Debbie's London2Paris Bike Ride

DAYS 2,3 & PARIS!!!!!!

2008-08-04T02:18:00.000-07:00

The Holiday Inn was very comfortable in Calais where we had ended up on the first night to be woken up by sunshine for a while!! A few hills before lunch and the odd shower but nothing as depressing as Day one!!!!

Day 2

A little bit weary this morning so I didn't stop to take any photos along the way but we passed through some pretty villages such as Ferques, Le Wast, Desvres, Inxent, Montreuil to Lunch which was in a field outside Campagne (with a handy barn in case the heavens opened) where we had a relaxing lie down in the long grass - although Graham wasn't so lucky and managed to take on board a passenger in the form of a tick - very nasty he was obviously very tasty!!

After lunch it was on through Saulchoy, Crecy-en-Ponthieu to the water stop at Domvast where there were more types of tracker bar than I could ever have imagined existed!! After water it was the last leg to the hotel which went through Drucat, St Riguier and into Abberville only a mere 76 miles! When we arrived eventually at the Ibis hotel (after going twice round a very busy roundabout in rushour!) we were greeted with claps & cheers & Beers! Great arrival!

Dinner that night was with all of us in the restaurant which was very pleasant then a quick Doctor check on the leg and crashed into bed!

DAY 3

Woke up to glorious sunshine what a lovely change so things suddenly didn't seem too bad. Although breakfast was a disaster as they only had one drinks machine for 120 people - you can imagine the congestion this caused as we all queued up for that very important first coffee of the day!! Felt fine until I got to the first hill and then my knee decided it had had enough and was agony - so after popping ibropofen & paracetamal like smarties I decided I would stop at every pharmacist until I found a knee support! This proved impossible as either all the French people have very skinny knees as they only had small size or my knee was incredibly swollen! After one very entertaining conversation with a pharmacist who spoke no English and I don't speak much French I eventually came out with some Arnica Gel which proved to be amazing - it was like magic cream suddenly either the pain vanished or I had realized that the lunch stop wasn't far!!
I found my new holiday home on the way to Lunch!! Sometimes it would seem that you were cycling by yourself with noone in front of you and no one behind!

Lunch was a gorgeous village green in Sarcus - very picturesque!

After bugging the Doctor again! I managed to get a tubigrip for my knee which was a lifesaver for the next set of hills after lunch! I teamed up with a super chap called Graham who was my hero and kept me going with stories and jokes through Rothois, Pisseleu, Juvignies and eventually Beauvais where we spent the night in a very basic hotel on an industrial Estate!! Having laughed each night as the twin beds got closer together - Ailsa and I were not surprised to find the beds completely together and looked at each other to say "I like you but not that much!" After a wee bit of funiture removing in a room where you couldn't swing a cat we got sorted!! Dinner that night was split into two hotels as there were too many of us and we had a good laugh! Alysia decided to do her Elephant Man impression!!!

DAY 4 - LAST DAY TO PARIS!!!!!!

Had another early start 6.30 again - I was starting to look forward to a lie in now!!! Had a very quiet breakfast as there were only 20 of us in our motel which was rather relaxing - we had just put the luggage in the truck when the heavens opened and it didn't stop raining until after lunch! Didn't take many photos along the way as it was just too wet! We arrived at the first water stop in Amblainville, after going through Troussecourt, Ressons-d'Abbaye, Corbeil- Cerf and Meru where we were told to go and find a cafe as lunch was only 10miles away! Again I teamed up with Graham and we followed the arrows although the one on the chimney was a bit odd!!

We found a cafe along with some others in Auvers-s-Oise after riding through Labbeville and Herouville. By this stage we were all soaking wet with feet like swimming pools and desparate for hot chocolate! Three rounds later we felt much better!

Not quite knowing where we were as none of us had bothered to consult the map, we thought we had better head onto the lunch stop at about midday - little did we realize that it was 3oo yrds down the road just outside the town (we could have stayed drier for longer!). Lunch was a rather wet affair with only 2 gazebos for 120 people and food tables - yes a bit of a disaster really! Luckily they had hot drinks! Doctor Freya handed out the London - Paris T-shirts for us all to wear on the ride into Paris - great a dry piece of clothing!!!

Suddenly with the end in sight the last few miles from the lunch stop through Mery, St Leu-la Foret, Enghien & St Denis until we all congregated in a Park on the outskirts of Paris all the pain had disappeared and emotions were taking over!!!! We were almost there!!!! What a moment when we all realized what we had achieved it was awesome!

Very, Very happy people!!!!!!! We hadn't even got to the tower yet!!

We all set off for the Eiffel Tower in one big mass of bikes - what an awesome and emotional experience - very hard to put into words! I have to admit to absolutley being terrified at going round the Arc de Triompe - I had to be guided round by Alysia, Pauline & husband! Then we turned down the Champs Elysee where I have to admit to blubbering all the way down as all the flags were out and people were clapping - it was incredible - not quite the Tour de France but not far off!!! Just 40 km an hour slower!!!! Round the Concorde and to the Tower what a moment when we saw that - almost there!!!

