We did it !!

At 12.05 on 20th September 2006 we took a dip in the sea at Cebere on the Mediteranian cost. This was exactly 99 hours after setting from the Hendaye on the Altalntic cost with 456 miles, 18 cols, 11,453 m climbed and 41 hours cycling in the middle.

A very big thanks to Paul and Lars for supporting us and proving us with substantial amounts of fuel (26,000 calories for me!) and drugs (all legal).

Thanks to everybody who has helped us with support and sponorship  - we had an amazing experience and could not have done it without you. In particular, a big thanks to Chris Merriman's texts, Paul and Alison for the use of Minnie, and a huge thanks to our wifes for letting us go on this emotional adventure whilst looking after our children.

Thanks again,

The Raiders  -  Chalky, Basher, Timmy and Matt. (Nick, Steve, Martin and Mat)

The RAID

On September 16th,  Steve Barton , Nick Shirley, Matthew Wheeler and myself (Martin Smith) will set out to cycle across the Pyrenees from Hendaye on the Atlantic coast to Cerbere on the Mediterranean coast in less than 100 hours, taking in some of the Pyrenees most famous climbs on route. Its 717km in total, so I'm not sure how far we will get, but  I do know we will give it a good try !

Rachel

Many of you know about my amazing niece Rachel and her battle with cancer. Rachel was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in February 2005.  In the last year Rachel has undergone extensive chemotherapy which has obviously been very unpleasant for her but she has been extremely brave throughout and shown incredible resilience, insisting on attending school and living as normal a life as possible. Rachel is now firmly in remission and keeping up her plucky resolve through the next twelve months of maintenance chemotherapy.