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Well that’s the end of another successful adventure. We cycled ( mostly) from the top corner of Spain to the middle of France and were met with a hero’s welcome.

The weekend did not stop and our fellow trail runners all successfully completed their runs across the very hilly terrain.

Special mentions have to go out to Dom “the machine” Boullé who completed his 80 km run the day after cycling there with us and to Lloyd who completed the 133km ultra with very second hand feet in over 27 hours.

Following the final event on the Sunday the two teams were invited to a celebratory reception and alfresco meal courtesy of the Le Puy Twinning Committee where we were all showered with gifts. A really fitting way to end what had been a great two weeks.

This has been another great adventure and it is worth trying to consider our highs and lows and those stand out moments.

If we look overall the whole team agreed that cycling in France beat cycling in Spain as there is more variety and choice when it comes to quiet lanes. Although Spanish drivers respect cyclists the way Spain just builds new roads over old does make it difficult to route from a to b on occasion.

One of the differences on this trip was because we were ( sort of) following the Camino we had some reason to visit many of the beautiful places en route to try to get our pilgrims passports stamped. This gave this trip a slightly different focus and it was quite fun to call into churches, cafes and tourist offices to get the credencial stamped.

I asked the team for some of their stand out moments and in no particular order or category here they are.

Best Day

This was a toss up of the two penultimate days running by the river Lot to and from Conques with quiet roads beautiful scenery and good weather. We also thought Conques was probably the prettiest town helped by the fact we were there before the hordes of tourists arrived.

Most memorable day

The longest muddiest day which took almost 12 hours when we got stuck in the mud and resorted to cleaning our bikes with our water bottles.

Worst day

The heat across the Spanish Plain when we had to negotiate across vast fields along rough tracks to get to our next stop. How we did not get a puncture then and then waited until the last day for our only mechanical mishap was a great relief.

Best Campsite

This depends on what you are looking for. The poshest with swimming pool and facilities was at La Trapera but perhaps the most stunning and atmospheric was in a field in the foothills of the Pyrenees with cowbells ringing.

Best Section

It may be the lap of the Navarra race track as that was a fun way to end the day. The section running over the overhanging rock face or the first of our two abandoned railway tracks that led through numerous tunnels and over viaducts between Bouzols and Espalion.

Worst Day

Obviously the day we couldn’t ride over the Pyrenees as the weather was so poor, but otherwise the two days pounding across the Spanish Plain with little to see in 35 degree heat. There is no desire amongst any of us to walk the Camino.

Happiest Person

Probably Uli, the German lady, we met cycling the other way on her own from the German border to Lisbon, where her husband would pick her up.

Funniest Moment

Clearly Nick provides most of these, although Nigel trying to play cards seriously after a can of 11% lager was certainly up there.

Dom declaring he wanted one of everything in the biscuit factory visit.

Probably though Nick’s efforts at trying to beat Chris’s pilgrimometer by starting a dog count, adding cats and then trying to include sheep and bison ( that he had not even seen ) caused the most hilarity.

Athlete of the trip

Dom “The Machine” Boullé was in an uncontested position although Nick the diesel train was the go to lead peloton rider.

Bird of the trip

Well it would be good to say the Cuckoo. However we did only hear it for four days so cannot really. Storks abounded in Spain nesting on anything tall we counted as many as five nests on the roof on one church.

Nick took to his Merlin bird app to listen to the birdsong and in Spain the most often heard was the Serin and in France the Blackcap.

But the bird we saw most of flying and diving above was the Red Kite much as we get now in the U.K.

Scent and Flowering Shrub of the Tour

Unquestionably the bright yellow broom which accompanied the trip from the first day until the last. We could often smell it before we saw its yellow brightening up the hillsides.

Flower of the Tour

The orchid. A bit like in Ireland where we saw many types. Here we had both variety of orchid and volume, certainly in the last few days in France where there were great stands of purple pyramid orchids on every roadside verge.

Meal of the Tour

This was close but the duck just won over the pork in mustard sauce.

Highjacking Nigel and Monica’s patisserie buying also produced some special local variations on the coffee stops. We will certainly miss having at least two pastries a day !!!

You still can’t beat Monica’s Beetroot and apple salad though!

Team of the Tour

Without question Nigel and Monica who provide support that most can only dream of with a smile and enthusiasm to beat.

Running out of the tour hub that is the camper, we keep trying to settle on a name but Thunderbird Two does seem appropriate as it comes to the rescue carrying various specialist pods.

What’s Next

Well this was to be the last tour but having been one of the most enjoyable and successful, plans are afoot to do it all again on some different roads with different priorities.

Watch this space and thank you for your support.