When we approached the end I eventually saw Johnnie - what a sight for sore legs!!!!
After lots of tears, hugs, photos and a glass of champagne it was back on the bike for the 20 minute cycle to the hotel - Johnnie had to get the bus!! Arrived at the hotel where our bikes were taken off us and loaded into the truck to go back to the UK that night - great no more sore bott!! The hotel was out of this world very posh indeed! Unfortunately for you no photos as I was a wee bit exhausted by then!! Had a lovely celebration dinner with all 240 of us as Route 2 joined us for that and then went to the pub down the road to celebrate as the hotel charged 10 euros for a beer!!! (only 98 euros for a glass of champagne though!!!) Fabulous night's sleep and spent Sunday wandering round Paris with Johnnie's Sister Alison and her 3 girls and met up with an old friend Axel who lives in Paris for lunch - how wonderful! Then we all boarded the Eurostar at 5.30 pm and back to the UK to reality and bikes!!!

All safely back in London we collected our bikes said goodbye and went home!!! Poor Johnnie who also hadn't had much sleep on the Sat night then had to drive us back to Devon where a wonderful banner was waiting for me and some champagne but at 11 pm I really just wanted to go to sleep!!! Thanks anyway Hans & Liz we did enjoy it on Tuesday though didn't we!!!

Blackheath - Calais - Day 1

2008-07-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

Robin very kindly drove me up to Blackheath to the Clarendon Hotel what a star!! We arrived in very good time so I checked in and had a wander round which included a delicious pistachio milkshake!!! Went back to the hotel where I bumped into Ray, Kay & Val whom I had met on the information day so it was great to see some friendly faces! We then decided the hotel menu wasn't up to much so went off to the pub for a beer then onto a restaurant where we all fuelled up on pasta ready for the morning!!!!

Met my room mate for the trip after supper a super lady from Bideford called Ailsa - during our initial get to know you conversation she asked my what my average speed was - so I said oh between 12 & 14 mph depending on the terrain - she then said oh mine is between 15 & 18 mph (so I soon realized I wouldn't be riding with my new roommate!!)

Wednesday 2nd July we were woken up at 5.30 am bounced out of bed (realistically crawled) and rushed down to breakfast as we only had an hour!
Registration was opposite on the Heath where we had to sign on the dotted line our lives away and receive our tags with which hotels we were staying in over the trip and most importantly the map directing us the way to go!!

Just about to start and guess what the rain started as well! Well it is England and it is July!!!

"Charlies Angels", Ailsa, Kay & Val - Cracking good company and me all ready for the off - only very slightly nervous!! It took us 11 miles to reach some fields on the outskirts of London! At least I didn't get off and walk the first hill or even manage to get lost unlike quite a number of the earlier/faster group who apparently missed the first water stop altogether - which was most distressing as the rest of us had a horrible hill to get to the water!!! We went out of London on the A207 to Crayford around Dartford then took the B260 out to Hartley, then onto the first water stop 20 miles down outside Harvel. Joe the Mechanic looking very bored as he had no bikes to fix - just you wait Joe we will soon keep you busy!!

Ray very happy to get to the water stop and we even had a cow on the trip - free milk anyone? It was after the water stop where things went horribly wrong for Kay & I - we were just coming up to a left turn when we saw a girl going straight over in the wrong direction so rather than concentrating on turning we were shouting to her to turn round - when I turned into the junction I didn't realize that Kay had stopped and crashed straight into her - knocking her off her bike where she unforunately hit her face on some cobbles and I landed on top of her bike with my bike on top of me. It wasn't until a very nice man called Paul came to the rescue and lifted us up and said "oh dear look at your leg!" that I realized the gear coggs had sliced my left leg up in 8 very decorative cuts! Then the shock set in and the pain!!!!! Kay had scraped her face and was going to have a great shiner in a few days and very sportingly accused me of ruining her modelling career! We walked for a bit to recover from the shock then managed to mount up and ride to the lunch stop in Doddington Village Hall another 20 miles away - including a very nasty hill worse than Mamhead! I went straight to Freya the "Doctor" who mentioned the words stitches & hospital - I said no and got bandaged up to carry on after lunch! Then the rain came down and down and down!!!! All the way to Dover! Don't ask me where we went as I just had my head down and looked for the orange arrows! But we did go via Canterbury, the next water stop was at Barham then we carried on the A260 to Dover.

This sign was the best sight in the whole world as we were very tired and very bedraggled by then after 83 miles down!!

Waiting for the ferry in the cold dismal English Summer!!!

Departure Day!!!! July 1st 2008

2008-06-30T23:01:00.001-07:00

All packed & ready for the off - am very excited - woke up at 5.15 am this morning and couldn't go back to sleep so ended up taking the dogs for a walk at 6 am and doing my last minute blog!!

I think I am mentally & physically ready if not - bad luck!!

Apparently it will rain tomorrow in Kent so that will be a shame but you never know the sun does shine on the righteous!!!!

Great news I have raised an awesome £5,000 to split between the MS Trust & MS Society not bad Eh! Talk about amazing! Everyone has been so generous so thankyou to everyone who has sponsored and supported me along the way -
THANK YOU!
Keep posted I will update you when I am back on my adventures!!!

