Yesterday we had thunderstorms through tea time and into the evening so we ate on the campsite and lights went out about 8.30pm. Sleeping in a tent in the rain can be very relaxing as long as the wet stays outside and it did. So this morning we cleared the slugs away from shoes and bike hats, fetched the towels back from a neighbouring caravan where they had blown in the storm and set off upwards.

18 miles upwards and the day I had been dreading because of the tunnels. I had lights, a hi-visibility vest and some gorgeous flashing armbands which Andy bought me for the occasion. I felt like a Christmas tree on a bicycle but I did twinkle really well and not one incident, if you don’t count the screaming.

About 8 tunnels in all including the avalanche tunnels which are smaller and I got through them all.

The mountain village of La Grave is beautiful even in the rain and we got here at lunchtime and wolfed down what the local bar called dish of the day but we called emergency supplies as I was pretty tired, cold and wet by the time we got here. So was Andy too it turned out. No camping tonight, hot bath already and now drying all the kit in a hotel room and watching a recap of the tour so far on TV. Incredible views out of all windows of snowy mountains high and close above us and the clouds just floating by. We feel elated to have got up here. No good photos today as it was just too wet.

Track of the day: one of two I picked before we started the trip, the other one much later on but this seemed apt for heading through all those tunnels:
I will follow you into the dark by Death Cab for Cutie.
It is apt though may be considered morbid, but does get across how scary the tunnels were for me! And sorry Daniel to have another of your bands on my playlists, but it is a lovely song.