This will be my second year riding on Challenge Adventure Charities' (CAC) annual summer challenge.  After a delay of 4 years, this year's challenge involves riding from Lyon to the shore of the Mediterranean Sea near across the Alps: 7 days cycling, nearly 470 miles with about 65,000 ft of climbing - or roughly 2 1/2 times up Mt Everest!  It has been called the Napoleon Challenge since it goes over or close to much of the area followed by Napoleon on his 100-days march returning from exile on Elba in early 1815.

The trip consists of:

• Day 1: Lyon to Voiron 75 miles, mainly along the Rhone Valley
• Day 2: Voiron to Uriage-les-Bains 55 miles going over the Chartreuse
• Day 3: Uriage-les-Bains to Chamrousse 60 miles, tracing some of Napoleon’s journey and climbing two big mountains
• Day 4:    Chamrousse to Briançon 95 miles going over Alpe d’Huez and the Col du Lautaret
• Day 5: Briançon to Pra Loup 70 miles climbing over the Col d’Izoard and Col de Vars
• Day 6: Pra Loup to Annot 50 miles again with two big mountain passes to climb
• Day 7: Annot to Villeneuve-Loubet Plage 65 miles over a final mountain pass and schuss to the sea!

Without doubt days 3, 4 & 5 will be the toughest cycling days I have ever experienced.

This year CAC has decided to support the Disaster Emergency Committee's special appeal for refugees from the conflict in Ukraine.  Although not the only significant humanitarian issue facing us today, the war in Ukraine and the refugee crisis triggered by it is the most worrying and concerning event of my life time so far.   

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you.

Bartie