Planning Paused!

So we are at that stage where planning has got about as far as it goes. It's now a case of wait and see what happens with Covid and the new variants that pop up every few weeks.

Currently travel and return to the UK results in a whole raft of testing and possibly being stuck in a quarantine hotel for two weeks on return.

So who actually knows that will happen in September 2022?  

Outward Route - Pass or Tunnel?

As mentioned before Neill's outward route goes through the Somport Tunnel.  The tunnel is just short of 9kms long.

If we have enough time I'd like to go over the Somport Pass instead and get that chalked off! I prefer the passes to tunnels every time!

It might be quicker by tunnel but I don't think anyone would want to miss the mountain view to go through a dark and dank tunnel.

Using to two points on either side of the border Google Maps I calculated it would be 6.7kms further to go over the Col rather than the tunnel, and about 12 minutes added to the day's riding. 

To me that sounds like the Col isn't that much of a problem and we can tick off a 1632 metre pass along the way!  Plenty of photo ops as well.

The two maps below are using MyRouteApp and the Michelin Map overlay.

Tunnel route left, Pass route right.

I do like to have a photo of the bike,  and even me in them, by the sign that says the altitude of the pass. 

For example:

From 2014!

Outward Journey - Hotels Changed

I have cancelled the Première Classe hotel in Joué de Tours and the Campanile in Bayonne in favour of Neill's choice of a pair of Kyriad Hotels.

His Kyriads are a Chambray-les-Tours and Orthez.