Devon Delight Audax 29th June

2008-06-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

Well I made it down to Dawlish to meet up with Pete & Jean in their van to help stamp the cards for the Devon Delight Audax by the skin of my teeth!! Just as I arrived Pippa & Jeremy were leaving! But they were the early birds doing the 200km ride!

We had a major rush about 10.00 then the riders came in drifts!

Great fun seeing everyone - thankyou for the cake & coffee Pete & Jean and see you when I'm back!

New Career!!!

2008-06-28T07:35:00.001-07:00

I think I forgot to mention that I now have a job - very exciting I am working for Sustrans the Sustainable transport company who have started a Travelsmart Project in Exeter to encourage people (like me) out of their cars and onto bikes, buses, trains or walking! I work as a packer (packing up the information for residents such as cycling, walking maps, bus timetables etc) and then deliver them on my bike with a trailer attached! This was incredibly hard at first as we were doing an unmentionably horrible hilly area called Farm Hill and Gloucester Road in Exwick but now it isn't so bad as it has flattened out somewhat!!!

We have a great team run by Andy who is younger than me - he must be the first boss I have had who is younger than me it really makes me feel old - but then I am nearly 40 and I have more hair than he does!!! Talking about hair I think Peter & Alan ought to grow theirs as they haven't got the pony tails that Ryan & I have!!! Its a fun place to work as we even have food parcels sent down from head office in Bristol - keep them coming Francine & Lizzie - Please!!!

Well done boys!!

2008-06-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

Need I say anything!!

Well done Mike & Phil for completing your ride and still being able to lift your bikes up!! I may try but I think I will fall over if I do that next weekend.

Johnnie & I met up with Mike, Phil and their families at the Double Locks on Wed and I quizzed them to death about the ride - and I think I will be fine after the stories they told but I won't bore you with all that as I will bore you with my own stories soon enough!!!! Only 3 days to go!!!

Phil the one on the left is already planning to ride to Cuba next year - is he mad or what!! I sadly declined as I think my family would kill me!!!

Maybe Lands End to John a Groats boys!!!

Devon Delight (or should I say Undelightful)

2008-06-28T06:47:00.001-07:00

Determined to get another 100K Audax in before my big ride I offered to help Graham out by stamping a few cards on the Devon Delight Audax which will be this Sunday 29th June if he would let me ride it earlier - so guess who got the short straw to tag along - yes Pippa again poor girl!!!

We set off from Kenton as the ride went through Starcross and onto Powderham on a lovely sunny day - we arrived at Thorverton Village hall for our coffee (but of course it was all locked up but very smart!!) so we decided to go on to Pete & Jean's for a brew but they weren't in either!!

It was then beginning to rain lightly to start then it got wetter & wetter by the time we got back into Exeter we decided to go to Bernaville Nurseries for a hot cup of coffee and maybe some soup! While we were steaming dry in the nurseries we called Johnnie who very kindly brought a heavier duty rain coat and off we set again up Cowick Street and off out of Exeter up a steep hill to Longdown (more like longup!!) then down the Teign valley where we met another group of Cyclists!! John, Kirby, Geoff & Penny on their Sunday ride!! So we had a group photo and a natter and went off to Newton Abbot to a lovely 5 star complex as you can see for the next control stop!!

We then rode out from Newton Abbot around the back of Kingsteignton and got lost

at Gappah!! I had just got the map out to look out (yes it is amazing I can map read occoasionally I might not know my grid references but I can look at a map sometimes!!) and guess what the rain came down again - heavily!! So a very kind man in a white van took pity on us and gave us directions to Gappah again - this time we went the right way and made it to Ashcombe! Admitedly as soon as Pippa said this hill looks steep do you think we should get off and walk down!! I was already off my bike and tenatively walking down the slippery ski slope down into Ashcombe!! Pippa thought this was a good idea when we turned the corner and it got even steeper decending to the church!! We made it into Dawlish - I was on a roll now as it was home turf and I knew exactly where I was for once!! (makes a nice change!) We arrived home very wet and tired and in need of a hot cup of tea and a bucket to tip my shoes into which were just like swimming pools as you can see from the colour of my mud tanned legs!!

8 hours and 70 miles later not bad but very wet indeed!! Lets hope its not that wet on the way to Paris!!

BANANA MOMENT!!!

2008-06-28T06:38:00.001-07:00

Not the prettiest picture in the world but Josie Dew will be proud of the amount of bananas I have consumed on my rides (for those of you who don't know who Josie Dew is go to your library and get out her book on travelling the world on a bike her stories are quiet incredible!!)
This was one very wet ride - I needed that banana to get me up the next hill as my feet were like swimming pools and I was pretty fed up!!

Why is Pippa so much more photogenic than me!!

100 miles - yahoo!!!!

2008-06-11T09:09:00.001-07:00

On Saturday 7th June Pippa & I set off from Topsham on my longest ride yet to break the 100 mile barrier just for the hell of it!! We went via Broadclyst to Killerton up to Tiverton then onto Exmoor where we stopped in the lovely village of Winsford for a photo shoot by the Ford!

