On March the 16th 2002, I set off from Oloron to cycle to Spain. Fortunately it was sunny day and the first part of the journey was fairly flat and through rolling green countryside.

Gradually the road rose with tantalising glimpses of the snow-capped mountains. The road was pretty quiet and the vast majority of French drivers give a LOT more room when they overtake compared to other drivers I have experienced.

Those tantalising glimpses became more and more common until there was about two metres of snow on either side of the road. At the Col Du Somport there were people cross-country skiing but I continued to the very top – 1700 metres above sea level.

Here I am at the Col du Somport. Thanks to the Spanish border guard that took the picture though he probably won’t get much work as a wedding photographer…