Day 7 - Beuil to Menton, the final day.

istance: 84.07 miles
Average speed: 11.01
Maximum speed: 35.16mph
Time in saddle: 7 hours 38 minutes
Total distance: 441 miles

So, the final day arrived. Six days under our belts and our aim was to get to the med and pitch up alongside the topless bathers.
With Katy our resident map reader back in the saddle, nothing could possibly go wrong.

It was going to be a long day, with four big hills to get over and 80 plus miles to cycle.
Straight into the frst climb of the day Col de la Couillole (1678m) and then the Col St Martin (1500).
Spotting still thin on the ground and level of effort still going up. That would be cycling effort.
Down the second decent and it was this time Katy decides her annual puncture should make an appearance. It seems like one per bike trip is the norm.
Fueled on a bowl of chips at lunchtime as a week of French food is just too much for me. Up the hills the temperature was clocked at 32 degrees but felt like a lot more.
Over the Col de Turini (1604) where wild sheep dogs were roaming, picture attached, then finally over the Col de Castillion (707m) a mere pimple.
With all four hills done and getting late we scoot through a small tunnel which means we are just 9 miles from the Med and it's all downhill ! We can now see the sea.
Spotting now seems so much easier, with campers everywhere, only the worst allowed though.
Finally into Menton and on to the beach. Bloody pebbles and big ones. Where's the sodding sand. Crippled with agony, not due to cycling but getting barefoot, off for a swim in the Med. Lovely and warm.
Babes on the beach? It was 7.00pm, now and they had sodded off home.
Oh well, at least not many people saw me in full cycling gear going for a swim. Did I feel a self concious doing with the gear on, hey no, i'm used to wearing full rubber numbers on the beach (for sailing if you didn't know).
Group photos of Team 43 and our recent signee to the team Martin.
Off for a quick glass of champars and more French food.
I am so looking forward to good traditional English cooking once more, so Curry and Kebabs will be on the menu this week back at home.
Waiting today (Sunday) for the flight back to Gatwick ready for work on Monday!
Finally, thanks to you all for reading my wittering, hope you enjoyed the pictures I posted. Apologies go out to all those cyclists out there wanting more, reality is, I know sod all about bikes, all you need to do is get on one and pedal. Not the most complicated of activities, but damn good fun and a good form of exercise.
Any ideas on what to spot on my next little adventure, let me know. I was going for different hand dryers in toilets, but taking picture would probably not been a good thing!

So, until next year aurevior!

Russ

Specification of cycle ridden:
Black
Two round things
One buckle that had to be sorted out.
Two brakes once buckle was fixed.
Uncomfortable saddle.
Drinks holder, mp3 station and quiche early detection alert professionally installed on the third day.

Specification on the cyclist (one sad spotter):
Taller than the average dwarf.
Legs of steel
Gaps in hair
Strange tan lines
Daniel Craig lookalike
Generally top bloke!!!!!!!!