The Pyrenees from Argeles Gazost

We arrived at Argeles Gazost mid afternoon Monday.  It's a beautiful village in the Pyrenees near Lourdes, circled by the iconic Cols of the Tour - our base for three nights. Under four weeks ago they had major flooding and most of the district was under-water - including the church and grotto in Lourdes that those wanting to be healed make their pilgrimages to. 

The view from our room, Argeles Gazost

A group of us decided to knock off Col du  Hautacam before dinner. 4:30pm and 33 deg C. Thunder rumbling in the mountains sounded like the Gods moving furniture. 

The ride up Hautacam was unbelievably picturesque. Slate roofed, stone or plastered cottages, oak and birch trees, roses and hay making.  These mountains are lush - grass runs up to the snow line. 

Once on the climbs you get signs every kilometer telling elevation, distance to go and ave gradient over the next k. 

The cows all have bells and there're no fences - so we encounter them ambling across the road several times including on our descent which demanded we keep our wits about us. The bells are actually quite noisy echoing around the hills. 

Hautacam summit, sign recording winners of the TdF stages to finish there. Piepoli's name has been crossed out by someone, as he is a banned doper. The climb itself was a steady 12km, with about 1150m climbing from the village.

The thunderstorm broke on our descent so it was had a rinse, though still warm.