Day 1 - The dark side of the Izoard

Question. How hard is it to get from Geneva to Briancon? Mark Stanley managed it in just a few hours. Meirion and Gareth though managed to stretch out a 6.30pm eta to a final arrival of 2.15am.


For those in the Ystwyth CC who missed this, this is the 5th time I've managed to convince people to come out to the mountains for some fun, 4th time in Briancon...lack of imagination? Perhaps.




Back to Meirion...Apparently there are no signs on the north side of the Col de Telegraph telling you that the Col de Galibier, the next climb on, is shut...there were at least 4 on the side Alan Broadbent and I drove on.


After getting to the top only to turn round again, they opted for the tunnel through to Italy instead...can you guess what was closed for repairs. And so, fast asleep at 2.00am my phone went off. "We have finally made it to Briancon, actually about 45 minutes ago, but we can't find the house", says Meirion. Just to put the icing on the cake, they had lost their document pouch in the airport...maps, addresses, flight details and so on.

After greeting them and pointing gruffly towards an empty bedroom I spent the rest of the night trying, and failing, to block out Alan's snoring. Be thinking of a particularly distressed wart hog trying to blow a loaf of bread out through it's nostril.


Saturday morning and the sun comes out, the croissants are fresh and we are actually feeling restrained. The valley road to Guillestre through Argentiere and Champcella is a rolling road with breathtaking views and short climbs that whets the appetite for the even more dramatic gorge that takes you to the foot of the Izoard.

First and only mechanical of the week is down to Alan after just 5 miles. We've already done some remedial work so that he can perform some basic operations...y'know, steering,braking, but his first change onto the 27 sprocket puts the gear mech in the wheel. Quickly saved, we are off again.


This side of the Izoard is the most dramatic, but just not funny. Gareth big rings the first 5km and disappears into the distance. The next time we all meet up will be at the bar at the foot of the mountain, after 17kms of beautifully smooth descent. Sheffield City Council take note...THERE ARE MORE POTHOLES BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND ANDY JONES', 600 METRES AWAY, THAN THERE ARE IN 34 KM OF MOUNTAIN ROAD THAT SPENDS 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR COVERED IN SNOW...thanks, I feel better now.





Dwarfed by the scenery here is Meirion.



















We get back to find the Ystwyth boys have arrived safely after driving all the way in Tim Johnson's van, and have gone out to loosen off the legs on the short side of the Col d'Echelle. It seems only fair at this point to apologise to the beleagured waitress at the restaurant we chose that night...sorry, we were all very hungry and excited, I know it was hard work, and pidgen french in snowdonia accent is never easy.

Simon miles: 62

What we've learned today: Ferme means shut...Meirion!