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Ride Update:
Day 4: Morning in Paris with Marine (thanks to her for the pictures) in the glorious sun before catching the Eurostar back to London and finding our way back to the hotel at Bexley, where I was delighted to find both the car and my bike. So the organisation worked really well right to the last. Many thanks for all your messages of support and funding.
Day 3: Completed! Very exciting ride through the streets of Paris all together as a group from Bois de Boulogne on the final journey to the Eiffel Tower.Bystanders clapped as we rode along ringing our bells. Lots of jollity and pictures followed by a celebration dinner. Even managed to stay up to see the hourly light show on the Eiffel Tour at midnight.
Day 2: A shorter day in terms of distance today from Dieppe to Gournay-en-Bray - an easy 50 miles of 'undulating' countryside, i.e. long rolling hills - thank goodness for all my hill practice up and down Deeside! Less pressure to get to each checkpoint on schedule than yesterday when we had to get to Dover as a group in time for the ferry, much easier without those pressures today. However, its a longer day tomorrow, so early to bed and another 07.00 start. Hope the baker has made the croissants by then!!
Day 1: A long leisurely drive south enabled me to catch up with friends and family and helped to keep my morale up for the mad adventure. Early morning start on Friday 10th July at the Holiday Inn in Bexley where the ride started. Busy London roads before opening out into Kent to basically follow the Pilgrim's Way down into Dover after some 75 miles, to get the ferry to France. All I can say is that I'm glad I've been up and down some hills in Deeside, because there were some big long hills in the Downs, but I managed to pedal up them all, well almost! Had to get off and walk on 3 in the final afternoon session, but even the 'professionals' had to get off as well! Now looking forward to dinner and a glass of wine on the ferry after what has been a long but enjoyable day. Once in France there is then a 2 hour bus ride from Calais to Dieppe where we are staying the night.
Many thanks for all your messages of support which have been relayed to me.
Fundraising Update:
The target set by MdM for the trip has now been exceeded, which is absolutely brilliant. Many thanks to all that have donated so far. Your generosity sustained me through the training miles, particularly on the wet and windy days when I certainly didn't always have the desire to go out and pedal. I certainly found the fundraising almost harder than the training and I am overwhelmed by how much you have all given, and I don't think that we've reached the end total yet as there is still more coming in. So a huge thankyou to everyone for supporting me on this madcap adventure which in turn is supporting MdM.
Thanks also to Banchory Cycles www.banchorycycles.co.uk who are supporting me in servicing my bike and ensuring that it is ready for the trip.
So why did I do it?
Not content with cycling around Deeside, I was persuaded by Guy to spread my wings and sign up for a bigger challenge: to cycle from London to Paris for Médecins du Monde UK in July 2009. I just hope that the saddle sores won't get the better of me! I really am grateful for all your support and that will give me the incentive to get to see the finish line at the Eiffel Tower 300kms and 3 days later.
Médecins du Monde UK http://www.medecinsdumonde.org.uk/ allow others around the world to access the type of services that I am fortunate enough to be able to offer as a GP through the NHS in Aboyne.
Their long-term objective is to make health a human right.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure - although I know that it has been a bit of a hassle during the recent site upgrade. The Justgiving team have taken full responsibility for the hassles during this period and have refunded the commissions paid to the charities for donations received during the hiatus. Thanks for 'hanging on in there' to use the site. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Médecins du Monde UK 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.
So please sponsor me now!
Many thanks for all your support,
Lizzie.
