebrated your 40th in style despite being slightly hungover today!!

Mummykins, sounds as if you're having a fabulous holiday even if your suitcases needed their own room! Charlie, you're right - I've not entirely grasped the idea of carrying too many clothes until my panniers have their own tent!! Mum, I like your description of my tent being my own little home from home - it truly is and I love being in my cosy little tent!

Alison, great to hear from you and happy you're enjoying the blogs! You could be out here with me living this in August next year!

Ade, thank you for all the messages and updates from home.

Christine, enjoy celebrating your Mum's 80th in London :-). And sorry to hear about the conflict with the work in September, how annoying, grrr!

Caroline, loving the daily support - THANK YOU!!

Good luck with the poker tonight Tony, Bri, Alison & Chris. Sooooo sorry I can't be there. I'll be enjoying my bananas and custard instead!

Happy pedalling this weekend Intermediates (and Bs and Social!) and hope the weather is kind :-))

No idea what I'm doing next, my legs are hoping for a rest!

Bye for now - happy weekends y'all!

Andi xxx

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