******   BIG THANKYOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED - We hit the target with your help  ******

 

STOP PRESS 11.30am 5 June:

>>>Le Team has arrived in St Tropez!<<<

Thanks for visiting Le Slow Way Down fundraising page.

On 30th May 2009 a group of eight riders plus a support vehicle will set out from the village of Little Somerford in Wiltshire, UK to attempt to ride a set of cheap 125cc motorbikes approx 1,100 miles all the way to St Tropez in the south of France for CLIC Sargent Cancer charity.  The bikes are begged, borrowed or purchased for no more than GBP350.  It will be a test of epic endurance for both Le Team and their elderly, fragile bikes.

"Le Team" range from complete novice riders to veterans, some of whom haven't ridden motorbikes for over 25 years, coming together to raise money for the care of kids with cancer.  Everyone is covering their own costs and will spend around 5 hours in the saddle per day to cover about 180 miles each day over the rural by-roads of France, (we hope) averaging 40 miles per hour.

"La Route" After a gentle 85 miles from Wiltshire we will sail from Poole to Cherbourg, proceed through Brittany, pick up speed as we by-pass Le Mans before perhaps taking a glass or two of "Vin de Pays" as we pass through the Loire and Bordeaux regions.  The bikes will then face a sterner challenge as we tackle the gorges and mountains of Le Midi and the edge of the Alps before dropping down towards the softer climes and sun-kissed beaches of St Tropez.  We hope to complete the trip in just six days with most of the bikes still on the road rather than broken down beyond repair in the trailer!

There is "Le Challenge" and we hope we can count on your support to raise money for CLIC Sargent the UK's leading children cancer charity, supporting children, young people and their families through cancer every step of the way.

Many thanks to Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman for allowing us to plagiarise their documentary name  "The Long Way Down",  AR Motorcycles and George White Motorcycles for helping get "Le Kit" together.

Finally we can't forget Phoenix Motorcycle Training who got us on the road safely, and everyone else who has contributed time, discounts and expertise to make this fundraising effort possible.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure.  It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor us: CLIC Sargent gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

We know times are tough but please sponsor us now!  No donation too small, and the Taxman will help too if you use GiftAid.

Many thanks from "Le Team"

Rob Beverley, Clive Bishop, Peter Fitzcharles, Martin Langley, Struan McDonald, David Palmer-Jeffery, John Parfitt, Dickie Ponting, Wayne Smith, Paul Tilley

PS Why don't you check out http://leslowwaydown.com/ and for pics go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/37854597@N08/

UPDATE Blog - pics "en route" on Flickr site as received

30 May - "LE TEAM" left Little Somerford for France at 9am, they are on their way!!  All arrived in Poole safely and had a smooth crossing, continued for around 40 miles to their first overnight stop.  No breakdowns reported.

31 May - First full day on the road, some "soreness" reported, but all still mobile.  Made it to the overnight stop safely by around 4.30pm. No breakdowns reported.

1 June - Left Angers, travelled up the Loire to meet Pete in Saumur, then on to Bellac, just north of Limoges, approx 140 miles.   This was the short day to allow Peter time to catch up.  John caught a huge carp at the overnight stop.  Had the first breakdown, Paul's bike needed some tlc from Wayne to fix the starter motor.  Swifty (RB) was red leader for two days and managed to take the team through a car park, over a pavement, through a one way (the wrong way) and when asked to find a picnic stop in the beautiful Loire vally, pulled into a gravel layby under a massive pylon, buzzing like a swarm of bees, next to 3 huge recycling bins!  As per the pic on Flickr, lunch was subsequently eaten in the middle of nowhere!

2 June - Left Bellac to head into the hills and even more wonderful scenery.  Unfortunately the there has been a casualty, Rob's bike slipped on gravel and he broke his arm and is now in hospital and having an op to fix it on Wed morning. The rest are going well.

