Hi, now in La Grande Motte and riding is fini other than maybe Mt Ventoux. The reason we have been off the air for several days is we have not had internet access. Have put a lot of photos on below.

What a difference good weather makes, From Riom on we have had good weather and we have both enjoyed the ride. Now know why we are here.

We have now experienced the changes from riding through Normandy, the wide open spaces and grain fields, the ride up through the Massiff Central and the forests and the remoteness, villages where it doesn’t look as anyone lives there, and then down from the Massiff through the Cols (some of which are part of the Tour) and down through Provence to the coast.

So, tired legs, sore butts and great feeling of achievement. a lot harder than expected, roads not as smooth, very hilly (ascended between 1400 and 1700 metres per day). average day for those cycling in Brisbane is roughly 2 times around the Mt Cootha Challenge so a bit harder than planned.

Marie did fabulously well averaging over 70 k’s per day (and she didn’t do a lot of the descents which woudl have added a good 15 k’s per day without having to pedal). She rode up the hills witht he group but didn’t have the confidence to do the 10 k descents at 7-8%.