We did it!  On Sunday 13th June, Nicole and I (plus our friend, Kevin) participated in the 'Tour de Rennie Grove', cycling around the undulating (some may say hilly) Herts countryside, raising money for Rennie Grove Hospice Care, a registered charity offering specialist care for adults and children diagnosed with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.

It was a sweltering day, so armed with plenty of water and smothered in sun lotion, we set off!  It was a circular route and we opted to start/finish in Harpenden, avoiding the morning runners participating in the St Albans Half Marathon.  Our first pit stop was Whipsnade Zoo (11miles), followed by a short detour (additional miles!) to Pitstone Windmill - reputed to be the oldest in the British Isles.  Back on track, we made our way to the base of Ivinghoe for the climb up to the Beacon.  This was halfway (26miles) and we had a well-deserved ice cream stop at the top - what a view - the Whipsnade chalk lion looked magnificent!  Onwards through the beautiful Ashridge Estate to Potten End and down the long hill towards Water End...but, in Herts, what goes down, goes up and we then faced Red Lion Lane, with its an energy-zapping steep climb at the base (our poor legs)!  Our reward was a few miles later... a fabulous descent into picturesque Redbourn, where we grabbed a sandwich to recharge our energy levels.  This helped us face the climb up to Harpenden - but this wasn't the finish - oh no, we still had to cycle to Rennie Grove House and back.  Thankfully, the St Albans Half Marathon had finished, so we didn't have to dodge any runners!  We had a sharp climb to St Albans hospital, took a quick photo at Rennie Grove, then headed back towards Harpenden... the home stretch!  Our friend Kevin added a few more hills (and distance) with a quick 'hello' to one of his friends, then we made our way through Harpenden to the finish... we made it!  The official distance was 51miles; we cycled 57.5miles, so a little extra. 

Thank you so much for your sponsorship - you helped us smash our target, raising funds for this very worthy charity.  Thank you for your support and well-wishes.   Helen & Nicole xx

Rennie Grove is a charity providing specialist care & support for adults and children with life-limiting illnesses in Buckinghamshire & west Hertfordshire. Through their unique hospice at home service, available day & night & a range of day services, they support their patients to live the best quality life they can with a choice about how & where they are cared for towards the end of life. They are also there for the families of patients, ensuring that everyone can receive the right support, helping make every moment together matter.