In later months he
admitted that I could be
heard holding my breath
from several miles away.
He was right. It was one
of those moments in life
that you would never
have envisaged 2 years
ago having to think
about and I did not want
too. My brain shut down
and I found it almost
impossible to think
about. The idea was
amazing but why we were
doing it was right at
the front of my mind.
Eventually we looked at
it from how Rich’ would
look at it and we
decided that as it
seemed to involve a
holiday of sorts -
Rich’s favourite past
time - that we would go
and have one of what was
known as “one of mum and
Pete’s excellent
adventures”.
Flights booked, time off
arranged and CRY Bear
ready: we were now
going.
18th June
2010
There was no going back
now as long as I could
get in the car for the
long drive to Folkestone
and then through France
to Hendaye. The hard
part was getting in the
car and knowing why we
were going but we had
always promised to take
Rich’ through the Euro
Tunnel and armed with
his photo we were going
to do just that. We set
off, and with tears,
made the tunnel and the
crossing. Then the long
drive began for Pete and
Andrew.
19th June
2010
We arrived in Hendaye
and met the rest of the
team. Andrew had said
that there was another
chap cycling – what none
of us knew was that he
was from South Africa
and only 15. You can
never prepare for the
feeling that engulfs you
when you realise that
the other person is only
8 years younger than
your son. Tears came:
but suddenly we were
involved in ‘lugging’
baggage and bikes about
and sorting out who was
in what room.
After a
well-deserved meal we
felt that we had known
Ian, Alison and Alex for
a long time and plans
were being made for the
next day.
20th June
2010
Breakfast finished and
we were ready for the
off. Well we would have
been, but remembered
that my brother is a
‘professional faffer’ so
off Pete went to give
him a hand with things.
The bike being the
important item.
Photos
taken along Hendaye
beachfront and we set
off. We were following
Alison in her van,
helping as the support
crew and finding stops
to wait at while the
boys caught up. We
suddenly realised that
these boys could pedal
furiously and we nearly
didn’t make the first
photo opportunity of
them coming around the
beach road.
We had great excitement
in the afternoon as we
all had to stop to watch
the vultures circling on
the thermals. Of course
we had to do the joke
about “do you know the
cyclist who was carried
away by the vulture?”.
It was a lovely day and
the scenery was
fantastic but whilst
wearing our T-shirts for
CRY we were always very
aware of why we were
doing things.
21st June
2010
Andrew had mentioned
last night that he’d
asked the boys if they
would wear their CRY
cycling jerseys that had
been made for the trip.
As the boys came out the
front of the hotel
nothing could have
prepared me for the
feelings that swept
over. They all looked so
smart but right at the
front of my mind was the
anger that they
shouldn’t be wearing
them at all. After tears
and the first photos of
the day we set off for
our first day in the
mountains.
The scenery changed
spectacularly. The hills
were becoming larger and
we had time to get out
our chairs. Or so we
thought. Young Alex was
turning into a speed
freak. We shouted words
of encouragement as he
flew past and then sat
and waited a while for
Andrew and Ian, who were
pacing themselves for
the week. Lots more
shouts of encouragement
and photos and video and
we were off again
looking for the next pit
stop.
Col de Marie Blanque and
the Col d’Aubisque were
today’s highlights and
they were amazing. We
had a game of chicken
with a French cement
mixer that had forgotten
that the mountain roads
were also used by
cyclists and cars! Just
to say that there was a
ditch at the side of the
road and we used it.
Poor Alison, driving
behind, had a moment of
panic as she thought
that we wouldn’t make
it.
22nd June
2010
Our time in the Pyrenees
was up and we had to go
home. Andrew and the
boys had to face the
prospect that they were
two down on the
‘shouting words of
encouragement stakes’
and rally their own
enthusiasm for the rest
of the week. It was a
hard day for all
concerned. The Col de
Tourmalet was the
challenge for them and
they did it with style.
23rd June
2010
Our first morning back
at home. I never
realised what an effect
that would have upon me.
The whole world fell
apart and I couldn’t
manage to go into work.
What were the boys up
to? What was the
scenery like? Who
would help Alison with
‘supporting’? Most
of all, why had we even
had to do the trip?
These were all questions
inside my head. It was
one of the most
difficult days of my
life.
Apparently it was a
beautiful day in France
and the boys had a
massive challenge ahead
of them. The Col de
Perysourde, Col de Ares
and Col de Porte D’Aspet
were the challenge.
They
managed with their usual
style. On arriving at
the hotel for the night
it was discovered that
they would all be
sharing in a family
room. Who was the adult
in charge? We were never
sure about that.
24th June
2010
It seems that France
does the finest
strawberry tarts in the
world for lunch; and
Alex had the first
accident of the trip so
far. A spoke had broken
on his bike but with a
quick repair job
completed they all
finished today’s ride.
25th June
2010
The last day and both
myself and Pete had
another ‘down day’ as we
were not in France to
see Andrew and the boys
finish this epic cycle
ride. We were also
hoping that ‘CRY Bear’ -
who had managed to
appear in several photos
- would be on the bike
going across the finish
line. It was another
very hard day waiting to
receive a text from
Andrew saying that he
had finished.
And finish he did. Some
85 miles later when they
originally thought that
it was only 65 miles to
Cerbere: the last town
in France before Spain.
At last we received the
long awaited text.
Andrew and team had
finished. We were so
proud of him for
completing this epic for
Rich’ for CRY. Tears
came again but turned to
smiles as we found out
that CRY Bear had been
carefully tied onto the
bike and he to had
crossed the finish line.
Andrew had cycled 486
miles over 6 days and
cycled for duration of
34.5 hours and in the
process used up 35,606
calories and lost 5
pounds in weight. I’m
glad that we found the
strength to go and
support Andrew but
quickly found my
boundaries in that I am
not a natural fundraiser
as it opened up too much
pain and anguish at this
time.
I do have to smile now
as at the end of the
ride my CRY gilet and a
cycling jersey were
given to Alex to keep. I
do wonder if he wears
them while cycling
around South Africa. I
think so and what a
fantastic way to perhaps
gain further recognition
for CRY.
I am so immensely proud
of my brother for
completing this
challenge. To date
£3905 has been
raised for CRY.
Thank you Andrew.
Wendy (Rich’s Mum)