We then went on up to Comers Cross - see photo of signpost below - taking the photo and having a bannana stop at this junction cost us our lunch! When we got to Simonsbath to Boveys cafe where we had planned to have lunch we cycled past a coach with a few pensioners on the road - I have never seen pensioners move so fast just as we were setting our bikes up

against the wall about 50 of them

zoomed past and into the empty cafe! When we eventually got to the counter it was so sorry but we are not serving lunch due to the coach load of unexpected pensioners - their bus had broken down! Not our day - so no soup just cake and coffee then up the hill onto Exmoor!

We climbed out of Simonsbath up to the highest point of the ride apparently (1500 asl) so that was a good climb would have been even better with some lunch inside us!!

We then had the most amazing downhill all the way to South Molton - absolutley terrifyingly wonderful I reached my fastest speed yet of 34 mph (believe me that is good - talk to the guys at the bike shop as to how many brake blocks I have been through as I am such a wimp!!)

Gorgeous views and fabulous weather we then had a forced stop for some sheep!

We then wound our way back to just short of Crediton to a place called Eggesfield where we were hoping to get some food but no they had stopped serving food so it was a cup of earl grey and a packet of crisps!! Not quite the pint of lager! After a comfort stop we then continued onto Exeter and then Topsham - as you can see from my Spedometer we did an amazing 104 miles in 9 3/4 hours was I chuffed with that or what! Not only that but our average mph was 13.87 so not bad at all - well done trainer!!

Pippa and I cheering when we arrived back in Topsham - Yes 104 miles what a cracking day the sun shone and the company was great it whizzed by - roll on France or as Pippa said now you've done that you will easily do a 200k ride when you get back!

Sunday 1st June - only 4 weeks to go!!!!!!

2008-06-04T02:10:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday 29th May I had my last fundraising coffee morning with the CTC. We raised £127 which was fantastic and most of the cakes went which saved me from eating them up - although the boys were upset that most of the brownies went!!

We had a pretty horrible downpour on Friday which resulted in most of the roads around Kenton being flooded including the school which apparently was thigh deep in water and not good news for the parents as the school has closed and we don't know whether it will be open for the rest of the term! Totally ruins my training schedule for the next 4 weeks!!

The flooding resulted in a very interesting ride on Sunday as it started in Exminster onto Powderham for coffee then Dawlish for lunch - poor Kirby who was leading got a lot of grumbles as we had to tromp our way through mud, water and more mud!!!

I have to admit that I haven't seen as many landslides as the ones we saw and some of the roads were pretty impassable - We all got wet feet going through this river apart from Jenny who was sensibly wearing sandals!!

Last night (Tuesday) I went out for a ride with Mike & Phil who are also doing the London to Paris ride but route 2 which is defiently easier than my route as they start in Croydon and only have to cycle to Newhaven on the first day - what a doddle! They are off next week so we had a very leisurely ride round the lanes of East Devon about 20 miles ( they were only supposed to do 5 according to the schedule!!!) But we did have a lovely slice of chocolate cake at Mike's house at the end!! Thank you Sally!

I feel really small in the middle of these two!! At least I don't have to keep up with them as they are pretty fit now - well done guys you have done some awesome mileage - lets hope the kids go back to school soon and I can get some more miles under my belt in the next 4 weeks!!

Good luck Mike & Phil and have a glass of wine in Paris for me when you get there!!

London - Saturday 17th May

2008-05-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

Finally the day had come to go up to London to have my briefing for the trip and hopefully to meet some friendly mad cyclists!! It was also my eldest son - Dougal's 12th birthday who wanted to go to the Science Museum - as my meeting was in the next street this seemed like a great idea.

We went into the IMAX 3D Cinema while we were there and I have to say it was prettty amazing, even I was trying to grab the fish as they swam towards me - little Ted kept jumping up and down in his seat as the sea monsters came towards him - but he coped better than me!!

They also had fun in the hands on sectionwhere they could build bridges and stand on them and generally make a mess!!

I went off to my meeting at the Hoop & Toy pub where there was an excellent turnout - I met up with a few people - the chap sitting behind me was from Honiton! I met Andrew, Ray, Val, Kay and Janet from MS and various others so it will be great to have some friendly faces come July! We were told the last ferry leaves Dover at 11pm so as long as we make it by then we should be fine!

It seems to be pretty well organised with lots of back up vehicles and blood wagons to pick up people who are exhausted so noone gets left behind which is very reassuring! I am now very excited and can't wait for the next 5 weeks to fly by which I am sure they will.

Roll on July - after I have done a bit more training & ordered my euros!!

21st Dorset Downs 100km Audax

2008-05-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

This was the ride that Pippa had unsuccessfully been trying to put me off!! Having done it I can now see why - Mamhead hill is easy compared to Bulbarrow Hill!

Having picked up Robin & Pippa we made our way to Dorchester for our (Robin & mine) hardest ride todate!! We started off from the carpark just beside the castle. Don was also there, so I set off with Don and left the Wheelers to it as I was still shattered from our trip up to London on the Saturday.

I also met up with a friendly chap called Alan who was pretty fast so we cycled together to the first information control in Loders,where we caught up with Robin, Pippa & Don again. We then cycled together as a group which was fun. Through West Milton to Hooke, Rampsham onto Holywell then followed the signpost to Maiden Newton into the lunch control at the Southern Counties Lodge Clay Pigeon Caravan Park (You wouldn't catch me staying there we could hardly hear ourselves think as it was so noisy with the quad biking circuit right next to the cafe!! But as you can see at least the loos were very posh! Having been pampered we then rode on to Glanvilles Wootton, Holwell, Kings stag to the next info control at Fifehead St Quentin where we all ate jelly babies to tackle the next hill (Bulbarrow!!)

