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Kate and Anna's progress was tracked and
documented by Kate's Auntie Sheila:
DAY ONE
Evening
all. This is Kate's Auntie Sheila with the first update on the progress
of our intrepid cyclists. This information comes via a live satellite
link direct to our girls.....oh OK then, Kate rang me whilst in the
queue to get on the ferry!
Our
heroines set off this morning at 7.15am (I was with them in spirit,
honest!!!) and set a cracking pace - well until the first hill was
reached, when I believe a change of pace was necessary! They spent
a total of 7 hours 40 minutes in the saddle and according to Kate, there
are "way too many hills between London and Dover"! However, they
were keen to point out that there are some good things about hills -
i.e. the freewheeling down the other side of them!
They
slogged on through the beautiful English countryside until eventually
Dover came in to view. Direct quote here: "You have never seen people so
happy to see Dover in your life!"
 They
cycled into the aforementioned port at 4.45pm - where the prospect of
sitting down on something that didn't have wheels attached, made them
elated beyond belief!
So
there you have it folks. They made it to Dover, in one piece. Their bums
are sore, their legs are like jelly but they are in great form! Kate has
only cried 3 times today - probably on the way up the 3 biggest hills!
They have 5 miles to go once they arrive in France as their final
destination is the Holiday Inn in Calais. Anyone want to take bets
on who gets to the hot bath first?!
Tomorrow's destination is Abbeville - an easy 80 mile jaunt! Keep
your fingers crossed that the weather stays dry and that the wind is
always at their backs. Kate has promised to text/phone tomorrow
with another update. So until then this is Proud Auntie Sheila signing
off.
DAY TWO
Bonjour
everybody. Well here I am again, bringing you up to date on what
our intrepid girls are up to. But first things first.....who got to the
hot water first last night? I have to report it was Kate - Anna
took pity on her and let her use the facilities first. She is obviously
a kind and generous soul - or Kate was so pongy she could bear it no
longer! Draw your own conclusions, I am saying nothing!
When I asked Kate who got to the "bath" first she misheard me and said
"we didn't go to the bar, we were soooooo tired!" Again, I am
saying nothing!
Anyway, through the wonders of modern technology - Kate's mobile - I
have today's report. Our heroines set off at 6.55am (local time) and I
would like to report that the pace was fast and furious, but I am
reliably informed that the 27 miles to the first water stop were very
painful on the bum bones - so I am thinking, maybe not so fast and
furious after all!
However, after the first stop, things improved - or their pain
thresholds went up a notch and the bums were fine! They had a
lunch stop after 43 miles - sorry, I have no idea what they had for
lunch but I will check tomorrow - and then a 3rd water stop after 63
miles, before the final 12 miles to the Ibis Hotel in Abbeville, which
they reached at 4.30pm (local time). So today's mileage is a grand total
of 75 miles, with 7 hours 33 minutes, in total, spent in their saddles -
data supplied by Kate's onboard bicycle computer (I had no idea such
things existed!) . That's the technical data over with - now on to the
touchy feely stuff.......
The weather is lovely - maybe we should all move to France - warm and
sunny for most of the day, although a little light rain fell just as
they were nearing Abbeville. Whilst on the phone Kate was heard to
exclaim "Wow! Cracking lines Anna!" When I enquired what it all
meant I was told that Anna is a bit sunburnt and has some lovely white
lines! By the time she gets home though she will look tanned and
lovely, so I don't think I will spend too long standing next to her!
There has only been one incidence of Kate crying - improvement on
yesterday then - and that was at the top of a very steep hill. I think
we can put that one down to "battle fatigue"! Talking of hills,
Kate wishes it to be known that Anna cycled up every hill in her path
today and did not resort to getting off and walking on any occasion.
Kate, on the other hand, dismounted twice on uphill sections but wishes
it to be known that she was not the only one!
The French countryside is beautiful and they have seen some lovely
things. They are making friends with their fellow cyclists and the
camaraderie is great. I think they are in serious danger of having a
brilliant time!
Anna's bike - Cog - and Kate's bike - Claude - are standing up to the
challenge magnificently. There have been bike casualties along the way,
but Cog and Claude were not amongst them!
And now some messages from our girls: Anna says "Kate's doing really
well". Kate promises that Anna was not paid to say that but she will be
buying her a drink in the bar later! Kate says "More sponsorship
please!" I looked on Just Giving before I started tonight's report
and I am pleased to say they have now reached £7045. Brilliant!
Lets dig deep and get them over their target of £7500.
