Today was billed by Chris (aka Obi Wan Kenobi) as an easy day. So we rode only 45 miles and 6400 feet. That we took all day to do it made it easy I guess. A pasta lunch at the Alpe d’Huez ski resort is a very civilized interlude in the biking. I think I have converted Larry and maybe Chris to the idea that there is no such thing as too much pasta. Larry had said he never eats while riding but now realizes that for this kind of output there had better be some serious input.

So today we started with a nice downhill ride down the Col d’Ornon valley (our place is 5 miles up the Ornon) with a wonderful view of our destination – the village of Villard Reculas across the valley then turned left.

Villard Reculas from Ornon

We rode about 7 flat miles through Allemont where Larry and I crashed when a woman stepped out in front of me while Larry was right behind me. He went down, thankfully no injuries or damage. Then about 8 miles up to Villard Reculas – with a beautiful view of the bottom of the Col d’Ornon road where we started.

Ornon from Villard Reculas

The climbing is solitary because Larry is Monsieur LongGone and Chris is behind me by a healthy amount. But I caught up with 4 people from Holland who were taking their time riding leisurely. I passed them, which is rather amazing because I am sloooow, but as I said they were taking their time. One of them zoomed up to me, a 24 yr old guy and we rode together talking for about 5km, which was a wonderful distraction. After a while he peeled off and went back to his friends. We saw them again at the town and again later on a few more times. It is so nice and friendly here, everyone says bonjour (not everyone but I’d like to think it is everyone.)

From the small town was a ride across a “shelf road” to the town of Huez which is about 3/4 of the way up the climb to the Alpe d’Huez ski area.

Bourg d’Oisan and Huez

Then up the Alpe road to have lunch in the resort. After lunch we continued on up the mountain to some beautiful lakes.

Lake above Alpe d’Huez

Then we had a 17 km descent down the Alpe access road, the famous climb that we came up on Tuesday. It is amazing how you have to feather your brakes so they don’t overheat the rims. Of course Larry & Chris were waiting for pokey me at the bottom. Then we stopped in BdO for sorbet, espresso, ice cream, and more coke for Chris. Refueled we headed back up the Col d’Ornon to the lodge.  Just like two days before I was passed by a local in jeans with a backpack (probably full of hammers) on his way home from work on a squeaky old mountain bike. He slowed up enough to talk for a while before zooming off up the mountain to go chez lui. It turns out he lives across the alley from the lodge and his mother was the schoolteacher in the schoolhouse that is now the lodge.

After a shower and some more pasta 😉  downloading the photos, checking email it was time for dinner. We have 2 new guests from New Zealand. The couple from Canada and one of the father-son teams depart tomorrow. Everyone has been very “amiable.”

Now to bed. Tomorrow Chris promises will be an “easy day.” I had to beg. 😉