Heading home!

A big thank you to all who donated to Chernobyl's Children 

Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire. 

And hugs to all who helped us on our ride. 

Final donation tally: £745

Last day entry:
I couldn't sleep as the sun rose over Montmartre - what a sweet insomnia. We had a delightful room with a small and unexpected balcony at hotel le Square d'Anvers, .

Sacre Coeur on the right side of the photo. 

Eiffel Tower in the back, on the right. It was lit up earlier like a distant candle.

Finally, what a joy to dump the cycle clothes! We spent the morning strolling around Paris with Derek as wonderful tour guide. It was just the thing to help our legs ease off the cycling.

Breakfast 

Le Gang on Ile de la Cite bridge

The vaulted ceiling of Notre Dame Cathedral

Forever blowing bubbles

By mid-afternoon we were on Eurostar heading to London, tired but satisfied. They say most car accidents happen 5 miles from home - the only accident we had on the whole trip was in our last mile of cycling. In London's rush hour traffic Hugh's front wheel got stuck in cracked tarmac and he flew over the bars. He scraped both legs, both hands and got jabbed in the ribs by twisted handle bars. But Hugh being Hugh, he was ready to climb back on the bike! 

We walked (and limped) the last few metres to Marylebone Station, only to be told no bikes are allowed on trains at rush hour  -  the one thing I didn't bother to check when planning the trip. Luckily we found a gentle giant in a Fijian station master, who believes rules are meant to be flexible and found us a train home. 

Finally Joe fetched us at the train station in his jeep and horse trailer and kindly dropped us home. We ended our night celebrating at Ronnies and the Peacock - drinking too much and laughing too loud! This morning I'm still in pjs (and intend to stay this way all day!) while Mike watches the World Cup Rugby with his feet up - all is well in the world :)

Day 6 - Luzarches to Paris

A very chilly early start! We ate breakfast before the sun rose in an effort to reach Paris early - but it seemed to take forever to get out of Luzarches. This was the first (and only) day when Mike struggled to lead us.

We covered 30 miles in the countryside just outside Paris near Charles de Gaulle airport - the noise from the airplanes was incessant! But finally we reached the Canal d'Ourcq which runs from the outskirts of Paris into the centre. It is a fabulous way to enter into Paris because we could avoid crazy Parisian drivers! (Not to mention the canal is beautiful.)

By 4 p.m. we were finally outside our hotel in Montmattre, greeted by Derek with a bottle of champagne! The 315 mile ride is over. It still hasn't quite sunk in.

Mike and his trustee magnifying glass

Mid-morning coffee

Le Canal d'Ourq

Fast food on the canal

More canal

Yipee we arrive! Derek with the bubbly!

Uncorking!

Even strangers at other tables celebrate with us.

Sacred Coeur

Day 5 - Forges les Eaux to Luzarches

Sorry I'm a day late in posting - the hotel in Luzarches had an old dial up connection that almost made me throw the computer against the wall, so I thought it best to close up and go to sleep.

Day 5 got off to an precarious start - our leader (Mike) woke up with a wonky tummy and for a moment it looked like we were going to have to navigate ourselves (never a good thing). But luckily the weight of responsibility swung our way and after a few minutes in the brisk morning air, he was feeling better.

64 miles today! But the day passed quickly - no wind, no rain, just enough sun to warm and just enough cloud to cool. The hills were low, the traffic light and Steve's jokes were actually funny! All in all a grand day of cycling!

P.S. Captions on today's pictures have been penned by the group (especially Steve) after a few beers.

Steve is given a red card and sent off.

Queen of the world!

Caption Competition:

1. Despite our protests Vanessa insisted on showing us the flexibility of her new sheepdog bra, it rounds them up and points them in the right direction.

2. Vanessa was in a boyant mood despite the 'titanic' struggle which lay ahead.

3. Vanessa explained in her own immutable way that we would be passing close to Charles de Gaulle airport.

4. Vanessa crossed the line in 1st place, unfortunately for her Paris was a further 100 km away.

Crop irrigation

(See if you can glimpse Brian in the corn field)

Hugh and his 'magic' flapjacks

Le Gang

A fabulous 13th century church

Watching the rugby

Sid Vicious

After 5 days in the saddle Steve wanted a meal to reflect how he felt - 'raw'!

Day 4 - Rottingdean to Forges les Eaux

The day with the least amount of miles to cycle (42 miles) is our longest day yet - we only arrived at the hotel at 6:30 p.m. The morning was taken up with a 4 hour ferry to France. Liz took motion sickness pills and found a quiet corner to sleep for the journey. The rest of us pottered, ate and tried to nap.

 Hugh waiting in line for the ladies loo :)

Off the ferry

We arrived at Dieppe in France and after a few miles navigating the city streets, we reached La Rue Verte - a paved cycle path that was once a railway line cutting through beautiful countryside. The view was lovely but I was completely knackered - 4 days of cycling is taking its toll. (As I write this Mike is passed out on the bed beside me!)

La Rue Verte

Steve looking for a train that will never come

The town of Forges les Eaux

Much needed respite!

We chose the hotel for its fine food. We had a 4 course meal and 3 bottles of wine!

Day 3 - Steep to Rottingdean

We awoke this morning with rain lashing the hotel window. The tail of hurricane Katia hit the UK overnight and over breakfast I was shaking with nerves about the day ahead.

Once we got going it wasn't so bad. The rain stopped about 5 miles into the ride and the trees blocked most of the wind as we climbed the South Downs. Brian was the only one to cycle all the way to the top!

Mike handing Brian celebratory Maltesers for climbing the hill without getting off his bike!

All of us at the top of the South Downs

By midday we arrived at Littlehampton - 3 days of battling strong headwinds finally over!

Fabulous fish and chips at Fred's in Littlehampton

Littlehampton marina

Cycling along the coast was fabulous (at first), we hardly had to pedal! However the final few miles to the hotel were scary - the wind blew us uphill as we climbed the cliff and still we needed to put on brakes to stop gaining too much speed.



Mike planned a bit of an obstacle course along the coast.

Cycling on the beach!

Carrying the bikes over a concrete wall

Cycing on the boardwalk in Brighton

 Stormy seas on the south coast

Day 2 - Wallingford to Steep

The day kicked off well - we were sore from yesterday but in great spirits. The sun shone and the wind was less than expected, even if it was still against our faces. But by afternoon we were exhausted and the wind had picked up. The hedges along the road protected us, but a break in the hedge meant the winds would side swipe the bikes and we had to hold on tight!

58 miles in total today! And the last 15 miles were up and down hills. I understand why they call this village Steep! We are on the edge of the South Downs (or South Ups as Steve calls them) so it means more hills tomorrow. Argh...

Even the bikes are feeling the pain.

Brian wears a helmet for the first time!

Morning stretches

Liz attempts to kick leg out from beneath him!

Hugh and I

Mike's maps attached the handle bars. So far he's been a brilliant navigator!

I find a farm with my name on it!

Fun in the pub at the end of the day