Anyway, time for me to sign off. Tomorrow sees Anna, Cog, Kate and
Claude cycling from Abbeville to Beauvais - a mere 68 miles, or
thereabouts. So, fingers crossed for the good weather to continue
and the warm winds to blow softly at their backs. Until tomorrow, this
is Proud Auntie Sheila saying 'Adieu' xxx
DAY THREE
Bonjour
mes amies - I feel sure that is not grammatically correct, but you get
my gist! Here is Proud Auntie Sheila ready to update you with the
latest on our intrepid heroines and to introduce some new
characters.....Graham and John aka "my knights in shining armour".
Patience dear reader, all will be revealed.......
Today
has been, to quote Kate, "a day of ups and downs" and I don't think she
was talking about the hills! Our girls had a late start - 8.25am
(local time). When I enquired why, there was a long and convoluted
explanation about having a "window" between 7 and 9am during which they
could start. However, I think it was more to do with the fact it was
raining! Anyway, they set off, from Abbeville, with their wee gang
of 6 - 2 of whom are also riding for CRY, 1 for Amnesty International
and 1 for their local hospice - and despite the rain, spirits were high
and their laughter rang around the beautiful French countryside.
Then,
at about 10 miles in, Claude decided to spice it up a bit and got his
first puncture of the day, which was half way up a very steep hill!
Enter the "knights in shining armour" Graham and John (who are
incidentally part of the wee gang of 6). They stepped up to the
challenge and set to repairing Claude - and soon Kate was on her way
again.....for all of 10 metres! Something to do with not finding the
flint which caused the 1st puncture (don't ask me, I got confused at
this point!). Anyway, in stepped the "KISAs" again (you
surely don't think I am going to type "knights in shining armour" every
time I have to mention them do you? C'mon people work with me here!).
Anyway
KISAs to the rescue and the Kate/Claude combo were soon on their way
again. All this drama and we haven't even reached the 1st water
stop. "Where was Anna?" I hear you ask. She had soldiered on
ahead, scouting the path and making sure there were no nasty spiky
stones to further damage Claude! Anyway, Kate & Claude made it to
the water stop, took on some liquid refreshment (anyone for Pimms?) and
they found Anna had been sent on ahead. So what does Kate decide to do?
She decides to go it alone to catch up, leaving the KISAs
behind.....through the gorgeous French countryside she pedalled,
thinking happy thoughts, when disaster struck! Claude had a
complete hissy fit and got another puncture!!!! But this time it
was "serious". Something to do with inner tubes!
Back-up
was called for called and it was whilst waiting for said back-up that
Kate got the news that their welcoming committee was not going to be at
the Eiffel Tower to cheer them in, due to the fire in the Channel
Tunnel. Despite their best efforts to find alternative routes to Paris
family and friends have been foiled at every turn. This has been a sad
blow to morale and when the back-up ladies arrived (Girl Power!) they
found Kate a sobbing wreck, having just spoken to her Mum and Dad. I
should point out here that they didn't make her cry on purpose, the
moment just overcame her.
But she
is made of stern stuff our Kate and whilst the recovery ladies were
doing their stuff she gave herself a good talking to and good humour was
restored. Claude's puncture was fixed, however, when his tyre was being
pumped up he grew another one! Yes readers that is 4 punctures in one
morning!!! Anyway, he got fixed & the Kate/Claude combo finally
made it to their lunch stop, where they were cheered in by those already
there, which was a great boost to Kate's flagging morale as was lunch
(salad, pasta, bread, cheese and cake - see I told you I would find
out!).
The
afternoon was brilliant. The gang of 6 were reunited and stayed close.
Lots of fun and laughter plus a couple more punctures - fortunately not
Kate's - the weather improved and they rolled in to Beauvais at about
5.30pm. 68 miles in total. Haven't a clue about hours in the
saddles as the onboard computer also had a bit of a wobbly and stopped
working! Number of punctures suffered by gang of six? 8 and that
was between 3 of them! Number of punctures suffered by Anna & Cog?
Zero! Apparently Cog is fitted with armadillo tyres and "nothing
gets through those mothers!" These are obviously something worth
considering should you be contemplating a long distance cycle!
When I
spoke to them this evening they were just going in for dinner. They are
ready for the last leg tomorrow and hope to arrive in Paris between 4
and 5pm. Although the welcoming committee won't be there, I know we will
all be there in spirit with them! They were mightily cheered by
the fact that when I looked at Just Giving tonight, they are only £395
short of their target! So come on folks, if you haven't already
done it, get sponsoring!
Messages from the girls tonight are from Kate: "thank you everyone for
your support and keep donating!" and from Anna: "my feet hurt".
