The Pyrenees and the Vuelta close up

Argeles Agost

We stumbled upon a fantastic camping here (just a stones throw from the Aubisque, Tourmalet and Hautacam!) fully equipped with indoor and outdoor pool, including a wading pool in the shape of a circle with a jet stream, water slide, playground and jumping castle. The kids were happy to find some fellow Aussie kids to play with.

Arno joined up with our Belgian neighbours at the camping to cycle up Tourmalet. Recent high levels of rain meant that many roads was in desperate need of repair causing delays. We did the Tourmalet with our panniers back in 2000. I can distinctly remember looking up ahead and seeing Arno perched on the edge of the side of the road enjoying his baguette and jam as I kept turning the pedals ....

The campsite was full of cyclists of all types. Many were involved in the Haute Pyrenees 'cyclosportiv' (Barcelona to Biarritz) and a handful had just finished the Haute Alps (Geneva to Nice). Both are timed cycling events of over 750km over 1 week each, covering a ridiculous 20,000 (!) altitude meters and over 20 mountain cols.

A few days poolside ...

The kids with Lucy, camping buddy from Australia who's mum was doing the Haute Pyrenees.

Indoor pool

The kids with Lucy. The biscuits have been found ;)

... and brother Ben.

 Col de Peyresourde for the VUELTA

2 days parked at the top of the Peyresourde, just 3 km's from the finish line at Peyragudes. We arrived the day before the cyclists would pass and joined just a few campervans already set up. The weather was relatively poor being cold, windy and pretty wet. That night we had a storm and torrential rain. Apart from when there was lightning, it was PITCH black outside our camper that night. No street lights up here!

At 1500 metres we awoke the next day to the cow bells and to poor visibility due to mist. Several hours later the mist departed just in time for the cyclists and we had views over the switchbacks of the road below us to several km's as they approached us. The streets were lined with mainly French, but also of course the Spanish, Italians and a few British. We went through a bucket of chalk to get a "Hup Mollema!" (Dutch's hope, 6th in the Tour de France) scrawled on the road.

We arrived at Col de Peyresourde (1569m) on a cold, wet and windy day. One of the very few rainy days we have had over the last 6 months in fact.

A couple of km's further and we arrive at Col de Peyragudes, the finishing line for this year's Vuelta stage 15

The top, our camper in the distance. We found a cosy cafe nearby with its walls lined with old black and white photos of cyclists on the Peyresourde and which liked to entertain/frustrate its customers with wooden puzzles of all sorts.

Parked at the top of the Pyresourde, one of a few lonely campervans to begin with. Tomorrow would be different. We survived a storm that night and woke to find that the place was getting quite lively.

Not one to miss an opportunity, this morning I ran up to the top of the Peyragudes for the views. It was a hive of activity being the finish line for today's race. The boys went off to tackle some climbing in the mist. Behind them it got busier and busier. Our van was eventually parked in by the rescue services involved in the Vuelta.

The mist gradually disappeared giving us a fantastic view over the valley covering several hairpin bends which the cyclists would tackle.

The troops arriving in dribs and drabs ...

'HUP MOLLEMA!'

Alexander Geniez, leading, takes a look back down the valley

3km before he crosses the finish line as the winner

Fynn getting into the supporters role :)

Finally we spot Mollema! He glances down just in time to see our artwork. Struggling today, several days later he goes on to win the 17th stage!

We awoke the next morning to this. Frost on the ground and just the sound of cow bells.