London to Paris Bike Ride

17th - 20th June 2010

Well, Simon and I made it to Paris in good time. It was a gruelling challenge but one with an enormous sense of achievement at the end of it. We had a great laugh and will carry with us some wonderful memories of the trip, not least the arrival under the Eiffel Tower on Saturday afternoon.

Lots to report, met Simon Lewis on Farringdon Road as planned at 10.15am on Thursday and I was so pleased to see him that I forgot to take my feet out of the peddles and fell straight into the road. No cars coming fortunately, but a big group of builders found it highly amusing! Auspicious start!!!!

Day 1 was not easy. We headed down through South London. Traffic was heavy and commuters were impatient with us! Then we took a wrong turn towards Crystal Palace and ended up 10 miles out of our way at Beckenham. Won't be going back there. Cabbie decided to open his door on me, which gave me the fright of my life, then we finally hit the Purley Way. Hell ! Won't be going back there either. Finally made it under the M25 and into somewhere more civilised! Finally stopped in Godstone at a lovely pub for a drink. Only 5 more hours cycling to go, with stops in Forest Row and Lewes before arriving in Newhaven at around 6pm. Food and Libation followed by some banter with the locals and then a queue for the ferry. Sea started to wobble so I hit the sack. Woke up in Dieppe at 2.30am local time. Long up hill cycle out of the port and slight disagreement with a tired and hungry Simon (not the best combination). Finally made the Ibis hotel at 3.30am and pigeon frenched our way in.

 

Day 2 was far more pleasant than the slog of Day 1. We ate a hearty breakfast and set off to fine the Avenue Verte. Found it first time thanks to iPhone and Google Maps! Saviour! The start was beautiful and for 40 miles we travelled along a converted train line towards Paris, finally popping out the other end for a beer and faux-filet in Forges-des-Eaux. Lovely little town. Afternoon stint was to Gournay en Bray which we made with consumate ease and decided that after a swift beer we would crack another 30km off the next days trip by cycling to Gisors. (Very apt) Arrived in Gisors feeling good and quickly found a spot to watch the locals pass by in the sunshine. Found a hotel and got directions to a bar that we thought was call the Dungeon.........but it turned out to be the Don Jon! Eat bucket loads and sat to watch the England vs Algeria game. Pant, nuf said. There is only one England Team and they play with the odd shaped ball!

 

Day3 we were woken with the rain lashing at our windows. 5.11am and Simon texts me to ask if I am awake. Surprisingly I am. We sort ourselves out, grab a bit of scran and then head off into some pretty bleak weather at 8.30am. Paris is our target and we are happy with what we have let to achieve. ETA 3pm local time. Everything going swimmingly well until we try to take a motorway and our travel plans are halted. Best thing to happen to us. We changed our route with the help of iPhone and ended up going through some gorgeous countryside and villages like Us, Boissy and The Real Centre of Boissy (local conflict). Then we hit the outskirt/suburbs of Paris and cross the Seine for the first time at Cergy - Pontaise. Only 30km to go. We stopped in a bar for a quick drink. The place resembled something out of Star Wars with all kinds of misfits in it. Simon and I looked the most normal!

Final push time, crossing the Seine the second time, having gone through the industrial outer ring of Paris. Finally we could see the tall building in Paris' centre but still at least an hour to go. Then before we knew it we had cross into Ile de France and we were in Paris proper! Iphone kept us on the straight and narrow all the way to the Arc de Triumphe and then down to the Eiffel Tower. Sense of achievement was awesome! Simon wanted to carry on down to Cannes!!!!!

Then we were off through the cobbled streets of Paris (ouch) in search of Gard du Nord and our hotel for the night. Got to Gard du Nord and the trusty iPhone ran out of juice. Spent the next 2 hours looking for our hotel, finally realising that we were calling the hotel when standing virtually outside it!

Showered and shaved we headed out to the trusty Rue St Andre des Arts for a fabulous meal in the Allard. They took one look at Simon and I and said "Non"! Bastards. We looked great. So we ended up in a little bistro just down the road and filled our boots. Taxi home and bed.

 

Day 4: Cycled gingerly up to Gard du Nord, dropped our bikes off and boarded the Eurostar back to Blighty. Job done, or so I thought. But no, the trains to Little Chalfont we off, so it was Gerrards X and a cycle home. Boy did those hills seem big. Finally made it home at 1pm on Sunday. The dog was pleased to see me!

 

Job Done. Thanks for all your support. Most Challenging Challenge I have even done, and a big thanks to Simon Lewis for pulling me along when I wanted to throw my bike in the ditch on the Purley Way. Superb company and a top Gisor!

Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

Well I can't believe that in under a week Simon Lewis, Duncan Ford Young and I will be leaving Blackfriars Bridge and cycling to Paris. It sounds romantic, but last weekend I drove back from Manchester and the trip is the same kind of distance as drive to Manchester and back!!!!!

Gulp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why are we doing this, well we are mad and we all like a challenge. We are raising money for a couple of major children's charities, Action for Children & Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Good causes I am sure you will agree.

We will be leaving Blackfriars on Thursday 17th in the morning and cycling the London to Brighton cycle route followed by a bit more to get to Newhaven for catch the ferry. You should really be sponsoring me to keep whatever sustanance I have managed to eat down on a boat crossing!!!! On Friday and Saturday we complete the journey to Paris ending up at the Gard du Nord in time for a beer on Saturday night. Eurostar back on the Sunday and a soft cushion to sit on all the way I hope!

The trip is made even tougher for me as I have managed to tear a knee cartilage and partial rupture my ACL in a freak touch rugby accident 2 weeks ago. I may make Dunc and Simon take turns in giving me a tow!!

So wish us luck. We will need it.

Lastly, for every £10 donated, the charity actually gets nearly £12 so please tick the Gift Aid box.

 

Andy, Dunc & Simon

 

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