I suppose it makes a pleasant change from a sore bum!
So
tomorrow is the last day of the cycle and I know that you will all be
willing them on and hoping for good weather and the wind to always be
behind them. Until tomorrow, this is Proud Auntie Sheila signing off.
xxx
DAY FOUR
 Bonjour
mes amies - still incorrect but never mind! The big news of the
day is ......THEY MADE IT!!!!! Anna and Cog, Kate and Claude -
they are all there in Paris! No injuries, no drama, no more
punctures, just 2 happy, very proud girls and their long suffering
bikes! YES!!!!!
Anyway,
now that we have all taken a moment to cheer and stamp like maniacs,
let's get on with today's news.
They
left Beauvais at 8.20am. They had a lovely day, lots of jolly
camaraderie stuff and a fair number of big hills to boot! Kate wishes it
to be known that she didn't have to get off and push on any of the
hills, so she is an obvious candidate for next year's Tour de France!
They
must have set a cracking pace because at some point before lunch they
stopped at a cafe for hot chocolate! But they are at pains to point out
that it was only hot choc, they didn't want to spoil their lunch! Lunch
was at the side of a river (pasta, salad, bread, cheese and cake!) and
was lovely and then they set off on their final leg. It's all
sounding a bit like a holiday now, might give it a go myself!
They
arrived in a "holding area", which was a park somewhere in the outskirts
of Paris, at 3pm and waited for all the cyclists to arrive so that they
could cycle en masse to their final destination - the Eiffel Tower.
Once everyone was assembled, they rode in to town, like the
heroines/heroes they are, to the sound of car hoots, cheering and
general rabble rousing!!! It was an amazing experience! Once at
the Eiffel Tower, there was lots of emotion from both Anna and Kate,
plus lots of hugging and kissing!
There
was a welcoming committee, despite the best efforts of the
non-operational Eurostar. Janet, Kate's PGCE Director was there, along
with Olly's friend Arthur (from Caen) and uni friends Jim and Jess, all
there to cheer our heroines on - lots more hugging and kissing ensued!
So they
made it - as we always knew they would. They are now living it up,
on the 15th floor of a Paris Hotel. Once Kate has got the oil off her
legs they will be going up to the panoramic terrace bar, on the 23rd
floor, to open a bottle of champagne. This champagne has a story behind
it. When Olly went to Paris, to have a look around when he was offered
the chance of working there, he brought Kate back a bottle of champagne,
which they never got the chance to share. Tonight, Kate and Anna are
going to crack it open, toast Olly, who was after all the reason behind
this whole mad, wonderful journey, and also toast their fantastic
achievement - I think we should all do the same, wherever we are!
 To
celebrate everyone getting to Paris, the whole group is going out to a
posh restaurant to feast. I am sure that they may also sample some of
the excellent local wine too. Fortunately they don't have to be up early
tomorrow morning and they most definitely do not have to ride their
bikes! Actually Cog and Claude have gone on alone and are now, even as I
write, en route for London, where they will be reunited with Kate and
Anna tomorrow evening.
So
highs and lows? Kate's lows were the big hills on the first 2 days and
the punctures yesterday. Her highs were meeting fantastic new people and
managing to get to the top of hills without stopping! Also, she managed
to do it all without once donning lycra!!! Anna wasn't around to
tell me her highs and lows but I feel sure there will be an update next
week! They are talking about their next challenge
already......possibilities include Land's End to John O'Groats and the
Great Wall Of China - not in the same week though!
So
there you have it folks. They have been and gone and done it! This
is the final update from yours truly. I would just like to take this
opportunity of thanking Anna and Kate for letting me chronicle their
adventure, I have had a ball! I would also like to say raise a
glass (or cup of tea!) to Olly, a top bloke, and to our intrepid
heroines, Anna and Kate - Cheers!
This is
a very, very proud (and a little emotional) Auntie Sheila signing off.
Byeeeeeee xxxxx
PS total mileage today - 53 miles. Hours in saddle? Not a clue, on board
computer still dodgy!
Update from Kate Piddington:
In
terms of fundraising, so far we have raised £7,520 from the cycle
ride itself but we have more coming in. Olly's sister Francesca has set
up a memorial fund in his memory and we have the cycle money going in,
plus his friends did the Windsor half marathon for CRY and raised nearly
£3,000, plus there is a quiz night coming up in a few weeks and the last
one raised about £800 so we're hoping to have £11,000 or so in there
soon.
You
can still sponsor Kate and Anna for completing the London to Paris Bike
Ride, by going to
www.justgiving.com/forolly
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