Thank you for taking the time to visit my charity page. This year, together with 2 like minded colleagues -yes there really are people like me around! –we have set ourselves the challenge of cycling unsupported from London to Rome. We hope that as part of this fun packed adventure we can persuade as many of our friends as possible to help with raising money for charity.
I intend to try and keep everyone updated with progress and the pain I am going through by regularly updating this page so please watch this space and wish me luck. The plan at present is as follows:
1st June
Great start to the day as our fabulous hosts at the Chateau cooked bacon and eggs as well as serving a trad French breakfast in their magnificent dining hall.
Set off in the direction of Neufchateau with Craig (why do I trust him?) telling us the wind would blow us South all day - rubbish! If I had stopped peddling I would be in Calais this evening.
Anyway we pushed on - picnic lunch in front of Jean of Arc (she's obviously made an impression round here) and past Epinal where Craig assured us that contrary to local knowledge and the very clear signposts we were only 7 miles from our destination. After 20 miles we arrived at Riremont and Craig still insists it was 7!
Last part of today we cycled alongside the Moselle river which is beautiful. Landscape has changed and tomorrow we have some climbing over to Mulhouse and into Switzerland.
91 miles today. 25,000 calories used so far and 485 miles of cycling done.
PS. Lance Armstrong thinks he's cool with his Oakley sunglasses but Greg cycling while drying his Y fronts threaded through his panier straps beats Lance any day of the week.
31st May
Thought you might like a quick update. Charlie is much better. He did the creams himself and we then found a very helpful man and bike shop who fitted his bike with a big girlie padded soft saddle. The cycling today has been much quieter with hardly any squeals from Charlie.
Somehow my colleagues have managed to book us into a chateau for the night. Last night the 3 of us were in a room laughingly called a family room which just fit 3 beds suitable for midgets and located next to a roundabout busier than the Champs Elysses and tonight we are basking in luxury. 3 huge rooms - a bathroom to die for etc - got to go as monsieur is serving aperetifs before we take our seats in the banqueting hall. We are somewhere near to Neufchateau south of Dizier but not sure exactly where as Craig was navigating.
30th May
Well- today had similarities with yesterday. The plan was to take it easy after 2 hard days so 80 miles on the flat would do nicely.
We set off ok at 8.30 and went from St Quentin through some very pretty villages. Stopped in Laon which is a beautiful cathedral town and stocked up for lunch. Things started to go downhill from there. By 1.30 we had done 50 miles with 30 to go. We had lunch by a river in the sun and set off for the home run at 2.15. By 4.30 we arrived in Reins and had a beer in fringe of the cathedral. Set off and met a very nice man who told us hoe to get to Chalons by following the canal tow path for 25 miles.
It was pure torture. After 3 miles the path became a rutted track. The closest I can get to describing the experience is to imagine someone battering your backside with a lump hammer for 3 hours when you are exhausted and thirsty.
We arrived at our hotel at 8.15pm. Tomorrow is supposed to be a big day's cycling but we are starting late as Charlie's bum is so sore we are going to a bike shop for a gel cover for his saddle. I refuse to do anything else by way of treatment!
Hopefully we will have a better day after sorting Charlie.
Weather is great and all - well apart from numb bum Charlie - are in good spirits and still heading South.
29th May
Hi everyone - just thought I would give you a quick update on progress.
We managed to miss the train to London as I overslept. Craig our designated navigator then took us on a tour of Folkestone Harbour - twice ! We missed the ferry.
Yesterday we were due travel 90 miles. At 6.00pm we were in the,wrong place and had to cycle another 30,miles to our destination - my backside is sooo tender.
After all the above we are in good spirits. We are setting off today from St Quentin south of Cambrai aiming for Reins for lunch but who knows where we will end up!
Saturday 28 80 miles London to Folkestone where we will take the
May Eurotunnel to Calais
Sun 29 May 111 miles to St Quentin
Mon 30 May 111 miles to Vitry Le Francois
Tue 31 May 122 miles to Epinal
Wed 1 June 107 miles to Mulhouse
Thu 2 June (this is seriously hilly country!)- 65 miles to Lucerne
Fri 3 June 93 miles to Como
Sat 4 June 110 miles to Parma
Sun 5 June 112 miles to Prato
Mon 6 June 80 miles to Montepulciano
Tue 7 June 116 miles to Rome
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