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Friday 10th May 2024
After Thursday’s frozen mountain adventure, we had already decided to go easy on ourselves today, particularly bearing in mind that the first 2 days of climbing had allowed us to exceed out target of 5,000 feet per day.
So a slightly longer sleep to recover and a very pleasant and slow morning around Chez Turnock - coffee, journal, blog and chats, before we walk back up to the local village and pick up some pastries for a morning fuel-up.
On the terrace back at Steve’s place, we enjoy more coffee, a selection of pain aux chocolate, pain aux raisin and croissants from the local baker - quite delicious.
Today will be a half-day on the bikes and a half target - aiming to make up the 2,500 feet that will get us back on target.
Consequently, it’s an easy decision to head for the local town of Vence and the (once upon a time Tour de France) route of the Col de Vence - a straight 2,099 foot climb up to 3,159 feet altitude - all in the relatively short distance of 9.7 km (6 miles).
A short ride to the town centre and the climb starts close to the very centre of town - a roundabout exit and we are “on it”, starting steep and staying that way.
The shock to the system after yesterday’s efforts is considerable and, at various stages on the climb, we both feel the pain - even more surprising for Steve as this is his 51st ascent of the Col (wow).
The late morning sun beats into our backs as we climb the sweat in my eyes is blinding and the physical effort is, to any keen cyclist, both terrible and exhilarating at the same time.
Different websites quote the average incline at anything from 5.0% to 6.63% - either way, I feel it and it amazed me to think that the record times on Strava belong to Mathias Le Turnier, who popped up there in 23:58 (that’s minutes) back in 2018, and Illi Gardner, with 28:13 for the female record in 2022.
So my 1 hour 16 minutes may not appear in any record books, but it was my personal best 😉
At the top, we celebrate our “half-way up Everest moment with a video posted later to social media, then, after a Coke in a riding stables, we drift down the other side (with stunning balcony views) to the pretty hillside town of Coursegoules.
There, a lunch al fresco of pancakes, eggs and ham with a multi-vitamin fruit juice.
Steve notices over lunch that I have “drifted” and we both discuss that I am actually feeling quite “out of sorts” as you might say. The extremes of effort, temperature, altitude and weather are beginning to take a toll on my body and the subconscious mind seems to be kicking in with a “stop it please” message.
“Listen to your body CB.”
A decision is made on the spot to curtail the extra miles we had planned for the day and to return by the route we arrived, giving me an early finish and a chance to rest and recuperate this evening.
That said, we say our goodbyes to the lovely Madame who runs to cafe and return back to the top of the Col de Vence, where Steve advises me to strap in for the descent of a lifetime.
An understatement indeed - back down 2,000 feet in 6 miles at a safe but exhilarating speed, with expert guidance from my host on hairpin technique and the most amazing views south across from the Cap D’Antibes to our right, Nice ahead and Monaco in the distance to our left. The beautiful but of the Med forms our horizon.
Back into Vence for a bike shop stop (brake adjustment for ST) and a cheeky beer in the old town - chats and people-watching - then back home for a very reasonable 5 o’clock.
Whilst we are enjoying our beer, I'm delighted to be able to call Annie for the first time in 4 days, as she returns to Mwanza, Tanzania, after days spent delivering Oral Health Training for Bridge2Aid. I'm so very proud of her and of what the B2A team have achieved.
I hope you won’t think I’m faking it about the earlier vulnerability, when I say that our evening could not be better.
The evening sunshine is glorious and illuminates our gastronomic evening.
Lamb chops on the BBQ, accompanied by green beans and one of Steve’s specialities - tartiflette - potatoes and onions cooked first and then added to a casserole dish with generous portions of reblochon cheese and allowed to cook until there is a golden skin as a cover.
That, and a superb Barolo, makes for a magical evening of conversation - and the birth of a new idea about how we might bring the experiences of this week to a wider audience.
A fantastic day - thank you once more for all of your support - you are making a difference.
Back to the big miles tomorrow.
Testimonial
The specialised therapy I received from Asto Clinics without exaggeration has changed my life.
Having been struggling with OCD from the age of 7 I’ve seen therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists and never really got anywhere in resolving the issues long term.
It was always a quick fix and never a long term solution.
In fact, the therapy with Asto was opposite from the therapy I’d done before. Asto clinics made me sit with the anxiety driving thoughts and compulsions, and gave me techniques to overcome the sometimes disabling thoughts and magical thinking I had.
Early on in the therapy I thought it wasn’t for me as I’d had the disorder for so long I felt I’d been through all this before. The key breakthrough came when I was set into a smaller group from the main group, with two amazing women and we helped each other through our struggles. These two made me realise I wasn’t thick or broken like I’d grown up thinking, they are clever highly successful women and we encouraged each other through our therapy.
We still speak now and try to meet as much as possible.
I still have OCD but it’s a mild case rather than chronic. I still have bad occasions but they are just that rather than being days, weeks and sometimes months, which had led to bouts of severe depression which would make me have thoughts of not wanting to be around anymore.
I wish this was around when I was young as my childhood could have been much happier but I’m so grateful I got the help now as it’s been such a positive step.
I can’t thank Asto Clinics enough.
Scott
28th March 2024
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