Fabulous views and ferocious heat.

So here we are again, another day older and with legs asking to be taken into care. It was supposed to be an easier day, just 45 miles and 5,500ft of ascent and to be fair there was nothing very steep, but of the three climbs, 2 were long and (a different) two were very hot and exposed to the sun. We got a slightly longer warm up this morning before hitting Col de Latrape, a mere 1,111metres. From there we dropped to the village designated as the coffee stop and we were glad we had headed off the col first as we managed to buy the last two Pain au Chocolat in the village. It was already so hot that you had to sit in the shade where possible so we were not looking forward to the much longer climb to Col d'Agnes at 1,579 metres. It was hot, the road was rough stone chip and there was virtually no shade, so it was another case of grit your teeth and go for it. We then descended to a little lake for lunch before tackling the last climb of the day - the Port de Lers - which at 1,517 m was mercifully short and gentle. The ride ended with a screaming descent where you hit speeds of over 30 mph while avoiding cow pats, rocks, other vehicles, gravel and negotiating steep hair pin bends. We are rubbish at descending and I sometimes wonder if I would be better just to shut my eyes, scream loudly and go. Perhaps fortunately I haven't tried this yet.

I have always thought that the French are the absolute masters of rudeness ( the man serving in the shop where we bought the Pain au Chocolat being a perfect example). However I am pleased to report that the English are learning fast, no doubt one of the promised benefits of continued EU membership. Last night a posh English woman (home counties at a guess) came up to our table at dinner and without preamble said 'Are you cycling up the Col d'Agnes tomorrow. We said that indeed we were, expecting her to say how nice the route was or similar, instead of which she launched into a tirade about cyclists and how they shouldn't be allowed on the road and she would have to take a different route. Apparently she can deal with other cars and cows in the road but not cyclists. We were all so taken aback that she flounced off ( perhaps fortunately) before anyone responded.

At the risk of being rude I should tell you to beware of the dangers of not being careful enough when washing your cycling shorts. It is common to use shower gel on the pads and if not rinsed out thoroughly it leads to frothing at the rear when the wearer starts to sweat the next time they wear them. We tramp ours in the shower like grapes, so haven't suffered this embarrassment yet - but you heard it here first.

Finally I thought you would like to know that the French have taken my drinking problem in hand. After the hotel which was so affronted at the suggestion that anyone might want white wine, I went to the bar tonight and waited to order a drink. The old trout behind the bar just glared at me and shouted at me to go and sit down and then proceeded to ignore me for the rest of the evening! Not great business sense but I suppose she felt I needed help

Pictures include the usual col posing and some views, both on route and from our hotel rooms