We made it! The Eiffel Tower was only 10 miles from our hotel so our final total from Alresford to the Eiffel Tower was about 197 miles (plus the 10 miles back). I have posted a couple of pictures to show that we really were here. Tomorrow we travel to Honfleur via Rouen. Thursday, my birthday will be spent around Honfleur. (Mark thinks we may even do a bike ride if it is fine!) Then it's the 5pm ferry back to Portsmouth on Friday, arriving home to Alresford around Midnight.
Job done.

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Well, we did make it to Versailles. It took 8 hours and was 68 miles, about what I had worked out. This stage wasn't quite so enjoyable as it had to be done mainly on busy main roads. To have gone by minor roads would have added 20 miles or more. My daughters have just given me an early birthday present of a union jack cycling shirt so that I can arrive at the Eiffel Tower in some style! The trip into Paris should be less than 15 miles each way. That will be bliss!!

 

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Just a quick update as I have paid for a little bit of Wi-Fi access.

We have reached Connelles, just south of Rouen, after two days of cycling. Our mileage so far is 117. This is a lot more than planned for this stage but we have tended to follow the large loops in the River Seine rather than cut across very hilly terrain. The weather has been very hot and sunny and we had a problem of dehydration today. We sorted this by going into a cemetery where there was bound to be a tap as the French are very diligent about keeping their grave flowers fresh. It certainly worked for us! I also had my first puncture in 15 months, and 3000 miles, of cycling. Quel dommage! Today, we had to take on one very long, steep hill climb of about two miles. I was very grateful for all the practice cycling I have done in Sweden.

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Tomorrow we have to get to Versailles. I estimated this to be around 65 miles. As I was so wrong about today's distance I dread to think what we might have to do. After that, on Tuesday, we will have no more than 15 miles to get to the Eiffel Tower - but of course that will be another 15 back to our hotel as Susan has absolutely no intention of going any nearer to Paris than Versailles! At this point the bikes go away.

 

When I get a chance I will put some pictures onto this page. Just now I am just too fatigued to figure out how to do it!

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In March 2010 I took up cycling again (after a 40 year break!). Since then I have cycled nearly 3000 miles. For the last three months I have focussed on much longer rides (30-50 miles) to enable me to contemplate being able to undertake what for me is a really big challenge.

 

So, in order to raise some much needed funds for the Winchester Churches Nightshelter I am going to cycle from Alresford to Paris, around 160 road miles, between 28th and 31st May 2011. My son-in-law, Mark Tugwell, will be cycling with me. Susan and Arwen will travel by car and be our 'back-up'.

 

The Nightshelter provides guests with a bed, meals, shared facilities, safety and comfort. It also provides professional support and guidance to help individuals find long-term accomodation and to escape the cycle of homelessness.

 

Like all charities so much more is possible with more funds. Last year around 300 guests had to be turned away for lack of bed space. A restructuring project is currently underway to increase the number of bedrooms from 15 to 17 to address this issue.

(Visit    www.wcns.org.uk    to read more about the work of the Winchester Churches Nightshelter.)

 

Please sponsor me to raise as much money as possible for this incredible organisation and the valuable work that it undertakes.

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity.

Make sure you Gift Aid your donation as tax can be reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. Currently, this increases your donation by 25%.

So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

 

Thank you.

 

Patrick Trowbridge