3 June - The higlight of today (for those who have passed their full test) was the crossing of the highest road bridge in the world (at 300m) which spans the River Tarn in the Massif Central at Millau.  The others went down the Tarn gorge and went swimming.  The soreness is starting to kick in and PJ and Dickie are now using pressure cushions.  Clive is reputedly in agony but is still holding out.  Tilleyman's bike is burning oil and is in competition with the red arrows for tail display!  Swifty is still in hospital, he has had an op to mend both bones with plates & pins and will be in hospital until Friday

4 June - Covered 120 miles this morning and another 130 miles this afternoon  A long day from 8.30am to 9.30pm, so all hot, tired and emotional (according to Martin!).  Difficult terrain, quite windy and very hot!  Passed through Avignon and the wine country, then stopped for lunch in the tiny hillside village of Bonnieux.  There has been a good reaction along the route, the bikers are waving the team on, other people stop in the street to watch.  Some clap, some laugh and some just stare in disbelief.   Managed some off-roading on some goat tracks today, much to John & Wayne's disgust as they had to follow.  Lol.  The bikes are starting to rattle, squeak and burn oil, however not as much as the support truck.  This afternoon there was a problem, the turbo on the truck blew up and will take some while to fix.  Due to the mishaps there was a change of plan for accomodation and the overnight became Le Muy, which means they are less than 50 miles from St Tropez.  Given the stresses of the day, all had a beer or three for medicinal purposes, the photo of Tilleyman being the evidence!  Rob has a few complications with his arm so will not be released from hospital on Friday, but we are still hopeful for Saturday,

5 June - Le Team has arrived in St Tropez!  Congratulations to all and many thanks for all the help, sponsorship and donations made so far..... the site will remain open for further donations over the summer!

6 June - Le Team were reunited at Bristol airport and all headed home to treat the aches and sores, but nevertheless jubilant!  The bikes and truck ,meanwhile, continue their holiday in France and wait to be reunited with their owners at some point in the future.  Special thanks to PJ who made it all happen, Fitz for a fantastic route through uncharted territory and the support crew for following resolutely to pick up the pieces!

HPJ designed a wooden spoon for Le Plonker of The Day
There was a forfeit if the spoon could not be produced within 10 seconds.

Day 1 - Richard Ponting -  he said he had lost his passport and spent 30mins looking through his pockets.

Day 2 - Richard Ponting - for riding motor Cross style up the verge and trimming a hedge with his handlebar but all safe and sound. 

Day 3 - Clive Bishop - His bike is using so much fuel he is stopping every 50 miles.  A Range Rover does more to the gallon!

Day 4 - Rob Beverley - for his nose dive into the ditch and for missing the rest of the trip!  Martin held the spoon on Rob's behalf, even while swimming in the river and bought Rob's round on forfeit!

Day 5 - Wayne Smith - for upsetting an artic driver (don't argue with a vehicle bigger than yours)!  The shouts and hand signals he received were easily translated and don't differ much from those at home!

Day 6 - PJ - for using his foot to test the traction, grease and wetness of newly laid tarmac whilst going through roadworks, much to the amusement of Le Team!  That means he buys his forfeit round in St Tropez at £6 per pint.....so he is limiting them to halves!

Day 7 - The Fitz - for his myopia!  Called everyone to a halt to wait for PJ (who had waited for Clive to fill-up...yet again!) but had failed to notice PJ next to him.

The rumour is that Clive was more deserving one of the days, but instead was a close "Runner-up" for his field exploration and screaming like a girl on his encounter with a snake (dead at that!). 

PS from PJ

Special thanks to:

Clive for his continued sense of good humour through the week and exceptional stories which had the whole team in hysterics (saluting also his pal Darren who made the stories possible!).  Clive's delivery and timing were spot on!

Tilleyman, again, was quick witted and amused the team with jokes, limericks, rugby songs and impressions of the big brother announcer to introduce each day!

Peter for his dry sense of humour and his new "catch phrase".

Struan for getting Doris through everything and his exemplary riding skill.

Martin for his party games and cigar smoking to keep the mozzies away!

Dickie for his reluctance to use the cushion to ease the pain, until ordered to do so!

Wayne for taking his role of support properly, checking bikes, keeping us hydrated, keeping visors cleaned...and basically, keeping the show on the road!

John for his sense of humour in the face of adversity especially when left, abandoned following the truck break down.

Rob Swifty Sheene Beverley for scaring us all half to death, his bravery and understatement of pain - "oh it's a bit sore" when we would have been screaming in agony!  He was like a WW2 fighter pilot - stiff upper lip, unflustered and calm, just needs a black lab with a name like a feature on the African continent!

Thanks from all the team go to Geoff Kempton who kindly donated the villa in St Maxime for the last couple of nights of our trip, so we could relax and rest our weary bones.

Finally special thanks to the WAGs who supported us all, agreed to allow us to do the trip and made the homecoming special!

.....and of course, for all the donations!

Now......for my next idea.....!