5 of our riders are missing!

After a good, long, sleep I woke up feeling a lot better but not ready to face food. I staggered down to breakfast where the two of us managed a small handful of cornflakes and a glass of water. It was then obvious that there were more victims of the bug - 5 people decided that they couldn't ride, unfortunately including the Mechanic, and only 3 people out of 20 are completely symptom free, so it was a sorry looking crew that set off this morning. The reason people decided not to ride ( apart from feeling horrible) was the fact that about 200 yds from the hotel you turned right uphill for 12 miles ascending 4,200 ft to the top of the Col de Pailheres. Surprisingly I felt quite good on this one as it was much cooler and overcast today. Just as I approached to top I heard a cyclist behind me, not one of our group, accelerating to pass me before the top, so ( and I still can't quite figure out why) I got out of the saddle and raced him to the top - beating him by a short head. He then turned and congratulated me in a broad northern accent!

Without my wingman I teamed up with 2 other blokes as the navigation was a bit tricky today and I didn't want to get lost on my own. I was faster up the cols, but they had garmins so we stayed well on track all day. The next two cols were much lower and shorter ( the Col de Pailheres is over 6,500ft) but the fourth was 'a col too far'. This on paper wasn't too bad although it does top out at 5000ft, but in reality it was 7 miles of relentless uphill pedaling with no food all day and a lot of miles in the legs. I was very relieved to get to the top and enjoy a 15 mile screaming descent ( me doing the screaming you understand) to get to our hotel in Prades. We were the first to arrive by over an hour, but the rooms were ready and I just collapsed into ours. I realised that I needed food but my stomach is still cramping if you try to persuade it to digest anything solid or healthy. I have to admit to sneaking out and making the most of our rather noisy hotel on a main road, across the road to MacDonalds and a supermarket. 2 coffee eclairs and a caramel sundae later I felt almost human and my stomach hasn't made a fuss yet.

Having texted the Mechanic from the top of every col and from the hotel to tell him I was OK and to enquire if the train journey was going to plan, I wasn't totally surprised to hear nothing (the Mechanic and text messaging are not words you often hear in the same sentence). However he has just turned up, 3 hours after me, feeling much better. Luckily one of the non riders has lived in France for 21 years so was able to sort out the train changes, bikes, tickets etc - otherwise he might be in Paris by now.

Didn't take many photos today as was too concerned with surviving. We both ride to the end tomorrow come what may.