This morning at 4am, we three woke (yes apparently still suffering a little jet lag early waking syndrome) to the sound of substantial precipitation, whilst sublimely sleep inducing, the constant rain posed the bigger question... Would it still be raining come planned ride time?
The answer : Yes.
Despite valid procrastination and several re votes, it was agreed reluctantly that today should be a driving tour / sights seeing day.. Well at least that was the plan. However despite the forecast for heavier showers in the afternoon, the rain did seem to abate around lunchtime, so we played our cards and had a crack at Climb #2 Col d'Izoard. We were hoping for a 3ish hour dry window to complete a slightly longer, equally steep climb as yesterday.. and somehow, we got it. Dampened by only the occasional sprinkle, today's climb superseded all of yesterday's vistas, and despite the grey clouds and colder weather (8oC at the summit) it was truly spectacular, passing through the quaintest of mountain villages dating back 100's of years at a 'speed' where we could appreciate the surroundings. Around the last 5kms the climb began a series of twenty or so switch backs (hairpin turns to help zig zag the climb and 'decrease' the severity of the steepness) as we navigated these, you rise above the tree line and to a truly bizare moon like landscape. See pics. At the summit, Italy is down one side and France the other, real elevations. We got back to the chalet just as the heaviest of preceding raindrops began to fall. It's rained since then for the rest of the evening. Pizza and the open fire, the order of the night. As I write this entry at 8.39pm Phil has been in bed and asleep since 8, he held out til then. Happy simply not to be the first Tony followed not long after.. a big day.

Collective days thoughts : dodged the weather bullet, spectacular views, the first ride that felt just like the grand tours, induction to switchbacks. Every corner I thought surely the view can't get better.. then it did.. of course.