A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
View back
I can't remember if this is after the very steep section or not, I think not because I can still see the plain below, and the Med will be off to the left there too.
The climb isn't too steep, though it's steep enough, but there is one section that does go on a bit too that is steep. At least I find it so, with luggage and on a recumbent, certainly it's the only part I done this holiday where I've had to stop simply because I'm tired. Actually, is that true? I've a feeling the climb to Sauxillange before getting to La Chaise Dieu was also a bit tiring but I don't think I had to stop, at least not because I was tired.
Las Illas
This is the village almost at the top. I'd not actually bothered going the short distance into the village the last time I passed this way but today I thought I'd explore, and stop for a coffee.
This place apparently does very good food, though it's only about 9.15am so I'm a bit early for that. I was dripping wet though, sweat though, not rain.
The next part is the lovely little pass that is really a footpath, very Gregory Peck escapes the Boche. A rock with a french flag and a rock with a spanish flag to indicate the border.
Col de Manrella: Monument to Lluis Company's
Buggers, the wonderful little pass, only crossable by foot, has now been widened into a dirt road. Apparently, and spuriously, only for emergency vehicles to give help to the inhabitants of Las Illas but it's used by every bugger who wants to do a bit of shopping. Such a pity, there are lots of places cars can go without ruining one of the few places humans and human-power still ruled.
Anyway, nag aside, it had taken me two and a half hours to get here. This particular here is the monument to Lluis Company's, president of Catalunya, who was executed by the fascist Franco.
Pyrenees and Sea, the other side
The descent from the Col de Manrella towards la Vajol is wonderful, fast and curvy with fantastic views to the sea with the Pyrenees now on my left.
Uncharacteristically, no sooner had I got to the top and set foot in Spain, it started to rain. Not heavily, but nonetheless rain. What is the world coming to?