Chapter 7: after the storm…comes the calm? (Intermission Pyrenees - Sète)
South France, 14:30. 8th of October 1995. 4444km to Athens.
The google maps route can be seen here.
“Looks like the Evo is not dissappearing, no matter how hard I try…and I’m gonna run out of fuel soon” - Thought the driver of the Bonham, sweeping the sweat on his forehead with his arm. He took a look at the rear view mirror, and he saw not only the Evo, but the Chupacabra getting closer and closer as well.
Musical suggestion by @Zabhawkin!
(Note that the road is not being rebuilt lore-wise)
With the turns of the mountain pass getting faster and less twisty, the cars were regaining speed. However, the road was still narrow, and nowhere near as straight as the highways the group had encountered before. Some of the drivers opted to grip the turns; others drifted or powerslid them. The group rapidly reached Fontpedrouse, its old, full of stories and aged buildings covering both flanks. Quickly accelerating through the upper street, the Friala was having a drag race against the T-25, its guardian dog barking at the classic sedan. Fearing that he’d crash trying to maneuver inside the narrow street, Otis decided to let the Friala pass him, but not letting the purple car outrun them just yet.
A sucesion of two quick turns. Tyres squealing. Civilians swaying out of the road as fast as they could. The group swarmed through the town like a lightning. The road was finally getting wider, allowing the racers to once again start applying more throttle. Some of the racers took quick peaks at the landscapes present at both sides of the roads; pine trees, mountains, and a ravine. The sun was shining again, slowly melting the snow that was before covering the road. It only covered a part now, and the racers could regain the grip lost during the entrance to the mountain pass.
The Bohrs kept drafting behind the Kanata, until the black coupé found an opening; not wasting the opportunity, they got on the inside of the turn, overtaking the gray sports car. As soon as they reached the Pont Séjourné acueduct, the end of the mountains became visible. They managed to get through the border, with the rest of France finally visible!
As they lost altitude, the pass became narrower again. With a quick drift, the NRZ-986 overtook the Interval on the inside, which was not expecting this overtake to take place.
The racers soon reached Ria, which the swarmed once again as quick as they could, trying not to get locked up by a possible police ambush. No police ambush took place, though, and the racers could exit just as they had entered the town. They were finally out of the mountains.
Following the N-116 through the plains, the group soon reached the highway. The Chevallier and the Bushranger had had a battle for a long time at that point, with the Chevallier ultimately leaving an opening the Bushranger used to draft and overtake. However, they remained close together, the Chevallier still threatening to overtake any second.
Joining the A-9, the racers finally floored it. The Guardsman drafted behind the Barracuda, overtaking it as soon as it was up to speed, keeping the place for the time being. The roads were getting closer and closer to the coast, the sun shining strong and confident. Following the stablished route, the racers took a detour from the highway into the Marseillan Plage. As they reached Sète, the next city, they slowed down…they wanted to keep a low profile this time.
To be continued.
Times spreadsheet:
