Jamie
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Mad Dash for Train
Well last day was warm but the puncture fairy had one last cruel hand to play.... Following Paul through the manic Paris traffic I then had a rear puncture.... So with about 300mtr to go I had to run in with the bike in the heat of the day.. Then we had to find the baggage place to drop the bikes off, all well signposted of course....... Grrrrrrrr eventually found it, to then see the luggage guys drive off to load the train... We stood around waiting and waiting and waiting.... Talk of some going back now and others to maybe get another train..... Then the luggage men appeared and bikes loaded up.... Mad sprint and run to checkin to only see the biggest Que. ever..z so we sort off found the end and joined in..... Sweating a lot.... Got on train and now almost in London.... Just hope the bikes are on this train......... Soon find out :-)
Last day in Paris
Well what a ride, we had everything from very hot, very humid to very very wet (being Brits that last bit we where used to :-) ) also the last ride into Parisw some 73 miles was also plagued by the puncture fairy WE HAD 9 in total (2 for me) and Alex amazing exploding tyre OMG (pictures to follow) but the ride in through the Forrest then to finally see the Eiffel Tower was brilliant.... So as we sit here waiting to pick up the bikes before we cycle off to catch the train back home...... Another beer........
Day 3
We were expecting rain today and were not disappointed. A few miles into the ride it started to drizzle, then rain heavier, which it continued to do for the next 30 miles. We were soon all drenched but slogged on with grim determination.
During the rain we got the first of 11 punctures. It seems that the rain had washed dagger-like tiny fragments of Flint across the road. Another problem with the rain was that it caused the Satmap GPS to go on the blink, repeatedly. A very frustrating and slow day when we wanted to make good progress.
At about 20 miles to Paris, NW of Versailles, we split into two groups. Dom, Jon, Esther and Paul found a faster road into Paris while Andy, Jamie, Tom and Alex continued along the planned route through the Parc de St Cloud and Bois de Boulogne.
We all met up under the Eiffel Tower around 8:30, group photos and an enormous sense of achievement.
Off to our hotels for a quick shower, then we got together in a restaurant at 10:30 for a celebratory meal.
This morning is hot and sunny again in Paris and I'm wondering how much it will hurt getting out of bed.
Tom wants to see the Louvre today so a bit of sightseeing then Eurostar home.
Photos to follow.
OK, swing the legs off the bed, feet on the floor, hey, I can still walk!!!
During the rain we got the first of 11 punctures. It seems that the rain had washed dagger-like tiny fragments of Flint across the road. Another problem with the rain was that it caused the Satmap GPS to go on the blink, repeatedly. A very frustrating and slow day when we wanted to make good progress.
At about 20 miles to Paris, NW of Versailles, we split into two groups. Dom, Jon, Esther and Paul found a faster road into Paris while Andy, Jamie, Tom and Alex continued along the planned route through the Parc de St Cloud and Bois de Boulogne.
We all met up under the Eiffel Tower around 8:30, group photos and an enormous sense of achievement.
Off to our hotels for a quick shower, then we got together in a restaurant at 10:30 for a celebratory meal.
This morning is hot and sunny again in Paris and I'm wondering how much it will hurt getting out of bed.
Tom wants to see the Louvre today so a bit of sightseeing then Eurostar home.
Photos to follow.
OK, swing the legs off the bed, feet on the floor, hey, I can still walk!!!
We finally made it to the Eiffel!...
7.30pm...after a "Seriously" hard day (rain, countless punctures etc) we finally made it to the Eiffel!...
20 miles or so on the outskirts of Paris
...In theory not far to go!(?)...but momentarily lost...in a forest...
then Doms rear gets a puncture...
Day 3...20 miles in, total wash out with heavy rain
...Paul doing a spot of laundry & Esther making creative use of the van heaters to dry parts...
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Slow progress
We seem to plagued with problems today and have had three punctures to
fix in wet stormy weather. Spirits are high though and we are 30 miles
closer to Paris.
fix in wet stormy weather. Spirits are high though and we are 30 miles
closer to Paris.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Day 2, Dieppe to Gournay-en-Bray
Left the hotel just before 8 this morning for a leisurely short ride to the ferry. The crossing was sunny and millpond smooth. About an hour before arriving at Dieppe we went for lunch and all chose Lasagne and chips, I think we call it carb loading.
The van had been delayed in it's crossing so we agreed to meet a few miles inland.
Once we left the van having offloaded our overnight luggage and stocked up on snacks we set off on the Avenue Verte, a super cycle path following a disused railway line for around 30 miles.
