France Spain (Pyrenees)

Le Fox/El Zorro Tour 2025

21 May – 22 May 2025

The 21st May was a travel and admin day as well as the day Russ handed the tour leader batton over to Hydro. We didn’t want a repeat of walking to station with our accoutrement, so we ordered a taxi and was informed there was a taxi strike over Uber, so we do the next best thing he ordered an Uber.

Trained it from Beaune to Aix Les Bains which markets itself as the Rivière of the Alps. We think this was maybe over reach, it is a small spa town on a large lake. We contemplated having a spa until Boxy said he had brought his slugo’s , so we settled on a beer instead. Hydro was vetting the beers on tap and enquired about the Eau, to which the response was “I can give you a pint of water if you wish”.

Picked out our mighty steeds at the French ride and got a briefing on the bikes. They tried to con Boxy to take a bike with a damaged screen, which is like telling the royalty to suck a lemon. It was exchanged immediately

After the pickup, down to dinner on the lake. Our waiter suggested that Hydro was angry for wine, to which he had unanimous agreement.

Russ has created another breach. That of “blending”, the topping up of a wine in the glass with a different wine. In this case added a Shiraz to a Chablis. Luckily enough it was to Boxy who enjoys his Rose. Russ was counselled and told this was as bad as spillage.

We called it quits at 10, but were up early the next morning and had to fight for the breakfast bar with the team from the French railway logistics group who were there for team building exercise. Suffice to say we beat them to the croissants.

It was the usual Fox exit on the first day. We left at 8.10 and at 8.11 there was a pannier cluster f**k. These BMWs have very big panniers

This was a long ride (400kms) through the Massive Central – the Chartreuse Valley through the Royan and then into the Arcomie valley. The weather conditions were a little extreme even for the seasoned foxes. Temps dropped to 6 degrees with a rain drizzle into a brilliant afternoon of sun. We went through so many Unesco listed towns which Boxy refers to as “The Ruins”, that we lost count, but couldn’t pronounce anyway. The variant weather was compensated by the amazing roads and scenery.

We arrived at our accomodation at Garrabit. This is where Eiffel designed the viaduct which transverses the valley. It’s amazing how he didn’t vary much in his architecture, it looks like the Eiffel Tower in its side.

Our host Elody at was excellent, the food was amazing and the wine recommendations great.