We did it!
What a 4 days we had - and for those who needed a full day to ride down to Sandhurst 5 Days. My weather forecasting skills are sublime, the weather was hot when we started and simply "scorchio" by the time we finished. Steve is a cyclist who loves his gadgets but thermometers is not one, all we can guess is that we were well in the 30s each afternoon in France!
Day one went well, envigorated by a team building bar-b-q washed down with one or two "cleansing ales" the night before, the guys were all up early and we were rolling before 8am. The ride down to Farnham was very comfortable with everyone pushing on much quicker than I thought, a testament to the hours most had spent on the road in training for the weekend. The hill out of Farnham was taken at a canter and we were heading down to the South Downs. Out of Liss we had our first real hill challenge and Martin took the honours, a long sweep down to Petersfield and well deserved cold drinks and flap jacks.
We were able ride round Buster Hill but then on over the downs with (in true Pinewood studio style) the sun beating perfectly on our face and heads (one of the guys - less full of hair than others caused much merriment as he removed his crash hat later and had a patch work sun tan which matched the holes in his hat!) - the hill dragged on and although we spread out we all crested the top with feet still in pedals. The glorious countryside was good compensation, especially after the hazardously busy roads at the start. We used the old A3 to climb the final down and glide down into Portsmouth and the Ferry to Caen.
Our hotel was less than a stones throw from the Ferry - an excuse so that after a shower we could retire to the bar / restaurant / and back to the bar! Spirits were running sky high especially as the organiser had spun a yarn that "there's no hills in Northern France" (Ooops!"). In typical provincial French style all the restaurants had closed by the time the ferry had docked and we passed through the gate. Bikes were secured and well earned beds fell on.
Not surprisingly everyone slept like logs but were up early and with oeufs, jambon, pain inside us we were chomping at the bit once more - no saddle soreness though some sporting injuries from days of old were starting to awake and 2 ibuprofen appeared more popular with our cafe's au lait than sucre!!! Loading up our panniers we were off with everyone sporting a cheshire cat grin, the roads were flat and our satnav (Steve the gadget king) found quiet roads with charming villages.
The coastal plain ended at about 12 miles! We crossed a roundabout looked up and all of a sudden we knew it was going to be a long hot day! We passed great farmhouses and continued to ride at a strong pace though dehydration was clearly a concern and refilling water bottles a regular need. At 40 miles we found a transport cafe where 4 course plat de jour was 11 euros and rouge vin du table complimentary. The food was good the wine needed a health warning and we stuck to l'eau!
Our final large climb was at 50 miles and had a bar at the top we all enjoyed a beer and pressed on to Neuborg where our hotel was based. It is a pleasent town and we found a friendly restaurant we could tell we were working hard by the amount of food we were eating. A "court of enquiry" sought to establish how the masses were under the impression "northern France is flat!". "No idea at all" I added - "though I did manage to record a top speed of 44mph coming down on - "call me King of the down hills!'
The second day in France and we were all looking battle hardened - the sun was already hot and we were aware it was another close to 70 mile day. Sun screen was applied and we were off, Mark and Martin again proved to be king of the hills whilst Paul was king of the sprints. We stopped regularly to take on water - at 30 miles we enjoyed a break at Vernon on the bank of the river Seine. Spirits remain high though aches becoming more common as were the 2 ibuprofen. The sun however was simply blazing hot and sapped a huge amount of energy.
At round the 50 mile mark we decided we needed to get some respite from the sun and pulled into a small town where no one but no one was around - it felt like a spagetti western - a bar was found in the small high street and to the amusement of several locals we piled in - It was the cycling equivalent of the Johnny Mills bar scene in Ice cold from Alexandria. The first one did not touch the sides and by the time the 11th had been poured, the owner of the first was mulling over an empty glass! We were only around 30 miles from paris and though shattered having a great time!
The final pull into St Germain en Laye was a tough slog punctures / temperatures continuing in the 30s and 3 days of effort from guys not used to 1 full day let alone 3 in the saddle meant all had to dig deep. Our reward was to pull into the Chateau du Val. This is a beautiful old chateau set in a forest - now a country park - with lovely rooms - we could grab a shower and relax. The combination of the cycling and the heat had caused a muscular reaction so that climbing the stairs was a real challenge in itself - we all agreed that getting to Paris, carrying our own kit and in these temperatures was no mean feat.That night we went into St Germain and had a great meal in the square. We were staying in a beautiful chateau tonight and Paris was only 15 miles to away!
In the morning we enjoyed breakfast and received a great piece of news which put us all in even higher spirits. The Chateau du Val is a charitable property - there are some permanent residents who live there who have received the Legion of Honour award. On learning that out cycle to Paris was in aid of a charitable cause the chateau's director - without any prompting advised that our stay at the du Val would be free! The guys were all delighted and confirmed that we would donate our accommodation money to the CBTRC. So - to all readers, if you are wanting to visit Paris and are happy to be based in delightful chateau in a country park on the out skirts of the city - do stay at the Chateau du Val - its not 5 star or 4 star - but it is really really special and well worth a visit!!!!
So we completed our final photo shoot - the photos are being uploaded over the next couple of days and will appear here - and we were on our way into Paris - it was another scorcher and we were all happy to take it slow - both from tiredness and to savour the achievement. We rose over one rise and saw below Paris and the Eiffle Tower. A great sight which I am sure we will all remember for many years to come. With extra spring in the pedal we passed through avenues down to the Arc with much hand shaking and laughter. Next to the Eiffle Tower which felt even more special then along the Seine to Notre Dam and finally to the Gare du Nord and the train home.
It had been a great experience for all of us - made a lot tougher by the panniers and the sun but it made the achievement all the more special - we had put it on the line! Along the way we had also seen great generosity too, the Chateau du Val and also people we met on the boat and donated, a couple whom we borrowed a map to photocopy also put in a tenna and even the London cabbie who finally dropped Steve at Euston Station donated the fair.
Thanks to all who have donated - hopefully all of us together will really make a difference. As Katie May's mum said, over 400 children each year die from brain tumours and to us that is 400 too many.
Mant thanks again for all your support
Russ; Joey; John; Tony P; Tony J; Paul; Stevie; Mike; Matt; Martin and Mark.
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