Esther, Dom, Jon, Tom and Paul sped off ahead leaving Andy, Paul and Alex bringing up the rear, it really is great for cycling fast.
Once we met up at Forges les Eaux there was only about 15 miles left to do on long, straight and fast roads.
The van had been delayed in it's crossing so we agreed to meet a few miles inland.
Once we left the van having offloaded our overnight luggage and stocked up on snacks we set off on the Avenue Verte, a super cycle path following a disused railway line for around 30 miles.
Esther, Dom, Jon, Tom and Paul sped off ahead leaving Andy, Paul and Alex bringing up the rear, it really is great for cycling fast.
Once we met up at Forges les Eaux there was only about 15 miles left to do on long, straight and fast roads.
Looking forwards to tomorrow and Paris now!
Alex and Tom
#end
Reward for another tough day
Highlights were definitely the desserts, here are Tom's brulees and Colin's profiteroles, yummy!
Alex
Jon's arm
Alex
Day 2 on Ferry
Woke up not too stiff and to lovely sun shine and blue sky's... Short trip to the ferry and a little wait... Now all border and waiting to go..... Oh and it's 33 deg in Paris!!!!
Net part of the journey is on a nice track so should get a good speed up, all these pros on there plastic racing bikes.. I still keep up with them almost, well me Andy, Paul and Alex keep in a group, as Alex has the maps...
Well off to France now......
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Day 1
Today we went for a little bike ride in the country. A tad short of 70 miles from the London Eye to Newhaven.
Leaving The Eye was predictably slow as we got ourselves ready, took photos, etc. But we were off by 11:20, only 20 mins late. Immediately took a wrong turning and had to re-route via Elephant and Castle, not a good idea at the best of time but today doubly so because a lorry had turned over right in the middle of the roundabout. Fortunately traffic jams do not exist for bikes so we soon got past the snarl up.
Took us about 2.5 hours to get to the M25. Alex and Esther were waiting on the bridge over the motorway thinking "where are they?" then Tom turned up and told us that Jon had come off his bike spectacularly on the twisty downhill road down to the motorway bridge. After some running repairs we were soon at the agreed pub lunch location and had a combination of super sandwiches and jacket spuds washed down with a (only one, honest) pint. Things went faster after lunch and we were soon approaching Ditchling and pleased to know we were not going over the infamous Ditchling Beacon. We took a fast undulating road running parallel to and north of the Downs after Ditchling, very nice!
Colin and Dan have been doing a great job with the support vehicle and it is always a pleasure to turn a corner and see them.
Had a great meal and a few pints at the Newhaven Premier Inn and am about ready to drop now. Fairly early start tomorrow, we are meeting up at 7:45 to go to the ferry. But an easy day tomorrow, few hills, mostly flat, and only about 50 miles.
Signing off now to sleep like logs.
Alex & Tom
Leaving The Eye was predictably slow as we got ourselves ready, took photos, etc. But we were off by 11:20, only 20 mins late. Immediately took a wrong turning and had to re-route via Elephant and Castle, not a good idea at the best of time but today doubly so because a lorry had turned over right in the middle of the roundabout. Fortunately traffic jams do not exist for bikes so we soon got past the snarl up.
Took us about 2.5 hours to get to the M25. Alex and Esther were waiting on the bridge over the motorway thinking "where are they?" then Tom turned up and told us that Jon had come off his bike spectacularly on the twisty downhill road down to the motorway bridge. After some running repairs we were soon at the agreed pub lunch location and had a combination of super sandwiches and jacket spuds washed down with a (only one, honest) pint. Things went faster after lunch and we were soon approaching Ditchling and pleased to know we were not going over the infamous Ditchling Beacon. We took a fast undulating road running parallel to and north of the Downs after Ditchling, very nice!
Colin and Dan have been doing a great job with the support vehicle and it is always a pleasure to turn a corner and see them.
Had a great meal and a few pints at the Newhaven Premier Inn and am about ready to drop now. Fairly early start tomorrow, we are meeting up at 7:45 to go to the ferry. But an easy day tomorrow, few hills, mostly flat, and only about 50 miles.
Signing off now to sleep like logs.
Alex & Tom
Halfway on day one
Well after the fun getting out of London, quieter roads where the next thing.... Also the hills OMG some where good others where painfull... + the heat and it's warm warm warm..... Off to eat lunch now... then cycle down to Newhaven..
Jamie
Blog
Ok my first blog... All set now just getting bike on car.. No I'm not cheating just so I can drive to Paul's flat then we get train into London. The cycle from Liverpool St to the Eye....
So Paris here we come........
Jamie
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