AUTUMN IN THE PYRENEES: Duilhac to Collioure

Yesterday, after we arrived at the hotel, a bus took most of us high up in the mountains so we could visit a cultural landmark, Duilhac-Sous-Peyrepertuse.  A few of our stronger and crazier members actually rode their bikes up there.  From the bus I could tell there is no way I could make that climb on the bike.  The Castle of Peyrepertuse has been occupied since roman times from the start of the first century BC.  Of course no one knows how they built this castle in the sky or, more importantly, why?  I mean it is very difficult to get groceries up there.  Amazon hadn't invented drone delivery back then.

Road from the hotel.

This morning was a bright morning and we were anxious to get started.  This is a fairly long day (81 km) to the coast.  We're told there is a fairly steep Col early on but it's mostly a down-hill day.  And sure enough km 2 to 6 was fairly steep, rising to over 400 meters.  I figure we'll use that all the way downhill to the coast but then learn that we descend half of that distance in the next 4 km. Brenda reaches 39 mph; more cautious, I only reach 36.  In addition the the downhill, we have a strong tailwind most of the day and thus thunk we're really strong. We travel 65 of the 81 km before lunch.
We had lunch at the recommended Cafe des Artistes in Laroque des Alberes. Our waiter was British; they had Guinness on tap and the memorabilia was all Irish and English football.

Since we were moving fast, I wasn't inclined to stop and take pictures.  The one I did take (below) was when we "Visited the Green Room".  We've never heard this term before and don't know who brought it to the group but it means "We're going to pee on the side of the road."

We saw many vineyards today.

And, finally, our group photo.