Well I am not ashamed to admit defeat and walked up half of it but then so did Robin & Don so I wasn't alone!! But I did manage to get some cracking pictures of the views which of course I would have missed had I been grunting all the way up on my bike!!

Very happy smiling faces at the top of Bulbarrow Hill - and a very relieved Don arriving!!!

After that is was still fairly undulating - the B3143 to Dorchester was fantastic, it was just like a rollercoaster enough of a down to let you coast almost to the top of the next rise - awesome!! Then back to the Cafe for the end where we had a very refreshing cup of tea - unlike one chap who ordered two puddings - one of icecream & peaches and the other of pie both with lashings of canned whipped cream - yum yum (he soon polished them both off much to our amusement!) Maybe next year I will ride up Bulbarrow Hill (or maybe not!!).

Alveston Audax - 10th May

2008-05-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

Audax no 5 - am getting into these now big time - This was a lovely ride 100Km of beautiful countryside. Robin and I went up to Bristol together as Pippa was resting before her crazy ride on Sunday of 150 miles in 12 hours with the Torbay lot!! (rather her than me!!)

The weather was fantastic and the miles just drifted by as we went through Itchington (no fleas!), Cromall to the Kilcott Valley and onto the first control at the Royal Oak Pub in Leighterton, where we had coffee in the carpark - no beer at this one! Then onto Tetbury to Oaksey - followed signs to Ewen (but never found him) and down a very steep hill to the Daneway Inn at Sapperton for the lunch stop. I was a bit nervous when I realized I would have to go back up the hill after lunch until I saw my answer - which one would you take?

But my fears were laid to rest when I actually started up the hill - I flew and when Robin stopped to wait for me he turned round and there I was "how did you get up here so fast?" my only answer was it must have been the pint of coke at lunchtime - the ultimate energy drink!!

We then trundelled on to Cherington and through the "Valley where time stood still" and onto yet another pub this one called the Hunters Hall Inn (must have been organised by a chap who likes his beer!) Then the last stretch towards Wotton where there was a really steep downhill which was ok until the section where the road surface was unmentionable, I really thought I was going to fly off my bike a few times! Then back to Alveston for the finish where we had another pint of coke to congratulate ourselves! 69 miles in 5.5 hours with average speed of 14mph (max speed 36mph - Wotton-under-edge hill!!) not bad eh partner!!

The best bit for me, at the end we met a very friendly couple called Mark & Louise who are getting married in July but Mark had done the London - Paris ride 6 or 7 years ago from Grenwich to Dover so that was great to chat to another mad person!!

Girls have fun too!!

2008-05-26T04:34:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday 6th May I decided to have a day off cycling and went up to Taunton with my friend Caroline for a Ladies Day at the BASC (British Association of Shooting & Conservation) headquarters in "Smokey Bottom" (what a cool address) for some fun!

We had a ball - we got to try Quadbiking, Air rifle shooting and Clay Pigeon shooting - what a blast!

Do you think I could go to France on this?

Caroline is a mean shot with the guns so watch out boys!! Apart from a little sunburn the day was great we had a super lunch and a good giggle - definetly to be tried again sometime!!

Rotten Week

2008-05-04T10:03:00.001-07:00

Have not been up to much this week as I went down with a viral throat infection - sounds scary but apparently there is nothing the Doctor can do - great! So I have been feeling very sorry for myself and did a bit of retail therapy where I went and ordered a new saddle - yippee hope this one is kinder to my bum!! Hope to be back on track next week - keep you posted!

The Merry Monk Audax - 27th April

2008-04-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Arrived in Somerset for my 4th Audax - getting quite keen on these I must say!! Having looked at the weather forecast before I left the Met Office said no rain until 4 pm - as it happens at 4 pm the rain did start how wierd is that! Couldn't believe how many people were there when I arrived it turned out that there were 120 of us on this ride that is the most yet, there was a good turnout from the Exeter CTC with Kirby, Robin, David, Martin, Linda & Yvonne and Geoff Sharpe from the Torbay Section - we were sent off the start in batches to avoid too much lycra in one go I guess or to give the motorists a chance on the lanes!!

I rode off with Robin, (while Kirby took pictures of everyone starting!) and a fair few others, we did very well on the undulating course! Until we came to a very steep hill which I am ashamed to say I had to get off and walk by the time I got to the top I was on my own with no signpost and having lost my place on the route sheet whilst panting up the hill - I was standing scratching my head when a very nice man came up behind me and shouted "Left" - which was very convienient for me! So off I trundled on my own as voice man stayed behind to wait for his mate, Coffee was at Forde Abbey which had a wonderful down hill to get there which left me wondering which way was after coffee!! The Loos had wonderful doors into them - very cute!

After Forde Abbey it was off up another hill, we were wondering why the ride was called the "Merry Monk" when Robin came up with the idea that to get up all the hills with a donkey and cart the Monks would have had to have been very, very Merry indeed!! (The home brew must have been excellent!). Through some villages with wierd names like Mosterton (I think they left out the "N"!, Bradford Abbas ( I thought they came from Sweden), Drimpton then onto Sherborne for Lunch! After lunch we came across the following - I don't know what they have against cats in Somerset!

