Day 22 Joined the 32nd Mountains and Valleys Tour (Embiellage d'or Bigourdan) held by local car club.
Notes kindly donated by Noeline,
We have all been running at full throttle on this French car rally, no
time to stop, weather has not been so good today and we have all had to have the
hoods up!
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| Rain ,rain and more rain - hoods up on the 12/50's |
The French do not forgo their food on a car rally, breakfast was a buffet with so many different types of meat, chicken, potato salad,
quails eggs, baguettes and all accompanied by red wine. To finish we had platters
of beautiful little tartlets including cream puffs and many other things we couldn’t
manage to try as we were so full.
Lunch was in a village hall and catered for by a local restaurant.
Tables were set very formally, matching china, wine glasses for each wine, serviettes
all pleated – just like an Australian car rally - perhaps not?. Food was buffet style again
and we all tucked in to a delightful array of little dishes. A mini seafood
cocktail, camembert jamon baguettes, mini gazpacho, seafood tureen plus more!
We then discovered this was only the first course!! The main course consisted of a
duck dish, curried chicken with a Bombay rice and salmon en papillae. Of
course all this was accompanied by the correct wines. Then a selection of cheeses
followed by yet another selection of beautiful tarts and fresh food salad. (But no cream!!)
The afternoon weather cleared and was so much better than the morning. We had
climbed to the highest peak near us in the Pyraneese and the view was
breathtaking. Unfortunately one had to be quick to catch as the mist kept
rolling in.
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| Rally gathering at Col d'Aspin as the mist started to clear |
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| Our small group takes in the spectacular views of Col d'Aspin before the mist rolls in again |
We drove
the road down from col d'Aspin and it was spectacular as the mist had again lifted by then.
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| The long road down! |
We stayed at a ski chalet overnight in Saint Neree. Accommodation was typical ski lodge
style (basic but very warm) - we did have to make up our own beds with linen supplied. But once again the food and wine was spectacular as only the French know how. Parking at the chalets was a little precarious as the rain had made the grass quite soggy!
First course was a duck gizzard salade (very nice but very rich), followed once again by roast duck and great vegetables, potatoes with a lot of garlic and green beans. Once again a selection of cheeses and then the best bomb Alaska we have tasted, and not being a fan this means it was very good. Wine flowed all evening and then the champagne flowed at about 10:45pm.
The fun part of the night was in full swing by then and everyone received a presentation, a fun gift. Of all things for Noeline and Alan to receive, was two plastic champagne flutes, will come in very handy for the rest of the trip. Maritta and Dale received a supply of fisherman's friend - a reflection of Dale's braces and wooly beard we think!. Everyone also received two bottles of wine to take away. It was quite a late night and we all slept very well.
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| MG and Mike's 12/50 parked at Chalets Saint Neree |
First course was a duck gizzard salade (very nice but very rich), followed once again by roast duck and great vegetables, potatoes with a lot of garlic and green beans. Once again a selection of cheeses and then the best bomb Alaska we have tasted, and not being a fan this means it was very good. Wine flowed all evening and then the champagne flowed at about 10:45pm.
The fun part of the night was in full swing by then and everyone received a presentation, a fun gift. Of all things for Noeline and Alan to receive, was two plastic champagne flutes, will come in very handy for the rest of the trip. Maritta and Dale received a supply of fisherman's friend - a reflection of Dale's braces and wooly beard we think!. Everyone also received two bottles of wine to take away. It was quite a late night and we all slept very well.
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