Story
I made it! But there's still time to sponsor me!
London to Paris. 300 miles in four (very hot) days and no punctures!
We set off from Bexley at 7.00am on Wednesday 23rd July. The day would end in Calais, but only after a long hot slog through the Kent countryside and a baking time on the tarmac at Dover. I reached Dover at 1.30pm but it was 4.30 before we were all on the ferry.
Thursday proved to be the hardest day. We started at 7.30am (6.30 BST) and it was soon 28 centigrade and there were some long steep climbs on the road from Calais to Arras. Plenty of breaks and water stops slowed the pace but I reached the hotel at 5pm.
Friday was a day journeying from Arras to Compeigne. After a 7.45am start we headec out across the Somme, with time to pay our respects at various First World War cemeteries. There was also time for some of us to make some unscheduled stops at French village cafes. It was hot again. Compeigne was reached at 4.30pm.
Saturday started at 7.30am with light rain. By the first water stop the sun was out and it remained hot for our run into Paris arriving in Place de la Concord at 4.00pm. By the time we'd regrouped it was 5.30pm when we reached the Eiffel Tower - tired but elated. A dip in the fountain at the Trocadero helped!
Sunday was spent at leisure with time to watch the end of the Tour de France before a return on Eurostar.
It was hard work but, thanks to your generosity, it was helped by the knowledge that every mile peddled (after Christian Aid's expenses were taken out) was worth £4.60 for their development projects. So I did it thanks to you!
London to Paris. 300 miles in four (very hot) days and no punctures!
We set off from Bexley at 7.00am on Wednesday 23rd July. The day would end in Calais, but only after a long hot slog through the Kent countryside and a baking time on the tarmac at Dover. I reached Dover at 1.30pm but it was 4.30 before we were all on the ferry.
Thursday proved to be the hardest day. We started at 7.30am (6.30 BST) and it was soon 28 centigrade and there were some long steep climbs on the road from Calais to Arras. Plenty of breaks and water stops slowed the pace but I reached the hotel at 5pm.
Friday was a day journeying from Arras to Compeigne. After a 7.45am start we headec out across the Somme, with time to pay our respects at various First World War cemeteries. There was also time for some of us to make some unscheduled stops at French village cafes. It was hot again. Compeigne was reached at 4.30pm.
Saturday started at 7.30am with light rain. By the first water stop the sun was out and it remained hot for our run into Paris arriving in Place de la Concord at 4.00pm. By the time we'd regrouped it was 5.30pm when we reached the Eiffel Tower - tired but elated. A dip in the fountain at the Trocadero helped!
Sunday was spent at leisure with time to watch the end of the Tour de France before a return on Eurostar.
It was hard work but, thanks to your generosity, it was helped by the knowledge that every mile peddled (after Christian Aid's expenses were taken out) was worth £4.60 for their development projects. So I did it thanks to you!