We also met a very friendly chap in a recumbrant - who let me take his photo as my Father-in-Law (Gavin) is looking for a bath chair - maybe Johnnie could rig a motor on the back for him to get up the hills!!

Think this would suit you Gavin!

We then cycled on to Mudford, Limington past various more broken signposts ( they have a lot of vandals in Somerset all down the route sheet it was one broken signpost after another!!) Eventually we found the hill that would take us back up to High Ham for the finish which wasn't as bad as I had been led to believe!! Maybe it was the thought of tea & cake that got me up there in double quick time!! Robin & I arrived at the hall just as the clouds turned black having done - 66 miles in 5 & a half hours and average speed of 13.71 - Max speed 32.46 so I was very chuffed with that - how many jelly babies would that be Kirby? I wonder if Pippa has stocked up on fig rolls yet as there is a national shortage of them - race you to Sainsbury's first!!

Kirby & Geoff came in shortly after us and sat down for a well deserved cup of tea!!

TRAINING RIDE! - Friday 25th April

2008-04-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

My "Assistant Trainer" Pippa has just been promoted to "Trainer" now Johnnie is no longer available! Great I thought when she mentioned a training ride for Friday a route of only 4 hours!
Then came the explanation of the sections - undulating, hilly, racing and oh more undulating! We left Payhembury and rode out towards Cullompton, up to Tiverton then onto Bampton to Clayhanger (which Pippa had nicknamed Cliffhanger - I soon found out why!!) then through various places which I cannot remember to Tiverton Parkway station where we crossed the bridge and motorway and wiggled our way back to Payhembury in 4 and a half hours - I am obviously slower than Pippa!! She very kindly blamed it on my gears going up hill rather than my lack of muscle!!

A great ride and great company - Thanks Trainer!!

I arrived back in the playground at 3.30 pm to be greeted with "Oh you look tired Debbie!!" So I must have worked hard! Then down to the sailing club for Kids Friday night sailing where I had to cart 2 optimists down and get them rigged with the boys - no rest for the wicked, but boy did I sleep well on Friday!!

2008-04-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

Dustman Dave's Doddle Audax - 108 km - 20th April (really 120km!)

Pippa had assured me that this one would be a good flat fast ride and she was right - it was wonderfully flat no Devon hills, this was Somerset and very, very kind on the old legs!! Weather was good and the company great as we set off from Bishop's Lydeard to Langport for coffee 2o miles away! Good job I wasn't gasping for coffee as it was definetly a Somerset 20 miles (more like 25!!), arrived at the Parrett Cafe only to decide since we were going so well we wouldn't stop but would carry on to the lunch stop another 35 miles on where we could munch our sarnies! So off we went through Langport to Somerton then onto Sparkford to the Haynes Motor Museum for lunch where we thought the tanks would be better against the cars than bikes!!

After refueling on coffee & sarnies we were off to North Cadbury but no chocolate there!, and onto RNAS Yeovilton where the Beavers, Cubs & Scouts were obviously having a wonderful time celebrating St Georges Day clambering over helicopters and very fast looking jets!

I was worried I might get arrested for taking photos on the wrong side of the fence but obviously all the guards were on their tea break and no one caught me!

Off we went back to the Parrett Cafe in Langport again - ever get the feeling you are going round in circles, for the next control stamp. Out of Control and onto the "Curries", we went through - Curry Rivel, Currywoods and North Curry and not a single Curry house to be seen - only very impressive mansions! The lanes were still lovely and flat as we trundled through Creech St Michael, Goosenford and back to Bishops Lydeard where a wonderful spread of Quiche, cake, beans on toast & tea awaited us (don't worry I didn't eat it all, I left some for the others!).

My longest ride yet at 76 miles - average speed of 14.56 mph - riding time 5hrs 16 min - overall time with stops 6hrs 5 mins - not bad even the trainer thought I had done well (thanks Pippa!!!)

Spring Holiday ride

2008-04-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

We went up to my Mother's for a few days over the Spring Holidays and I think she will need another holiday to recover from us! The onslaught of 3 boys, 2 dogs, 2 cycling parents was probably just a wee bit too much! It didn't help that the Tuesday my Brother arrived with his two boys and wife, then my Stepbrother arrived with his cat! (Which thankfully the dogs didn't realize - otherwise it would have been bedlam) It was a bit like a comedy sketch but never mind - Johnnie and I got out on our bikes in the morning and had a lovely ride of 23 miles and averaged 15 mph so I was pleased with that! What a view!

Friend for Supper

2008-04-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would add this post as a laugh - sometimes though you had to be there! A very good friend - Sam came round for supper and said she would bring a casserole - as you can see I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!!

Well the dogs were happy that's for sure - by the way Sam the casserole was delicious!

