Day 50 (20/7) - Farewells and convene in Geneva

Today was a sad day, our last day with the guys and our last tour stage. Reuben and the boys were up early to climb Mont Revard (a jaunty little 15.9 km at 5.6%).  We watched the second last stage of the tour eating BBQ with a bottle of Chignin white (a local wine) in the 35 degree sun. After the caravan we where interviewed by a local French paper (probably because of Reuben's ridiculous sunglasses). After the tour screamed past Reuben claimed his best Tour souvenir yet, a large watch for speed hump TDF sign. Heartfelt farewells and many hugs as we parted ways with our intrepid camper-van companions. Special mention to Matt Scott who's organisational skills and occasional leadership made the following and riding the TDF a lifetime highlight.  Anne-Marie and I arrived in Geneva and immediately realised a difference in style, we find a restaurant first, and worry about where to stay later. A quintessential Swiss restaurant served us onion soup (mostly melted cheese), a cheese Fondue, and a Raclette (melted cheese, 3 serves with 3 little boiled potatoes). Needless to say, cheesed out.

A panorama from the top of Mont Revard, France laid out like a map

All lined up ready for the tour to roll through

Reuben with his last TDF souvenir

Cheese Fondue and Rachlette 

Geneva by night is pretty

And lively

Day 49 (19/7) - Sign on and rain down

Watched the start of Stage 19 which involved the riders warming up and signing on before the tour left the town of Bourg D'Oisans. A wet slow crowded drive to Saint Jean D'Arvey followed by our last dinner together with the crew and some long exposure fun with Matt's SLR.

Reuben - 'Look at the snail'
Lachie - 'They prefer to be called "Escargot!"'

A familiar face rolling out to sign on

French pastries, so tempting

What starts out as a crazy experiment

Grow some wheels

And turns Anne-Marie into a happy angel

Day 48 (18/7) - Spectator bonanza

We walked up to Alpe d'Huez corner two with chairs and a picnic of baguettes, cheese and wine ready to watch stage 18. It was probably the best stage to watch because the atmosphere was incredible and the riders all crawl past on the 11% incline twice. Quite the spectacle. We all got into the mood dressing up and joining in on the frivolities. Pictures may speak louder than words on this one.

Matt, Flic and Reuben ready for the walk up the hill, Lachie and Erica saving us a spot

The climb hasn't started yet

Matt and Reuben stop for a quick photo with Didi, one of the iconic TDF characters

A thirsty frenchman helps us with our goonsack.

Reuben gets in the mood with some TDF kit

These morph suited character are in the TDF leading jersey colours (except the pink one, I think he got lost on the Giro)

Anticipation, the road is packed awaiting the first rider to appear down the hill

Team Sky leads the chase, It's hard to be excited when they have it in the bag

You can get really close to the riders on the hill stages, much more fun than the flat ones.

Fay 47 (17/7) - Anne-Marie's birthday

Anne-Marie and I climbed Alpe-d'Huez before we watched stage 17, the Individual Time-Trial, on french TV while enjoying a late lunch with local wine and finally had an ice cream cake for dinner. Happy Birthday Anne-Marie!

Looking down the mountain at Bour-D'Oisans from a higher hairpin

Anne-Marie takes a break to chew on a weird French energy bar

Commemorative photo at the top

And another at the entrance to town

Alpe D'Huez in all it's cycle filled glory

The view from the cable car to the top, Thanks Lachie

Day 46 (16/7) - A relentless monster

Reuben and the boys were up early to climb the Col Du Galibier a relentless monster of a mountain, 48 kilometers up hill gradually getting steeper and steeper until it tops out at a wicked 10 to 14% for the last 2 kilometers. To top it off a flat tyre at 4km to go and no way to repair saw Reuben doing the last 4km very very slowly on his bumpy flat back tyre. That will teach him to over inflate his tyre at 750m above sea level and then ride to 2600m. The air pressure changes up there. Spectacular views and another climb off the bucket list. The best french pastries so far are discovered in town, much to Reuben's waistline's disgust. Pain Au Raisin to absolutely die for.

Reuben's bike thrown into a snow drift in disgust at having a flat tyre with 4km to go.

Lachlan makes friends with one enormous slug from under our camping table, there was a plague of them

Cyclists overtaking the town of Bour-D'Oisans

The madness up at the top of Alp D'Huez and the riders don't even come through here for 2 days.

Day 45 (15/7) - Settling in for Alp D'Huez

We left the town of Bedoin and drove to  Bour-D'Oisans, for once we found a great spot to park the camper-vans right at the bottom of the climb, Alp D Huez. It was quiet, in the shade, and a great location which is unheard of. All six of us went to a fantastic french restaurant for dinner with a platter of Duck and Boar pates, a duck main, and a very rare steak.

So picturesque I had to take photos of the photographers

Alp D'Huez and other mountains around Bour-D'Oisans, Panorama worth zooming hopefully

Anne-Marie and my pate platter

Erica, Lachie, Matt and Flic wait with us for dinner to be served

Another fort on a hill, they are everywhere in France it seems

Day 44 (14/7) - Bastille day bliss

Bastille day, Reuben and the boys were up early to climb Mont Ventoux, Bill decided not to join us, it's 21km at 7.5%, but don't let that fool you it peaks out with a good 6km at 9%+, cruel and unusual punishment. The number of cyclists on the mountain made it feel like Brunswick street, Fitzroy at 8am on a Monday morning in spring. The camper-vans and cycling fans lined the road up the whole mountain and the atmosphere was electric. After making the punishing ascent we tried to descend but it was bedlam, children, police and TDF workers all vying for space on the skinny windy road while we wanted to rocket down at 80. Going down the mountain on a different road we ended up doing a run through the gorges de la Nesque one of the most spectacular roads I have seen let alone ridden. As Matt put it, "Best ride of my life, Ventoux on Bastille day and gorges de la Nesque".

After the ride Reuben learned Anne-Marie had politely and diplomatically moved Bill on after he used up the other cars drinking water washing himself. Anne-Marie gets stuff done. We watched the TDF riders come through town before starting their own painful assent of Ventoux in the now nasty mid afternoon sun. The French Air Force did salute them with a fighter jet formation doing a coloured smoke display over the peak as they approached the finish.

Reuben with the Alcatel Android before the race.

Pointing to Mont Ventoux with our commemorative matching jumpers.