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:: Tuesday 26 September 2006 ::
WOGFROG06 DAY 11 PART 3 ALBI TO CLERMONT-FERRAND VIA MILLAU
The holy Millau Viaduct complete with celestial sudden ray of sunshine.
Designed by genuis architect Norman Foster of Engerland, made entirely with private money, brought in early and under budget and paid for by affordable tolls. It is a shiny capitalistic success.
And it is just magically high and slender and crosses the Tarn.
Of course, down Tarn-side you can drive right under it.
And, being such an icon, there is a viewing joint with an information spot where I got a jigsaw puzzle, cos I used to love doing those as a kid - old maps a real preference - and I wonder if you become dumberer with age so that they take longer? Hope so.
Then it was orf south to get on the thing by getting on to the big autoroute, of which it now forms a part, so the Mazda and I could power north.
Getting on it.
Overtook the slowpoke and kept on hooning.
And clicking, natch.
Me and Mazda had it all to ourselves. Song of choice on iPod? Air's "Femme d'Argent". French. Modern. Fitting.
It is sure windy up there, and those barriers at the side prevent the driver from seeing the humongous drop that would happen if you just let yourself and your car go and stopped concentrating. Sometimes, it is higher than the clouds. Imagine that. Driving above clouds.
It is such a beautiful design that you feel the same sort of joy on it and you feel inside a fabulous cathedral.
It's a Church in the Sky, I reckon.
Every driver, every petrolhead, should make a pilgrimage.
:: WB 11:09 pm [link+] ::
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