Minehead Audax 100K 6th April

2008-04-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

My second Audax!! I was quite excited until Johnnie went over the route on the map and mentioned PORLOCK HILL! I mean that was a joke -right - well yes and no the route does go up PORLOCK HILL but only the Toll Road which still is a good 4.2 miles up hill. Having decided to do it and paid my entry fee I checked the weather forecast which was only - rain, snow, wind chill of -3 did that put me off - slightly, but I still made it to the Rugby Club at Minehead for 8.30 am for a 9.30 start - I like to be early! Only to find Pippa & Robin already there reading the paper!! We decided to go in for a cup of tea when at 9.15 am one of the organisers came over to our table, looked at me and said "the slow ones can start now if they wish"! Charming! So we did! Out of the Clubhouse and into Minehead until reaching Porlock then thankfully turning right to the toll road instead of going straight on up (my mate Mike has gone straight on up before but he has a screw loose or did as something fell off his bike on the way up - nasty!!)

Having gone straight down to granny gear I just ground my way up the most beautiful road, everytime I turned a corner the others disappeared round the next one but the view was stuning through the trees. I got to the checkpoint on the Toll road where the vehicles have to pay - luckily bikes don't count! Where I met up with Robin & Pippa again - I said "that wasn't so bad, is it downhill now?" the answer was "we are only half way up!" Me and my big mouth - so off we went up again

to the AA Box which looked like Dr Who's Tardis but the wrong colour! We then had to negoiate our way down a dirt track with lots of deep muddy puddles and rocks (John Rowland would have loved it!) not good for road tyres! Then onto Simonsbath for a well deserved chocolate Brownie & Coffee! After leaving the cafe Pippa just slipped into the conversation that we were going up hill again for 3 miles! So straight down to granny gear again and I ground my way up to Exmoor where at the top we were joined by Dave the Chip shop man - who was far too slim to have a chip shop!! But he was very friendly and carried an umbrella in his pannier - I had visions of him flying away on his bike like Mary Poppins over the moor! According to the route sheet when we got to Kinsford Gate our efforts of climbing would be rewarded with a following wind and magnificent views - luckily we hadn't had beans for lunch and the view were amazing as we could see snow being dumped from the clouds a good few miles away - it was pretty awesome! Have I mentioned the cattle grids yet - we had to go over at least 5 on the way round and boy am I glad I don't wear dentures or there could have been trouble! We arrived at Dulverton for lunch where we sat outside the pub to eat our sandwiches during a blizzard - well okay a snow settling - it was quite surreal under an umbrella! The only problem with stopping is the starting - my teeth were chattering for a good couple of miles while my body warmed up. The next control was a question to answer where we met up with some more cyclists - a very nice young lad who cheerily said all you have to worry about now is Weddon Cross - which meant nothing to me - but I certainly worried about it all the way till we got there, to be fair it was slightly steep but nothing compared to what we had already done, so we stopped for some jelly babies and moved on! The snow hit us in Dunster and boy did it sting as you cycled along - so it was head down all the way back to the rugby club, luckily only a couple of miles and we made it back - 63.88 miles - 5 hrs 9 mins and average speed 12.38 mph - not bad with those hills!

I even had snow on my saddle bag at the end of the ride!!

Roll on the summer!

50 Miles in 4/5 hours

2008-04-11T06:39:00.000-07:00

Having agreed to be in one of the Exeter CTC's team, Pippa arranged a team of 3 with myself, Roy & Robin and another with Kirby, Pippa and ? - I stupidly agreed to try the 50 miles in 4/5 hours from Kingskerswell - Crediton and back - it was only after I studied the map that I realised this took in Haldon and all the other hills around the area - and this was the easy ride!!! Having got there nice and early I waited for the rest of the bunch to arrive, Roy & Kirby arrived but no Robin and Pippa at least there were two in my team - Poor Kirby was on his own! There we were minding our own business when suddenly they were off like greyhounds after a bunny - I take it we won't be stopping for coffee then! I certainly had to pedal fast to avoid being left behind even if the leaders made two wrong turnings we all still followed like sheep!! Eventually we got on the right road out of Newton Abbot and made our way up the teign valley to Chudleigh and up to Haldon where I had to stop and hand out the Jelly babies. After Graham Brodie had showed off by sprinting past us on a hill taking photos then still managing to overtake again, I went to granny gear and just relaxed on up until - oh no Puncture hit!! On a hill what a nightmare! Kirby was a real gent and gallantly helped the pathetic female out by changing my inner tube and then puncturing the new one so had to start again - I reckon this lost us a good half hour!

Disaster had also struck that (a) I had forgotten my camera so couldn't sprint ahead to take pictures! and (b) my speedo had stopped working so I didn't know whether I did come down from Haldon into Doddicombleigh at 84mph or not!!!

Eventually we got moving again and made it to Crediton and back over more hills - my knees were beginning to grind by this stage! I couldn't see why everyone wanted to get to the check in by 3hrs 55 mins when I would have been happy with 4hrs 55 mins - but despite the punctures and the bannana stops Kirby and I sailed into the checkpoint at 4 hrs 35mins not bad at all - Sorry Kirby for holding you up so you didn't make your 3hrs 55mins!!! At least the weather was good!

