Coke stop on the main square
Monday, August 24, 2009
Lilliers to Fresnes Mazancourt - mileage total 210
After waking up very early I managed to get a bit more sleep before breakfast and then set off about 8:30 which was later than I had hoped for.
Setting off I tried to banish any thoughts of the big hill at mile 11. I soon found that a factory had been built exactly where I wanted to go but managed to cycle through the factory complex without any questions.
I cycled through some mining towns with big slag heaps and thought perhaps the satnav wanted me to go up one and I could go round. Just after Barlin I spotted a big ridge! I was soon passes by a pensioner on an old racing bike bit quickly caught at the bottom of the hill. I stuck to his rear wheel and followed him up the hill. It was like doing Bury Hill twice but the view was great.
Close to Mont Saint Etoi my chosen route turned into dirt track again. Another detour had to be planned.
After 25 miles I made it to Arras - a lovely town . I stopped in the main square for coke in the sun. I had thought I could do some provisions shopping but everything was closed on Monday morning!
I expected the rest of the today to be hilly but it was ok. The head wind was more of a problem. I had managed to chose some roads that were specifcally restricted to farmers and cyclists. They were great. I went through lots of villages which were like the village of the damned (or Ashington) with no shops and not a living soul to be seen.
I was looking for somewhere to get lunch but realised that this was neve going to happen on my rural route. I had burnes about 3500 calories on just my breakfast so I decided to stop and ate a whole bar of chocolate. I then pressed on for Fresnes Mazancourt past lots of Commonwealth War Cemetries - I was now in the Somme.
I arrived at my stop around 3:00 pm - little early for my hostess but I managed to go shopping with her in Peronne at get more chocolate and energy drink for tomorrow. I have an English couple staying tonight so that may make dinner more fun and it will be my first proper meal since Saturday.
Tomorrow is 75 miles to Dan and Claire ad I will be cycling away from Paris. I must be mad. Also the rain has set in and the forecast is rain.
Oh well
Richard
Setting off I tried to banish any thoughts of the big hill at mile 11. I soon found that a factory had been built exactly where I wanted to go but managed to cycle through the factory complex without any questions.
I cycled through some mining towns with big slag heaps and thought perhaps the satnav wanted me to go up one and I could go round. Just after Barlin I spotted a big ridge! I was soon passes by a pensioner on an old racing bike bit quickly caught at the bottom of the hill. I stuck to his rear wheel and followed him up the hill. It was like doing Bury Hill twice but the view was great.
Close to Mont Saint Etoi my chosen route turned into dirt track again. Another detour had to be planned.
After 25 miles I made it to Arras - a lovely town . I stopped in the main square for coke in the sun. I had thought I could do some provisions shopping but everything was closed on Monday morning!
I expected the rest of the today to be hilly but it was ok. The head wind was more of a problem. I had managed to chose some roads that were specifcally restricted to farmers and cyclists. They were great. I went through lots of villages which were like the village of the damned (or Ashington) with no shops and not a living soul to be seen.
I was looking for somewhere to get lunch but realised that this was neve going to happen on my rural route. I had burnes about 3500 calories on just my breakfast so I decided to stop and ate a whole bar of chocolate. I then pressed on for Fresnes Mazancourt past lots of Commonwealth War Cemetries - I was now in the Somme.
I arrived at my stop around 3:00 pm - little early for my hostess but I managed to go shopping with her in Peronne at get more chocolate and energy drink for tomorrow. I have an English couple staying tonight so that may make dinner more fun and it will be my first proper meal since Saturday.
Tomorrow is 75 miles to Dan and Claire ad I will be cycling away from Paris. I must be mad. Also the rain has set in and the forecast is rain.
Oh well
Richard
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Calais to Lilliers
I was picked up this morning by the channel tunnel bike service and Norman and 7:45 and we were on the 8:50 train. I was the only pick up so there was no one to chat to and no chance of a cycling companion for even a few miles. Soon enough I arrived in a warm and sunny Calais and was ready to set of on the 45 miles to Lilliers.
The road was smooth and fast but into a head wind. I has been chatting to a guy I cycled through Storrington with a few weeks about who had warned me about the route to Paris being into the prevailing wind. The
route was very pretty through the marais or marshes with canals everywhere and little bridges. To my right was a ridge of hills where
the wind turbines seemed to be having a productive day.
10 miles in at Ardres (very pretty) the route started to climb a bit. I has been expecting an easy day but one look at the countryside and I
was not so sure. I should have paid more attention to the elevation charts on my maps ( safely stowed in my back pack).
It was starting to get hot and the climbing was hard work. Nothern France was very quiet hardly any cars on the road and hardly any
cyclists but I have plotted a very rural route.
After 20 miles I was pretty tired and stopped for water and chocolate. I ate a while bar of warm Milka before I realised it. The view was
like the South Downs. Northern France flat - you've got to be joking.
A few encouraging texts and messages make all the difference.
The rolling hills continue and the weight of my backpack is an issue also my legs are a bit tiresdfrom 90 miles plus on Saturday. Luckily
I'm in no rush.
