The weather was excellent after a spell of dampness so I thought I'd take an afternoon ride out loop from home to Argeles Gazost to Col du Spandelles to home.
I more or less follow the river along the road to Lourdes and then head south to Argeles Gazost.
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Upon arriving in Argeles I always stop for a drink in the town centre...there's always a stream of motos passing through. Eight Spanish bikers,on BMW's, parked up and heading to Col du Tourmalet ask me for directions.
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Just out of Argeles town I take a right turn which is easy to miss if you didn't know it was there...I then start the climb to Col du Spandelles,first through open scenery and then through forest.
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About half way up there's a junction to Col du Couraduque at 1370m and which is found by riding along a stone gravel road through the forest...so I took a scorch along it to take a few snaps. The sign at the bottom looks daunting. It basically states that when traveling along the road there will be risk and peril to the user!!
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The road is all like this..perfect for the XT...and not risky at all lol
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View from the summit with some nice twisties...
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A return trip and then I head on up to Spandelles still riding along a narrow road through forest...where I arrive at 1378m. I take a few snaps of the views.
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I can see the scientific observatory at Pic du Midi
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I take the last few pics and then head down Spandelles along the twisties and home...
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