Easter Sunday Ride

2008-03-26T03:12:00.000-07:00

Having survived touring for the day in Brittany in glorious weather! I went out on Easter Sunday's club ride thinking Spring, daffoldils etc but no we had miles of wind, rain & hail!! Never mind the company was good and the route was superb from Topsham - Woodbury - Lympstone - Exmouth (where we were nearly all blown off our bikes!), we managed to get to Sidmouth for lunch where I handed round easter eggs instead of jelly babies! While we sheltered from yet another hail storm! Then back to Ottery for a hot cup of tea, Alyesbere - Clyst St Mary then home. Arrived home at 5.15pm having left at 9.00 am! Johnnie was just beginning to wonder where I was! I had to take a picture of my speedometer as I don't really think I managed to do a max speed of 84.48 miles per hour - do you???!! But the machine read - distance 78.94 miles/average speed 14.97 mph and ride time 5hrs 16min - is it right or not?

We then went to Killerton on Easter Monday with friends and as you can see they all had a great Easter Egg hunt and ate more chocolate - Sadly the grownups didn't get a look in - never mind think of the calories saved less pedalling to do!!

Brittany Trip

2008-03-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

Well I made it my first time sleeping on a ferry! We boarded at Plymouth about 10.30 pm and managed to find the cabins which were too small to swing a cat in!! I was sharing with another lady called Lindsay who very kindly had the top bunk in case I needed to run to the loo to throw up as we were just above the engines and that was to prove to be pretty noisy if nothing else!! After not a lot of sleep a very unsavory person came down the corridor ringing a bell at 4.45 am!! That was totally unsociable!! Wearily, Lindsay & I staggered to find the cafe, but could only handle a cup of tea as certainly my stomach was still doing a washing machine impression!!
We emerged from the ferry in Rosscoff at 5.30 am English time - and proceeded to cycle off to coffee in our respective groups!!

As you can see not quite the fuel stop I was after Pain au Chocolat being more my bag than diesel!!

After donning the waterproofs thinking this is it for the duration we arrived for coffee in St-Thegonnec where the sun came out!! We took in a bit of culture after coffee I like the chap sticking his tongue out!! We then wound our way through drizzle up to the top of Col de Tredudon a good 361 mtrs up! After handing round the jelly babies to re-energise everyone we then made our way to yet another food stop! Lunch was at Huelgoat, where one of our party got stuck in the loo and if John had not had his phone on him well we could have left him behind poor chap - he was gone for a long time, but 6 kind knights in shinning armour helped rescue him.

In Huelgoat there were some amazing boulders and a Devils Cave just like something out of Lord of the Rings but maybe not Kirby in tights - well did the Hobbits wear tights?

After we had filled up on pizza we then made our way to Morlaix for tea and cake - my eyes were certainly bigger than my stomach as the choice was like something out of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and superbly scrumptious!!!

The castle was made entirely out of cake & chocolate and the large easter egg on the top shelf had a price tag of 123 euros - just as well it wouldn't have survived in my saddle bag! It was then onto supper in St Pol-de-Leon (I tell you cycling 70 odd miles is great when its just one food stop to the next!) We arrived in St Pol only to hear crys of help from some poor French Lady who had been locked in the public loo behind an iron grill door - what a day for loo stops - the rhyme "three old ladies stuck in a lavatory" sprang to mind - luckily she didn't speak English and our French was pretty non-existant, we abandoned her to some other French ladies and cycled off full speed! Arrived at the restaurant along with the other groups at pretty much the same time, so a great evening was had with about 35 of us admid power cuts etc, then back to the ferry in the dark for another stomach churning evening to dock at 6.15 am on Sunday morning - what a blast - when's the next one Geoff?!
This was certainly the icing on the cake for the last meal in France! Bon Appetite!

Are you going to eat all that in one go Kirby!

MID LIFE CRISIS - OR INSANITY!!!

2008-03-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to Debbie's Blog - I am new to all this so am not sure what I am doing!! I thought it would be a good idea to keep everyone posted about how my training is coming along for my mamoth bike ride.

History!
I am fairly new to cycling - having been a 10 mile round the block on a sit up and beg bike for most of my life - I suddenly signed up for a charity 300 mile ride from London - Paris last August on my 39th birthday - MID LIFE CRISIS I think!!! Anyway to cut a long story short - I paid my entry fee and here we are in the middle of mass training - oh my GOD!!

In September Stagecoach Bus Company offered to Sponsor me which was marvellous - in return for kitting me out and lending me a wonderful Bianchi Road Bike I am to cycle all the bus routes around Devon! Not a bad deal!!!

After cycling the lanes a few times on my own and thinking I need some company I decided to join the Cycling and Touring Club in Exeter - Great move!! The CTC are a wonderful, friendly bunch who have been so supportive and encouraging and gently pushing up my mileage for me without me really noticing!!

After doing my first AUDAX 106KM on 2nd March - which was very tiring but great fun - I was very glad I didn't have to mapread and could just follow the others! I felt like shouting from all the rooftops I was so happy what a difference from 10 miles round the lanes!!

Since then I have been out with a friend from the CTC, Pippa who is amazing at long distances - she has managed to get me doing 60 miles within the school day which is great - drop the kids off cycle for 6 hours - pick the kids up, what more could one want!!! (apart from sleep!!!) I truly am heading for the looney bin at this rate!

Am off to Brittany today for a weekend with the CTC and we will be cycling 120KM on Saturday so watch this space to see if I can do it!