Day 1 _ Castelnou to Esperaza

Having Guy on the trip is a laugh a minute.  This morning at breakfast, there were party hats and party favors including michel ( the inn owner).  Michel pulled out a wonderful champagne from the region - that set a great tone for the day.

Guy had to gaffer tape his birthday hat to his helmet and it stayed there all day ( I think gaffer tape can save the world).

We began our journey in castelnou around 11:30am after all the bikes were built.  We decsended off of Castelnou and played around the foodhills of the pyrenees all day - punching in and out of these amazing river gorges.

The first col was longer than we all thought and guy lead out thinking it was a sprinter's hill only to be taken by the young rider leader, Chris, who was riding so strong.  Bill clearly took most of the KOM points today, claiming all the cols.  He is in fine shape this year.

Our SAG support has been amazing.  Deb and Peter are the best drivers to have taking up the back and playing block for our group of 5 riders - even giving some suppprt to a rider that is cramping and needing a lift to the top.

Our ride today brought us through some amazing areas of the mid-pyrenees with river gorges of jutting granite and lush river valleys spotted with little villages.  Its was to be a fairly mellow day of riding, but it turned out to be rather epic and it ended with us all taking a dip in the pool, and dining at a restaurant in Quillian celebrating Guy's 35th birthday with nothing better than foie gras as decorated by sue (with tomato aspic) and she is still without luggage after flying easyjet from paris (let that be a warning to you all).  We have a GREAT group of people and probable the best I've ever travelled with to europe.  This has already began to be a most amazing trip.

Tomorrow is day two...and we work our wau to aix la thermes (over a big ski area).  Stats for the day:

Weather: sunny and upper 80's
Miles: 60
Elevation: 4200
Time: 4 hours 10 min.
Foie Gras: yes and some of the best yet
Destress Factor: 8 (gettting unwound)

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