Hanging in Bourg-d’Oisans (Home of famous TDF climb L’Alpe d’Huez)

Awesomeness – Climbing in Sain Christophe-en-Oisans (Peyssa Summit) 2042mtrs

Days 84-87 – Hanging in Bourg-d’Oisans

(Home of famous TDF climb L’Alpe d’Huez)

The last few days were definitely the best views, best talks, best laughs and some of the best memories I’ll ever have I think. Ferry and I went to a couple tourist offices in the area and got some great advice for some good walks (well the first place wasn’t helpful at all and said there’s too much snow to walk) – almost felt too scared to ask the tourist office police for a simple walking map hehehe. The next one was way more than helpful and pointed out some great walks. Two of them were absolutely stunning. The views to me were something that I thought you’d have to be a mountaineer to see. But the walking trails all over were well signed and breathtaking. No rubbish along the trails, no noises from surrounding areas and just Mother Nature at her best – I wanted to put a few separate pictures on their own as they are so nice because the slideshow only have a certain size.

We spent the last few days doing a few hikes (some were breathtaking in both senses of the word), drinking way too many coffees, making up names for everything/one, talking crap, hanging out, cycled the gruelling Alp d’Huez and driving around to a few other places. Cycling the Alpe d’Huez was an amazing experience. All the writing on the roads, the switchbacks, feeling the history as you climb it, the views were amazing and my heart was pumping out of my chest. Thanks Ferry for filming and taking photos as that will be really nice to look back on later. Descending was very cold (I made sure to layer up big time) but it was so much fun. It did start to snow but that wasn’t going to stop me that’s for sure.

Bourg d’Oisans is a great little town that I know would really be hustle bustle in the peak periods but just before winter starts was a great time to go. Still plenty of sun and no below freezing temperatures. Apart from shops opening and closing sporadically, it was really quiet and had everything you need regarding amenities and attractions for two awesome, fit, talented and energetic men like us.

The hotel Des Alpes we stayed at **insert plug** – http://hoteldesalpesoisans.com/ was right in the middle of the town and a fair price too, Wi-Fi, clean, quiet and from what my cous says, it’s slowly improving. The continental breakfast was lacklustre with brown bananas and two week old cake but the boulangeries around the way made up for that. I made sure to visit those little beauties before every walk and stock up for the peaks where we can eat the fresh bread and enjoy the view. This hotel has been here since Napoleon days – hard to believe really.

It was a sad day today where we drove to Chambery (France still) so I can stay a night here before I take off to Milan by train and Ferry has a 10 hour drive back home to NL and back to work Monday. Thor has been packed up and taken back to Holland where I can organise for his return after I come back from South America. It was another chapter closed today and sad to see my cousin leave as we had such a fun time. I think we worked out who is the strongest, most awesome, funniest, fittest person though and I clearly was the winner there. If Ferry is this awesome **puts hands about 1 metre off ground** then we established that I am here **touches roof** hahahaha this is my blog and I can say that – plus he’s gone shhhhh.

After we had out last coffee for a while (i’ll be back don’t worry about that) we sorted out a hotel and I went on my way and located an outdoor shop and purchased a few things I needed previously for South America but didn’t want to carry around on Thor. I still need a little more time and have that in Milan (Italy) tomorrow (5 hours train ride from here) before I set off to Cuzco (Sth America)

I am staying at the same hotel I began my journey in. I spoke to the owners as I set off on the first day and I could tell the look on their face when I told them I’d see them in three months it was kind of a ‘yeah right sure you will’ look. The look and tone of voice said to me

‘You’ll be ringing your mum in the first two weeks asking her to organise your flight change and then you’ll check in to a 5 star hotel in Paris and stay there the whole trip and just surf facebook and watch re runs of Seinfeld and The Wire’

The last three things are true hehehe but I MADE IT – I BLOODY MADE IT!!!!

France – Thank you for everything – As Ferry said – God’s country and he’s damn right.