Day 2 - Col d'Ornon and Col de Solude ...
Weather bright, sunny and hot. I found the ride up to Ornon quite tough and worried I wasn't going to cope well with climbing day after day:
After coffee at the top we descended part way and hung a right to climb Solude. My legs woke up and although the climb was even tougher I started to relax. The scenery was stunning. Ravines with streams in the bottom, wild flower meadows, sheep with bells:
Lunch was a long time coming and eventually found in a slightly shabby auberge. The food and beer hit the spot and the views were mouthwatering:
After lunch a short climb to the summit of Solude:
Oaky would have loved the next bit ... COMEDY OFF-ROADING
The gravel surface improved to this, the road is cut into the rock face high above the valley floor:
There were unlit tunnels with poor surfaces and water running down from the ceiling, brilliant stuff:
It was an amazing, amazing day!