June 12, 2024
Tardets to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
I had created three potential routes for today, but we both ruled out Col Bagargui for today. Neither of us wanted to ride up to Larreau and beyond again today, and we had both been there in 2016 (from opposite directions). The other two options were essentially the same at the beginning and end, but one went north around a ridge and the other kept to the south side. We would make the decision where the two diverged.
![](https://images.cycleblaze.com/mmageuivb0si23opin2cf1g1tgx_2000.jpeg)
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The first 5+ km were along the valley bottom. Then we reached Alçay and turned uphill. It was steep! And stayed steep with very little reprieve for 7 km, though of course it felt like more.
![](https://images.cycleblaze.com/6rswimf6wcj7gblyu1vid2w81ri_2000.jpeg)
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![](https://images.cycleblaze.com/3w3yssvyzka1uku0aqnwynmnkov_2000.jpeg)
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![](https://images.cycleblaze.com/y96iuu4r7m5rc8i36g9cakuep0d_2000.jpeg)
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https://www.first-nature.com/flowers/anacamptis-pyramidalis.php
2 months ago
2 months ago
![](https://images.cycleblaze.com/0gr18g6t8nge4a1e2ldw317hiet_2000.jpeg)
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![](https://images.cycleblaze.com/pl9ii1elvd2y5k8piz3el09129g_2000.jpeg)
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We coasted down a short distance and then rode across a plateau before starting to climb again. Happily, the grades weren’t nearly as steep as to the first summit.
![](https://images.cycleblaze.com/ae1796rfu57zx8s6d5n8ycgpm63_2000.jpeg)
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I stopped and took photos; Al was braver and took a video clip.
![](https://images.cycleblaze.com/ierzdnqfghej97fp0ayiw9zh6cc_2000.jpeg)
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinops
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eryngium
2 months ago
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eryngium_bourgatii
2 months ago
Thanks for keeping me on track Scott!
2 months ago
At the decision point, essentially the top of the second climb, there was no summit sign for Col Burdin Olatze but there was a cool wind. I can’t say “cold” because it was nothing compared to yesterday’s summit. However, after putting on our gilets and jackets, we decided to take D417 on the southern side of the ridge in the hope it might be warmer than the north side (which featured Col d’Alphanitze). Both routes were highlighted in green on the Michelin map and we can verify that the southern option was spectacular, even on an overcast day.
There were a few short ups but mostly it was down on a very narrow road.
Soon after we passed the group of horses, we stopped to put on our tights and switch to warmer gloves. We were chilled, there was a lot of descending left, and it was getting steeper. Down, down, down we went, until we came to Lecumberry where we saw an open bar with several bikes outside. We stopped too and had sandwiches and hot chocolate. Then it was another 10 or so km to our B&B in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. It started raining shortly after we checked in. Timing is everything!
Today's ride: 41 km (25 miles)
Total: 1,922 km (1,194 miles)
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2 months ago