I shot down a hill (Rue du Moulin) into a small little valley and started the climb up to the windmill. As I got to the top the road
became a stoney dirt track. I had a choice of going back and trying to find a new route or pushing the bike until the track became a road
again. I could see farms ahead and decided to walk on. A girl shot past me on her mountain bike and i felt a bit more sure of my plan.
Soon enough the Tarmac returned. Still more hills - in all 20 miles of them. By now my water was running low and every bar, restaurant and
tabac was closed.
In Helfaut the Tabac was open so I pulled in had a small coke £2:00 (they could see is was thirsty) and set off again.
The hills were over thankfully.
By the time I got to Aire sur le Lys I was in need of food but everything was closed. I spotted a McDonalds and pedalled through the drive-thru. It's been a long time since they have had any of my money !!! Big Mac, large fries and a large coke with ice was probably
the right food groups after 42 miles.
7 miles to Lilliers. I arrived at the Chateau Philiomel looking a mess as the chain had come off (again!!!) and I was oily and sweaty. The owner looked a bit worried about his White linen and towels. I just wanted a warm bath. No such luck I had to make do with a cold shower and followed by a sleep. I then wandered into the town to find dinner
- everything was closed!! So I settled for takeway pizza on a bench in front of the town hall. I can't believe anyone could make such a
horrible pizza.
Another early night. In bed by 9:00 to get myself ready forthe next 60 and what looks to be a monster hill at 10 miles. A steep climb of 500 feet.
Richard Spofforth
The road was smooth and fast but into a head wind. I has been chatting to a guy I cycled through Storrington with a few weeks about who had warned me about the route to Paris being into the prevailing wind. The
route was very pretty through the marais or marshes with canals everywhere and little bridges. To my right was a ridge of hills where
the wind turbines seemed to be having a productive day.
10 miles in at Ardres (very pretty) the route started to climb a bit. I has been expecting an easy day but one look at the countryside and I
was not so sure. I should have paid more attention to the elevation charts on my maps ( safely stowed in my back pack).
It was starting to get hot and the climbing was hard work. Nothern France was very quiet hardly any cars on the road and hardly any
cyclists but I have plotted a very rural route.
After 20 miles I was pretty tired and stopped for water and chocolate. I ate a while bar of warm Milka before I realised it. The view was
like the South Downs. Northern France flat - you've got to be joking.
A few encouraging texts and messages make all the difference.
The rolling hills continue and the weight of my backpack is an issue also my legs are a bit tiresdfrom 90 miles plus on Saturday. Luckily
I'm in no rush.
I shot down a hill (Rue du Moulin) into a small little valley and started the climb up to the windmill. As I got to the top the road
became a stoney dirt track. I had a choice of going back and trying to find a new route or pushing the bike until the track became a road
again. I could see farms ahead and decided to walk on. A girl shot past me on her mountain bike and i felt a bit more sure of my plan.
Soon enough the Tarmac returned. Still more hills - in all 20 miles of them. By now my water was running low and every bar, restaurant and
tabac was closed.
In Helfaut the Tabac was open so I pulled in had a small coke £2:00 (they could see is was thirsty) and set off again.
The hills were over thankfully.
By the time I got to Aire sur le Lys I was in need of food but everything was closed. I spotted a McDonalds and pedalled through the drive-thru. It's been a long time since they have had any of my money !!! Big Mac, large fries and a large coke with ice was probably
the right food groups after 42 miles.
7 miles to Lilliers. I arrived at the Chateau Philiomel looking a mess as the chain had come off (again!!!) and I was oily and sweaty. The owner looked a bit worried about his White linen and towels. I just wanted a warm bath. No such luck I had to make do with a cold shower and followed by a sleep. I then wandered into the town to find dinner
- everything was closed!! So I settled for takeway pizza on a bench in front of the town hall. I can't believe anyone could make such a
horrible pizza.
Another early night. In bed by 9:00 to get myself ready forthe next 60 and what looks to be a monster hill at 10 miles. A steep climb of 500 feet.
Richard Spofforth
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Saturday 22 August - The Off
The day has come to set off. I pedalled to Billingshurst to the get the 7:30 to Victoria and then made my way to Marble Arc :-). After and all day breakfast sandwich i set off at about 9:30. Down Park Lane to Buckingham Palace, Along the Mall and through Admiralty Arch and I then dropped down onto the Embankment and shot along to Tower Bridge. The roads weren't too bad but you have to watch those buses and every few minutes there are traffic lights.
Once over Tower Bridge it was through Bermondsey to Greenwich - not the nicest of areas (Jon I didn't need my stab vest!). Greenwich was nice and then along Shooter Hill Road (Jon - I didn't see any shooters - I now think that perhaps you were lying to me!).
At 11:40 I was out of SE London and on a bridge looking at the traffice belwo me on the M25 - time for celebratory chocolate with a Harley rider.
Now off into the Kent countryside much nicer riding and good speed in now time i was coming down a big hill looking at Aylesford and Maidstone and thinking of lunch. I had the image of a country pub but ended up at a Cafe in a park with ham, egg and cheesy chips (the cheese was absent) washed down by coke. it did the job. The satnav has been great too.
