PEDAL TO PARIS allez! allez!

Starting on 31st August, the dynamic duo (aka Kevin and Neale) are going to cycle in just 4 days, the 288 miles from London to Paris.

we are doing this to raise funds for the Royal British Legion. The route will take in many of the battle grounds between Dunkirk and Paris where members of our armed forces laid down their lives in two world wars. There will be a memorial service and stops en route to pay our respects.  

Training started in earnest on 12th Feb with a time trial session at the Olympic Velodrome. We have challenged each other with fiendish training rides in Kent, the Lake District and in the Scottish Highlands. 

This challenge is being self funded and all donations will go to the Royal British Legion.

UPDATE

We have less than 3 weeks to go before our epic ride to Paris. We have both been training hard and will be ramping things up over the next few weeks. Neale is off to Germany to do some long days in the saddle and tackle some big climbs. I have been wearing out the tarmac all over Kent. Many thanks to Shaun and David for a gruelling 80 mile ride in the rain  yesterday. The sausage and chips in Marden helped. Thank you to Canterbury Bicycle Club for the ride outs on Saturday mornings.

and a huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far, it really has helped to spur us on.

Upward and onward..! 

UPDATE 30th August

The waiting is nearly over as we will be setting off from Eltham Palace about 8am tomorrow. It'll be a +80 mile ride to Dover and then a ferry crossing to Dunkirk. I found out today that my great grandfather survived 4 crossings to Dunkirk to rescue British troops from the beaches. Will be thinking of him tomorrow.

 UPDATE 31st August

We set off at 8am and cycled the 107km to Dover. There was a great atmosphere among the 300 or so riders and the weather was kind apart from near Ashford where it was a tad damp.🌧. The biggest challenge was the long steep climb up Capel le Ferne hill, just outside Folkestone. Some riders got off and walked but I am eased to report that Neale and I rode to the top. neale soldiered on to Dover, but I stopped at the Valiant Sailor for a pint 😀🍺.

1st September

Today there was a memorial service at the war cemetery in Dunkirk, attended by local councillors and by the mayor. This was incredibly moving experience. We then rode 153km to Abbeville. This was a tough ride with a few long steep energy sapping hills. We were led by a support vehicle and about 15 motor cyclists escorted us, stopping the traffic as we rolled through the villages and countryside. Neale rode at the front for most of the day and took no prisoners on the hills. This was an epic ride which we both thoroughly enjoyed.

2nd September

Today we cycled 107km from Abbeville to Beauvais. We attended memorial services in both towns. The combined forces liberated these towns from German occupation and to this day, the French people continue to commemorate the fact. We were welcomed by locals cheering from their houses and there were flags and banners. It was very touching. 

3rd September WE MADE IT!!

Today we cycled 100km from Beauvais to Paris. Our motor cycle escort closed off the roads as we swept through Paris and along the Champs Elysees to the finish line at the Arc de Triomphe. The French people were hugely supportive, opening their houses for pit stops (!), cheering as we passed by and putting up flags and bunting. We Brits might have forgotten that we liberated them from the Germans, but they have not.

There was a moving ceremony at the Arc. This year is the 50th Anniversary of my grandfather's death. This journey has been a tribute to him and to those who did not make it back.

Several of our fellow cyclists are ex military and they have spoken of harrowing experiences  in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Royal British Legion still has much work to do.

Thank you to all of you who have supported Neale and I and who have donated to this great cause.