Pedalling for Pooches........an update......
In some ways I’m glad I wasn’t born French as I’m sure the vocabulary doesn’t contain enough words to describe the rollercoaster of emotions felt during the trip. Despair, hope, exhilaration, angst, exhaustion, satisfaction, fear, doubt, achievement – just like life distilled into a short period. And just like life, the people encountered along the way displayed all the human traits that we encounter in our day to day lives - thoughtfulness, humour, impatience and kindness.
At one point I was completely surrounded by the entire Geneva chapter of Hells Angels all on ear splitting bikes – a bit worrying when you’re armed with only a banana and a puncture outfit. As it happened a cleaner bunch of 50 somethings released from their offices at the weekend you wouldn’t find and about as scary as a wet sock! Typical of what you see isn’t always what you get.
Cycling through France the road surfaces are generally good and the motorists seem to give you a wide berth. This coupled with a rolling scenery change that included massive mountains, dramatic gorges, fertile plains, varying architecture and excellent local food made the trip a pleasurable but testing experience. Cruising along the flat Loire, eating fresh cherries in the sunshine passing stunning Chateaux was soon counteracted by grinding along a seemingly endless, bleak, potholed roads with just the occasional huge lorry and a cold wet North Westerly in your face for company.
Starting from Chamonix and stopping overnight in Talloires, Nantua, Pont en Vaux, Toulon sur Arroux, Charite sur Loire, Pithivier, Senonches and across Pegasus Bridge to the ferry port at Ouisterham I arrived at Portsmouth looking like Oliver Reed in ‘Castaway’ with comedy sunburn that you can only get wearing cycling clothing all day. I completed the 1000 kilometres in eight days raising nearly £1600 for the Dogs Trust. Ironically the only injury I sustained was a puncture wound in my foot back home. The assault was caused by very sharp pin in the map of France on the floor where my Wife was diligently marking my daily progress.
So great journey over, next one for us a move to Australia in September where instead of the leather of a bike saddle, my backside will be surrounded by the leather of a nice big comfy seat on Singapore Airlines!
Thank you for your interest and support.
Philip
Being politely told that I was too old and fat to run a marathon and with my knees threatening to organise an official protest against such an idea, my thoughts turned to an activity that I had enjoyed immensely in my youth. No, this is not to be a sponsored wankathon but a long distance cycle ride with a view to raising funds for a really worthwhile charity.
In addition to the fund raising it would also have the benefit of possibly making my clothing fit me again and provide a perfect excuse to enjoy some good French food and wine without any of the normal associated guilt.
So the idea of the ‘Cham along á Selham’ ride was born, a 650 mile cycle ride pedalling from Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, ending in my favourite place in the world - home in Selham.
The ride will pass through the Haute Savoie, meander through Burgundy (nothing to do with its most famous product, honest ) , follow the Loire valley then onto Normandy and a welcome sit on a ferry back to Portsmouth. A short final stage will be dodging the Hoodies and traffic through Portsmouth onto Selham.
The plan is to be back upright and able to speak within a couple of weeks.
Our dogs, like many others, enjoy a healthy and happy life in a loving home - many are not so lucky. These sad animals just cannot understand why they have been badly treated or abandoned. Support for The Dogs Trust (formally The National Canine Defence League) goes to help to rescue these poor souls and place them back into an environment where they are cared for and loved, just as they should be.
Take a look at their web site to understand why its such a valid cause www.dogstrust.org.uk
Boarding a plane to Geneva with Wife and bicycle, I aim to embark on my ride on the 6 June. Tara most sensibly be heading back straight away leaving me to pedal at my own pace and direction back to Blighty.
Allowing for sore bits, bites, colds, sunstroke, frostbite, French drivers, dodgy moules, ungrateful dogs, strikes, mechanical failures, falls, floods and navigational errors, I am attempting to average 60 to 80 miles a day.
I know the challenge of cycling past TGV stations and a desperate need for a ‘Full English’ or a pint of real ale after 5 days will be tough although I’m hoping for some gallic distractions along the way. Ideally free roadside wine tastings or a minor accident with a Citroen 2CV being driven by Sophie Marceau and Juliette Binoche – now I am definitely dreaming!
My training is going well, (over a 1000 miles during the winter) although I’m still have come to terms with seeing myself head to toe in Lycra and the inevitable comments of being likened to a jelly in a balloon!
I’m brushing up on a bit of useful French for my journey with phrases such as “Oi, get on the proper side of the road garlic breath!” and “NO, I do not shave my legs” although I can’t seem to find these in any phrase book strangely.
So, calling all dog lovers and anyone else that is happy to make the blisters seem a bit less painful please consider making a valued contribution, the dogs will be very grateful.
Thank you for your support.
Cheers
Phil