Monday 5 August, we’re on the way to Valloire. Hotel reserved for the evening in Les Verneys. In the afternoon a little reconnaissance by car to Plan Lachat – the climb is less hard if you know the profile.

Tuesday morning, big thunder-storm but as soon as the rain stops the Mistress of Frimousse will start the ascent. A stop is planned at Plan Lachat, another at the Granges du Galibier and a third at the tunnel – it is better for morale to plan stops than to have to stop unexpectedly. Very heavy rain before reaching Plan Lachat, but Frimousse’s Mistress is not the only one to get soaked! Then everything goes as planned. The last kilometer between the tunnel and the pass is particularly hard, but it is the summit.

We sleep in Serre-Chevalier-Chantemerle. The chain of the bike jumps at times and we decide to leave the bike with a repairman, who promises it will be ready in the evening. It’ll be a day’s rest to reconnoitre Isoard Pass by car.

The repairman, amazingly, did not solve the problem but made everything worse. The bike will have to stay on the small chainring using only the three largest cogs… For the passes, it will do. Thursday morning, therefore, departure from Cervières for the top of the pass. And everything will go well.

For Friday I decide the Mistress of Frimousse to climb col du Galibier from col du Lautaret rather than Alpe d’Huez from Bourg-d’Oisans because it takes more than an hour to go to Bourg-d’Oisans, and it’s at 800m altitude and it will be very hot. Finally she climbs on her bike 3km before the summit of Lautaret (alt. 1840) to warm up. A planned stop to drink halfway up and everything will go perfectly.

Very happy, the Mistress of Frimousse. And especially boosted for the next climbs. She gained the confidence that she lacked.

C. akas Christophe, E. aka Elouan, and his two friends A. aka Arthur and M. aka Maxime, have dived into the Mediterranean after 600 km (375 M) 14000 m (46000 ft) D+. Elouan has promised to write a small report to be published here.

For her part, Frimousse’s Mistress climbed Galibier pass North side on her bike on Tuesday, Isoard pass North side on Thursday and Galibier pass South side yesterday, Friday. “What passes do I climb next” she asks?

After climbing Telegraphe, Galibier, Isoard – and spending the night at Brunissard – Col Agnel this morning. At the boarder between France and Italy, with Monte Viso nearby, more than 2700 m (9000 ft) above sea level. Then Col de Vars to spend the night in Jausiers. Before a day’s ride with Allos pass and Cayolle pass.

Grand Cucheron pass, Télépgraphe, Galibier, Isoard, Agniel, Vars, Cayolle, Allos, Restefond-la-Bonnette, Turini, and a few other passes ! That is the cycling programme of C., my son,and E. my grand-son, and two of his friends – the three of them aged 16-17.

They started from their place near Rumilly yesterday morning. They’re cycling to Nice, in 5 days.

C.’s mother, E. ‘s grand-mother is providing assistance with the car. Slightly less than 600K (350M).

D+ ? They’ll tell us when they are in Nice.

(I don’t provide all the links : Wikipedia)

As for P., Frimousse’s Mistress, she has a sturday biking programme for next week. I’ll tell you about it.

This morning, at 7, P. climbed Semnoz on her bike, with her friend St. A lot of bikes all the way up there. It was the first time for her. She was very happy. So was St.

Exercising when it’s very hot isn’t a pleasure. Therefore I go jogging early in the morning, at dawn. I can cope with the heat but I hate horseflies !

P. does a lot of cycling at the moment with her friend St. This morning they went to Col de Tamie.

My son, C., and my grand-sons E, and K. are in Brittany, where temperature is more pleasant. C. has run the equivalent of three half-marathons in three days. On flat routes.

In the magazine ELLE, brought by our postwoman this morning, I’ve come across an article that has startled me. This is the first time I’ve read the imperative « runnez » – from the French verb « runner », I suppose…

Trad. Ready, ladies ! Run ! Running courses in the shade, running for groups, shops to find running gear, our best sports to run at the front.

Yesterday evening, P, Frimousse’s Mistress, went running in the mountain with F her physio. This morning her ankles don’t seem to have suffered. Good news, isn’t it?

The day before yesterday, E, my grandson had a great bike ride with two friends of his. For those who know Les Bauges, they first climb Revard, cycled down to Lescheraines, then Aillon le Jeune, Les Prés pass, descent to Saint-Jean d’Arvey, then La Thuile, Marocaz pass, descent to Cruet, Saint-Pierre d’Albigny, then climled Frêne pass, le Chatelard, Bellecombe-en-Bauges, Leschaux pass, Semnoz and back down. 180 km (112M) and just over 4000 (13000ft) D+. All Bauges passes except Tamié pass – and the unpaved passes, which are for another time.

He’s an IRONMAN ! My neighbour aka late Plume’s Master finished the Nice IRONMAN on Sunday. The cycling and the marathon were reduced to respectively 150K and 30K by order of the Authorities because of the heat. But he is very pleased to be a « finisher ».

That is an incitement for P aka Frimousse’s Mistress to train to enter a triathlon next year. Not the IRONMAN, of course, but a short one to begin with. She is cycling with her friend Steph at the moment.

There was a very violent storm on Monday evening. As I « ran » my usual route yesrterday and this morning, I saw plenty of trees uprooted – apple-trees, pear-trees, beeches, fir-trees… Never seen that before. Power was cut on Monday night and it only returned yesterday late in the afternoon. We were very worried about deep-freezers. Who says there’s global warming ?

If Agnès Buzin were my doctor and told me that my medical condition does not allow me to practise sports safely during the heat wave, I would consider that it is for my own good. But when the Minister of Health, which she is, says that those who practise sports at the moment are irresponsible, it makes me angry. What does she do – and what does the government to which she belongs – to reduce pollution, to limit warming? Words!

Tomorrow the Grand Master of Plume takes part in the Nice Ironman.

My bike, at La Chambotte, above Lac du Bourget, on Sunday morning.

As I can no longer ride a bike my son has it now. Between his mountain bike, his road bike and mine, he has a choice! It selects according to the planned route. My bike has a gear ratio adapted to steep gradients. It is better at Chambotte than hanging in our basement, isn’t it?