Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Asses of the Pyrenees

Okay, this is the last of my inappropriately-named blog posts, promise! And when I say Asses of the Pyrenees, I mean the donkey kind. Although it was head-down derriere-up on our bike ride tracing some of the Tour De France. For seven days from 9am to 7pm, puffing up grades of sometimes 27 (trans: les bloody knackering), only stopping to woof down a grit-dusted roll from breakfast. But my point is - all I saw for hours was pretty much the asses (or donkeys, what's the difference?) on the sides of the roads.


Looking up, second day near Pau


Do you ever look up? said my mother from the support vehicle. Make sure you look up sometimes and look at the views. (As a little aside, my legs and rearage were dotted with the vicious bites from the flies that travelled with the asses. Quelle atractif!)


Toulouse Lautrec's palace in Albi


Loading up in the rain, Toulouse
Happiness pills served for breakfast in the Grand Balcon, Toulouse
Buskers at a farmer's market, Gaillac
At the airport, travelling light, carrying our bikes
We were a motley crew of ten (including my parents) seven of us cycling and three in the support vehicle.

*Ignorance is bliss: If we'd really thought about this trip Kevin and I would have realised we were totally unprepared. Oh well, it was torture but we finished. My "takeaway"? (Sorry I hate that word) Don't think about things too much, just sign up.

Me overeaching...near Pau
* Good on yas, Tour de blokes: I have a new found respect for the Tour De France cyclists, an event which previously had never piqued my interest. We took three long days to complete what they ride in one short morning.

* Bon Courage Papa! My 76-year-old Dad cycled much of the trail with us, completing the 5,607 ft Col d'Aubisque.... after two beers and a hearty lunch. What's his secret? "To be honest, genes and good luck...some of my friends could not do this but they can do Sodoku." Training? He has ridden the same mountain bike around the beach for 12 years and occasionally enters events with his retired mates on their three-speeds. And of course his bride of 52 years, Madeleine, was in the support vehicle to cheer him on.

Dad and Mum in Toulouse


* The Pyrenees is not the prettiest sister of the bumpy areas of France: If you want to be beguiled and enchanted best opt for the castle-clad lushness of the Loire Valley or the lavender loveliness of Provence. But for challenging mountain ranges, the Pyrenees. There the roads are empty and perfectly paved, the motorists are unfailingly polite and patient and the hoteliers are happy to see you. One even offered to do all our washing; oops, pardon Madam I didn't realise you only meant cycling stuff. (You can take the girl out of New Zealand....)

*As usual I brought way too much luggage and, as usual, ended up wearing the same thing every evening.  This Oakland dress emerged as my "dinner" uniform, replaced mid-way by a stretch lace dress bought in Niaux sales. My takeaway? Don't bring too much to France, they have stores there.

Mum and me in my Oakland "dinner uniform"
New "dinner uniform" in stretch lace.
* There is no doubt about it, everything and everyone in France is jolly charmant. Even something as banal as road signs make you feel you are chaised in a Marie Antoinette salon with a gob full of bonbons. No road marks becomes - "absense de marquarge."I saw a group of scruffy road workers lay a table with a cloth, glass tumblers and wine for their lunch.

* We left the kids at home with a babysitter. Never mind the grueling hills...Kevin and I have spent 14 years in the trenches (both of us calling, er, barking orders) bringing up four kids. Out of the trenches would we actually have anything to say to each other? Turns out we can still have a good laugh over an apres GeenandToneec and keep the lines coming.  And there is no other lycra-encased arse I would rather be following....








43 comments:

  1. Oh Jody this post makes me smile...it is wonderful...the whole trip and the happiness in your family...Well done all!

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  2. I'm assuming from this note that your survived to tell the tale. C'es très bien!

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  3. Lovely post - but there's still no way you would ever get me to cycle over the Pyrenees.
    It would need a tow up the hills from the support vehicle...

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  4. Well done, I'm full of admiration for your sporting prowess. I would never have signed up for such a holiday in a million years, or maybe I would if I could be in the support vehicle and just cycle on the flat bits. :)

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  5. Wow - smashing trip, and what an achievement. I've never seen those bike cases before - what a super idea.

    'Takeaway' in UK = 'takeout' I think in US, so actually it is quite a popular word here LOL.

    Love your dinner uniforms, and the pics of your parents - they look lovely, and I'm sure they had a great time. xxx

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  6. Love this, have been following both you and Le Tour avidly (the latter for a number of years now).
    Next year in September we are planning to do a long weekend cycling tour around the lakes of northern Italy. Join us?

    LCM x

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    1. Thanks for popping by LCM. We are totally up for the Italian trip, though we def might be the laggers in the culo....

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    2. Will be dropping an email your way then! And as for laggers in the culo, don't kid yourself - *I* will be the one at the back of the pack, for sure!

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  7. What an amazing adventure, can't believe your Dad did so much of it. I would have enjoyed it with your mother, from the safety of the car (eating that gelato) :)
    Love both your dinner uniforms.

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  8. It sounds fab. Your Dad is amazing. I've been watching the Tour avidly and those Cols are no picnic.

