On Saturday 1^st September, at 3.30pm, Delyth, John and Sue arrive under the pillars of the Eiffel Tower, after 4 days of hard cycling. The tale of the challenge follows.

Day 1 (Wed) Blackheath to Calais - Getting up at 5.00am on Wednesday morning, on Greenwich Common (near the starting point for the London Marathon), they had not fully appreciated just how hard the challenge was going to prove to be.

The aim of day 1 was to make it to Dover, a total of 95 miles, in time to catch the ferry over to Calais. None of them wanted to swim across! The day was to consist of "around every corner another up hill!" (but perhaps not always quite so eloquently stated.) Their thoughts were also with Tricia, who was unable to be with them. By the first water stop on Wednesday morning, the enormity of the task ahead had hit. A very, very long and steep up hill climb, which caused even the semi-professional cyclists to "get off and push". The lunch-time stop couldn’t come too soon, as the energy reserves were being very quickly depleted – the shovelling in as much carbohydrate as possible was paramount. The ability to stand up at the afternoon stop was compromised both by the previous few hours ride, and in trepidation for what was left to come. Who said, "Kent is flat"?!

After what seemed like an age, and much more than the 95 miles they reached Dover. They had done so well that they even had an hour to spare. All that was left to do now was to eat what they could on the ferry, and then find their way to the hotel in Calais. Seventeen hours after they had got up they were able to rest their weary legs – and plenty of rest was required, as the following day was due to start at 6.30.

Day 2 (Thurs) Calais to Abbeville - Another difficult many miles of hill after hill. Lunch, in the shade of a barn was welcomed. Even at this point they did not realise what was to come before the end of the day……

With all the challenging geography, which tested even the strongest resolve, came some lovely bits of scenery. An old water mill was a compulsory stop. By mid afternoon Delyth and Sue had not realised just how much John was suffering. The friction of saddle on nether region had started to cause great discomfort and bleeding – he was not willing for it to be exposed to the camera to show the world how much it hurt.

Before the end of the day, the extent of the physical and mental challenge became even more evident, as a team collision resulted in the backwheel of Sue’s bike jamming hard. It was only after a few minutes of struggling to release the brake that they noticed the wheel deformity! Luckily, the support vehicle had a spare bike from which they were able to borrow the backwheel, allowing them to complete the day’s cycling. Further fortune struck as a bike shop was within half a mile of that night’s hotel, and Sue got there before it shut!

Day 3 (Fri) Abbeville to Beauvais – This day proved just what a hero John is! Even with a raw and bleeding bottom he got back on his bike and continued to pedal – the inspiration provided by the huge support that had been offered by everyone back home.

The countryside was a bit more open on Friday, with few hedges to protect the heroic cyclists from the winds that whipped across the plains. Even when there were no up hills to contend with, they had to fight against the "breeze". The final four-mile stretch of the day was a lovely down hill. Yet they had to pedal like anything to stop themselves going backwards up the hill!

Day 4 (Sat) Beauvais to Paris - At last the final day of cycling, arrived - 60 miles to Paris! A beautiful location for lunch provided a false sense of security for what was to come – 20 or more miles of fairly built up area, with lots of French traffic to contend with. Up until now the French drivers had been very considerate to the cyclist, giving them much more space than they were used to in the UK. Through the outskirts of Paris, however, the experience was a little more scarey!

About five miles from the Eiffel Tower, all the riders met and gathered so they could all ride into the centre of Paris as a group. The semi-professional riders did a marvellous job of stopping the Parisian traffic where necessary and herding the rest along the many lanes of traffic, through the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, past the Arc de Triomphe and around the roundabouts with a million roads.

Delyth, John and Sue made it to the Eiffel Tower a couple of hours ahead of schedule, to a celebratory plastic cup of champagne. John, being the wonderful gentleman that he is, had organised for Delyth and Sue to be presented with a bouquet of flowers each.

So, on Saturday 1^st September Delyth, John and Sue completed the London to Paris Cycle Challenge, in their attempt to raise money for Tŷ Olwen. They recognise, however, that they have been very dependent upon many, many others for the support that has been offered, and the efforts on the fund-raising front. They are very grateful to everyone who has made the completion of the challenge possible.

The challenge to collect all of the pledged donations continues, and they are able to accept donations for a few weeks/months yet. The website also continues to accept donations until October.

The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that the target amount has increased.  This is only because we didn't really have a set target - the aim has always been to raise as much money as we can!  The web site requires that we state an amount so we can have an effective thermometer display. Without your support, all that £300,000+ per year "extra" yet essential support that is funded by Tŷ Olwen Trust, can not be sustained. 

So please sponsor us now!