Setting off after lunch i was optimistic but soon things went a little wrong - i missed a turn and had to double back adding a 6 mile detour around Meopham and was soon quite near Bearsted. When I planned my route i had chose to use the Pilgrims Way. It goes along the south side of the North Downs and has amazing views, gentle ups and downs and little or no traffic. I then turned left on to a monster hill - going north! It went on for ever and i really felt the weight of my backpack. I was rewarded at the top with a sit down and thoughts that pilgrims must be masochist's. Another ride through tiny unused lanes and i only saw another cyclist for a while.
SATNAV disaster - these are supposed to be foolproof but some fool had put in a road that petered out in a forest! I had to adandone my plan - ask the locals for help (i won't do that again) and make my way to Charing and the A20. From Charing i was off route and got my head down to cycle the busy A20 to Ashford and on to Folkestone. The wind had picked up and was in my face. I had now done some 75 miles and was getting tired. My water was starting to get low and it was getting hotter. I was sure to find a garage soon and get more water. No such luck eventually i could see the Channel Tunnel terminal and that got me more motivated to pedal on to the hotel. I arrived hot tired and with sore feet (!!) at around five. Just over 7 hours of riding and 93 miles. They gave me a room on the top floor just to I could take the bike upstairs.
After a quick trip to Tesco to get lucozade I showered and climbed into bed exhausted before supper (steak and chips) and then an early night. Tomorrow it's France and I will be goign through the Tunnel around 9:00. Only 45 miles tomorrow.
News of Lucy (much more important) is that she is recovering and breathing unassissted. This is fantastic.
thank you for all the support calls, emails and text's. Keep them coming.
R
Once over Tower Bridge it was through Bermondsey to Greenwich - not the nicest of areas (Jon I didn't need my stab vest!). Greenwich was nice and then along Shooter Hill Road (Jon - I didn't see any shooters - I now think that perhaps you were lying to me!).
At 11:40 I was out of SE London and on a bridge looking at the traffice belwo me on the M25 - time for celebratory chocolate with a Harley rider.
Now off into the Kent countryside much nicer riding and good speed in now time i was coming down a big hill looking at Aylesford and Maidstone and thinking of lunch. I had the image of a country pub but ended up at a Cafe in a park with ham, egg and cheesy chips (the cheese was absent) washed down by coke. it did the job. The satnav has been great too.
Setting off after lunch i was optimistic but soon things went a little wrong - i missed a turn and had to double back adding a 6 mile detour around Meopham and was soon quite near Bearsted. When I planned my route i had chose to use the Pilgrims Way. It goes along the south side of the North Downs and has amazing views, gentle ups and downs and little or no traffic. I then turned left on to a monster hill - going north! It went on for ever and i really felt the weight of my backpack. I was rewarded at the top with a sit down and thoughts that pilgrims must be masochist's. Another ride through tiny unused lanes and i only saw another cyclist for a while.
SATNAV disaster - these are supposed to be foolproof but some fool had put in a road that petered out in a forest! I had to adandone my plan - ask the locals for help (i won't do that again) and make my way to Charing and the A20. From Charing i was off route and got my head down to cycle the busy A20 to Ashford and on to Folkestone. The wind had picked up and was in my face. I had now done some 75 miles and was getting tired. My water was starting to get low and it was getting hotter. I was sure to find a garage soon and get more water. No such luck eventually i could see the Channel Tunnel terminal and that got me more motivated to pedal on to the hotel. I arrived hot tired and with sore feet (!!) at around five. Just over 7 hours of riding and 93 miles. They gave me a room on the top floor just to I could take the bike upstairs.
After a quick trip to Tesco to get lucozade I showered and climbed into bed exhausted before supper (steak and chips) and then an early night. Tomorrow it's France and I will be goign through the Tunnel around 9:00. Only 45 miles tomorrow.
News of Lucy (much more important) is that she is recovering and breathing unassissted. This is fantastic.
thank you for all the support calls, emails and text's. Keep them coming.
R
News - Friday 21 August 2009
Today started with a TXT from Lucy to say that she had been called to hospital in the night for her heart and lung transplant. This is just what she has been waiting for and she has been disappointed twice before. Timing is unbelievable and today was very stressful waiting to hear if there was a good match and that all was in good condition. Lucy was then taken to theatre and it just had to wait to hear whether all went well. All my thoughts were with Lucy, Jon and Denise. The feeling of relief to hear that she was out of theatre at the end of the day was immense.
Lucky I had organised myself to depart on Thursday concentration was difficult on Friday
Tomorrow is the big off!!
Hope I sleep ok
R
Lucky I had organised myself to depart on Thursday concentration was difficult on Friday
Tomorrow is the big off!!
Hope I sleep ok
R
Training in France W/C 26 July 2009
I have been training in France whilst on holiday for a week and managed a staggering 425 miles including my for 100 mile ride. I am really pleased but the pain was interesting and it was pretty tiring.
R
R
What a difference
My oldest friend Nick (www.bikeandrun.co.uk) has lent me his Cannondale Synapse - it's a proper road bike, fast, light and carbon. Speed has increased dramatically but that saddle has to go. Thanks Nick
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