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  9. As much as I would have died attempting this trip (and no, I am not exaggerating), this truly seems like a dream experience. One of the "once in a lifetime" experiences that you will be able to tells stories from for ever and ever! I am glad you survived!

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  10. Hi Jody!

    Great photographs and story-line. What an adventure you had! So funny your mom's comment to look up. Had that been me, I would have been huffing and puffing so hard, head down.. the view would have been difficult to enjoy.

    Sounds like, all-in-all, it was an incredible experience.

    Enjoy your week!

    leslie

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  11. Congratulations on an amazing feat! I have learned about over packing over and over and over again, but yet, I simply cannot help myself!!

    Amazing trip! One I'm sure you will be talking about for ages!

    xoxo

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  12. You and your dad are my heroes, what a fit family, this would kill me, I really need to get my flat butt moving, no wonder it's like a straight line from the side.

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    Replies
    1. Sadly I did not acquire the bubble butt as outlined by Four Hour Body.

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  13. Wow, Jody, this had been some trip and I think you and your team have been amazing. And what a stylish couple your parents are!

    I'd be quite happy following that neat bum for the duration too ;-))

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  14. Well done you, sounds like blooming hard work to me!Your Dad sounds amazing.

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  15. I admire those who are both athletic and outdoorsy. I am more of a sit on the porch girl and read a book. I also admire someone with the tenacity to take pictures of their butts in spandex. Vive la derierre!

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  16. Sounds grueling, but fun...and your still married after all those kilometres!
    Love the stretch lace dress.

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  17. You survived! Hope you celebrated with lots of macarons!

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  18. You lived, yay! I love that you embarked on this experience and really it must have been great to leave those kids home with a sitter.
    Your Mum and Dad are awesome! And really, your dinner uniform was wonderful, it looks stunning on you, the new lace one as well.
    Thanks for sharing this with us.

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  19. It looks like it was a ton of fun Jody! I love that your parents did this with you. So sweet! And thank you for even thinking those photos of that smoking hot bathing suit bod is mine--it belongs to a beach girl blogger who wears my polish, altho I have taken up cycling class and all I can say is my a*s is killing me, don't know how you did it!

    xo Mary Jo

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  20. I've been a bit preoccupied, so haven't been following the whole tour, so I'll go back and check out the high points
    Well done you and Kevin and Dad.

    BTW, my Beloved and I spent the most glorious day on the Overlander train between Wellington and Auckland, an 8 hour trip, and we just talked about everything under the sun, so even after 34 years, we can still communicate.(when the conditions are right)

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    1. Always wanted to do that train ride - is it really scenic?

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  21. Haha! Happy pills for breakfast - I love it! Sounds like you had such an incredible adventure, Jody! :)

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  22. Jody,
    I cannot believe what this trip involved! Even my hubby who is a serious cycler was impressed. Your parents are so cool too. Your dad is amazing! This sounds like it was such a very special trip. Loved those dresses.

    Hoping you post more pictures!
    xo
    Kim

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  23. Don't think about things too much, just sign up...i love this advice! how fun!

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  24. Bahahahaha! Thanks for the good laugh! You have a great sense of humor. You and your mom look great in that pic! And congrats to dad for putting many young ones to shame!

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  25. I loved hearing everything about this from the happy pills (did you take any?), your Dad's lack of training and hearty lunch before a tough stretch, your new uniform ( lace dress is gorg) and following your favorite Lycra. Your mom is so statuesque and beautiful, too. What special memories fr all of you. So happy you enjoyed your trip!

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    1. Hey Gina -yes I took the Le Bonheurs - and they worked! Or was it the multitude of croissants and jam I scoffed them down them? (Hmm maybe the sugar rush)

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  26. Go you and you're entire family! Your father sounds like a rockstar :) xoxo

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  27. Congrats! And I LOVE the pic on the giant bike! LOLOL!

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  28. The title of this post literally made me laugh out loud. I love inappropriately titled posts.

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

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  29. I am still in awe of this trip that you are doing, and that you father is in much better shape than I am (and 40 years older)!

    *Erin

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  30. Oooh I'm glad I came. I'm full of admiration for your feats and a bit jealous 'cos I never made Albi in my travelling days.
    What a lovely mum you have.

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  31. Sounds like an amazing experience! Kudos to your Dad. So glad you and Kevin got to have bonding time as well. xo style, she wrote

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  32. so when will you be taking a vacation this summer?
    because cycling....up hills.....in spandex.....sounds like PRISON!!!
    do NOT ever invite me on one of your vacations please....
    i'll go house sit in that extraordinary house of yours, with those beautiful kids, wear your fabulous clothes {yes even your underwear--hope you have thongs}, and eat all of your food.
    love,
    katie

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  33. Jody,

    I nominated you for an award on my blog today!
    xo
    Kim

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  34. i loved reading your adventures

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  35. You should be so proud of your adventure. You are to be admired. I would go to France, but wouldn't bike. I love that you got a babysitter. That's inspiration for me.

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  36. I think it's amazing you did this at all. I could barely cycle up a slight slope! Your dad puts me to shame..... Best get my butt off the chair and do some exercise.

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  37. What a fantastic trip you are on. I have a bad feeling that my eyes would be drawn to all of the wrong areas. This post is hilarious!!

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