Day 1 - 4

OVERVIEW....

Overall it has been an exhausting and exhilarating four days, and knowing they had raised a substantial amount of money for a very worthy cause, more than compensated for the aching legs.

Thank you to all our sponsors for their generosity and making this challenge a great success.

Details of the East Anglia Children's Hospice can be found at www.each.org.uk  However if you have not sponsored us yet, and would like to you can do so at www.justgiving.com/tower2towercycle

Tower Bridge with Support Manager
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DAY ONE - LONDON TO NEWHAVEN

At 11.30 BST on a bright and sunny day Simon and Chris set off from Tower Bridge on their epic journey to raise money for the East Anglia Children’s Hospice. They set off towards Bromley through central London and apart from an argument with a Bus Driver had a smooth journey.

About an hour later they passed Biggin Hill airport and resisted the temptation to charter a private jet to Paris! Pressing onwards over Himalayan like hills to Ashdown Forest, the inspiration of Winnie the Pooh! They waited here for their support manager and their lunch….sadly she was caught in traffic (no such problem on a bike) and they had to make do with mars bars, fig rolls and lucozade!

Their next destination was Isfield, not to look at the steam trains but to have lunch at the Laughing Fish. Support Manager Tina, finally turned up! Simon was all up for having a beer, however Chris, the voice of reason convinced Simon it would be no good for their average mph!

Cycling onwards through Lewes they passed a famous house that had something to do with Henry VIII, and successfully navigated the one way streets with no signs! Chris was kicking himself for not bringing his tux, and thought that cycling shorts would raise a few eyebrows at nearby Glyndebourne.

Final leg of the day was to Newhaven. Upon arrival at the port at 6pm Simon got a puncture…lots of time for photos though!

DAY TWO - DIEPPE TO GOURNAY-en-BRAY

An early start to get the ferry...Simon and Tina did not know but it is still dark at 5am! They checked onto the Ferry...and the bikes were sent into a customs search area - once there a bemused Simon and Chris met an equally bemused customs man, all of whom quickly established there is not too much room to hide things on a road bike!

To endure the 4hr trip and prepare for the days cycling they had a greasy fry up and a snooze. Also on the ferry they planned the days route as Tina was keen to know where they were going!

Once off the ferry, Tina took the bike map and boys took copy of road map - as Tina drove off with the detailed map it occurred to them they should have bought maps for driver and cyclist...but hey hey, detail detail.

Once on French soil the cycling began in earnest again. Through Dieppe and out toward the south east. After a couple of kilometres and passing up the temptation of a very nice looking Auberge, they located an excellent cycle track on a disused railway line, perfect cycling in perfect weather - warm and dry.

At 2pm they met up with their support manager who had not found a shop open so the boys had a snack of apple iso food puree - stuff you find in danish pastries...very nutritious!

True to form, they eventually had lunch at 3.30 - Tina, the support manager provided excellent fare to sustain their exhausted bodies, including a great local cheese called Neufchatel.

Finally they reached Gournay en Brey and managed to find their hotel despite only having a picture of the door!

They asked for an internet cafe in this two horse town...the villagers did not understand at first, but once they did and stopped laughing, the answer was no!

They Boys also had a calvados, slight indulgence, but they had been cycling all day and did deserve it.

DAY THREE - GOURNAY-en-BRAY TO POISSY

Started from Gournay en Bray...the 'hotel' did us proud with a fab breakfast of stale cake in a cup and watery hot chocolate!

They started off by going the wrong way..easy for bikes to turn round....it prooved a bit harder for their support vehicle!

The weather was glorious as they progressed on their journey towards Paris.

They stopped for lunch on a village green....lovely spot and they were joined by half the village who stood there chatting in anticipation of something...on the the dot of 2pm, when they realised David Todd was not turning up,  all the people disappeared!

A bit further, as they entered Ile De France, the French airforce came out, specifically Le Arrow de Rouge, sending trails of smoke to guide them towards their destination.

Today's cycling was tough....lots of hills, the sun beating down on their sweaty bodies....indeed, Chris was cultivating a salt mine on his legs. Simon meanwhile, got through a lake of water!

Arrived at hotel...still being built...Simon hit his head on an electrical wire and foot on a metal rod. So,they left their bikes in there for safe keeping! Tina did comment on the building work, the hotel managress said it would be great for guests in 6 months time, and as they were fully booked, we had nothing to complain about. That told us.

At the end of dinner they had a fantastic cholate pudding, but they had been cycling all day and did deserve it.

DAY FOUR - POISSY TO PARIS

Simon overslept, clearly dreaming about pain free cycling. Then he woke up.

When, in preparation, Tina asked how to find the Eiffel Tower, Chris and Simon replied you will be able to see it once in Paris....as Tina found out this wasn't strictly true, the boys response was, as always, 'detail, detail'!

The boys set off early('ish). After cycling out of the dull suburbia of Pouissy, they had to climb their last significant hill. Pleased to be on the final stretch, legs aching but minds eagerly awaiting their destination...their first sight of Eiffel Tower occured, towering over the trees, as they crossed le pont Puteaux at 10:10.

They continued to the Arc de Triumphe, and to comply with French health and safety requirements, they circled it twice before heading down the right road. Whilst on the roundabout Chris was asked directions, he simply replied 'Pardon, Je suis Anglais'

At 10:40 they arrived at their destination. Simon, keen to be congratluated by Tina, cycled into her forgetting to stop! Chris and Simon both felt elated having reached their goal after 4 days on a bike and months of 'detailed' planning.

A couple of passers by were curious about the EACH T-shirts, and were suitably impressed with their efforts!

Clearly they blended into the local surroundings as 2 tourists asked Simon where bikes could be rented...he simply replied 'pardon, Je suis Anglais'

They had made it....with the only performance drugs used being of the detracting kind - namely a glass of wine or two.

Once there they had a large, and late breakfast, but they had just cycled to Paris so probably did deserve it!

Having loaded the bikes onto the support vehicle, they headed north, stopping briefly at Senlis for lunch - a small beautiful town.

They tried to find somwhere to get cheese, Tina spotted a shop called Le Bon Fromage, and said it might be a good place to get cheese, shame it was shut!

Overall it had been an exhausting and exhilarating four days, and knowing they had raised a substantial amount of money for a very worthy cause, more than compensated for the aching legs.

Thank you to all our sponsors for their generosity and making this challenge a great success.

Details of the East Anglia Children's Hospice can be found at

www.each.org.uk

Footnote:

You might be interested to note that the highest speed recorded for the bikes was 37.8mph. Not to be outdone our support manager has an official receipt from the Gendarmes for doing 162kmh!