Stroke Association London-Paris bike ride 2008: The Clock Stops For Nobody

2.9.08

The Clock Stops For Nobody

Well time has well and truly flown by and the reality of what were about to attempt is looming large.
Our training is complete and that can only be a good thing,though as Chris has eluded to we have had a relapse in the final stages and I have also been away for a week so no training for me for 10 days.

I personally would like to thank everyone for their kind well wishes and sponsorship and look forward to seeing you when we get back

keep looking in and the final chapter will be posted when we return.

au revoir

London to Paris - Route Details

Day 1 – London to Portsmouth

We meet early on Thursday morning. Following a briefing and safety talk, we will divide up into our different guided groups. Each of these groups is made up of 10 participants of a similar fitness and speed. Making our way out of London we pass through Richmond Park and on to Hampton Court, areas rich in history and fabulous to pass through on a bike with the Thames never far away. We continue on from here along small country roads to our lunch spot in the heart of rural Surrey. As the roads get smaller, we pass through the prettiest of villages, heading up and down the hills, over the North Downs, to our tea break before we head off the South Downs and into Portsmouth. Dinner and accommodation in a local hotel near the ferry port.

Day 2 – Caen to Bernay

We have a very early start to make the ferry departure at 07.00 from Portsmouth. On board we relax, have breakfast , catch up on our sleep and before mid-day we arrive in the village of Ouistreham, just north of Caen, in France. We have a short briefing before we head off on the cycle path and into the French countryside with a fabulous picnic lunch just a couple of hours away. As we pass tiny hamlets, bubbling brooks, “ville fleurie”, farmhouses and fields of horses we approach the end of our day’s cycling in the town of Bernay. The town has a long and prominent history as heralded by the Benedictine Abbey, the medieval buildings and the vestiges of mills all around. We spend the night in a wonderful local hotel and eat in a nearby restaurant.

Day 3 – Bernay to Arc de Triomphe

Our third and last early morning but this time it is for our 100 mile day! We pass fields of sunflowers, corn and other crops and stop for refreshments in tranquil little villages along the way. The route gives us a taste of civilisation as it takes us past the large town of Evreux, before it once again takes us up and down hills to get to the Palace of Versailles, home of the French Monarchy. Here we have a rest before embarking on the last leg of our journey that will take us all the way into Paris, to the Arc de Triomphe and our finish celebrations. That night we celebrate our 400kms ride with a Finish Dinner in a restaurant in Paris. Accommodation in Paris.

Day 4 - Free Day!

We make the most of all that Paris has to offer before getting the Eurostar back to London St.Pancras.