Cormet de Roseland - Col D'Iseran

I appear to be developing a habit of cycling from col to col instead of town to town. This is mainly from the need to find accommodation earlier in the day than later - Val D'Isere is one of the biggest ski resorts in France but right now it's like a morgue with a small scattering of hotels open and barely one restaurant (not a great meal last night). The summer season starts in a few days but right now there's simply no-one here. Eerie!

Very tired yesterday so again left post until this morning. Started yesterday at top of Roseland and flew down to Bourg St Maurice (15 mile descent!) then left onto main road and about 20 mile ride up to Val D'Isere. Although never very steep the hill is almost constant and very wearing. Just before Val D'Isere the road passes through a section of tunnels - very cold inside and a couple unlit, unnerving when you've got no lights and the road surface is very rough inside. Once at Val D'Isere managed to find a sandwich at a bar and then contemplated what to do - my legs were already feeling v tired but the bar owner said bad weather was coming so I set off again. It's about another 12 miles to the top of the col and although not that steep it's relentless. The last mile or so was the hardest - air noticeably thinner and a steeper section. Fantastic views opening up all the way and saw plenty of marmots, with a bike you almost get up to them until they spot you and rush off with tail flying. The top was....cold. Bitter wind blowing and with the restaurant closed I just stopped for a couple of photos and don jacket and gloves before an adrenaline rush 12 mile descent back to Val D'Isere. Gentler day today - descend other side of Iseran and maybe end up in Lanslebourg or Valloire. Latter means climb up Col du Telegraphe but that's easy compared with the cols the last 2 days. Total climb to date: 21,400ft