Day 9 - Compiegne to Paris

Awoken to another sunny day but slightly on the chilly side to begin with.


This was virtually a straight road all the way to Paris though fantastic smooth country roads that were tree lined.

Only 56K to go!!!












Which way to go now????












By 3pm we had made it to the Champs Elysee with our arms in the air.











A small reception was held for us at the British Embassy just a few hundred yards from the Champs Elysee where cakes, teas, coffee and juice were laid on. Many thanks to Jill for laying this on.







I chanced my arm and asked Jill if she we kindly lend us a couple of tennis rackets so we could enjoy a short game of tennis on the lawn - we just couldn't resist!

Phil and I are very competitive and he thought he had me with a short drop shot over the net but I was extremely agile and managed to extend my arm like elastic and pop it straight back over to win the point! Unfortunately in doing so I forgot my mobile phone was still in my pocket and crash landed into the grass - pulled the phone out to discover I now had a cracked screen - but it was still worth it! Where we had the energy to play a game of tennis after cycling 500 miles I'll never know.



It was time to say cheerio (this is us within the embassy) and head back up the Champs Elysee to the Arc de Triumph for another classic photo op.







Navigated our way up the Champs Elysee through the sweltering traffic and dodging the tourists with our bikes to the Arc-de-Triumph.








Rather than cycle around the Arc-de-Triumph (didn't want to be mince meat on the last few hundred yards) we pushed our bikes across several pedestrian crossings until we hit Avenue de Kleber and cycled down to the Troccaderro where this photo was taken with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Well, there we were, iconic tower in view and the end of the ride. Approx 500 miles, sore bums, legs, and much carbs consumed in this journey of a lifetime.

It was time to sample the Parisian culture of sitting down in a bar, having a drink and watching the world go by......

This is Graeme & Phil signing off in this great sponsored cycle ride - a big huge thank you to everybody who sponsored us - because of your contributions the target of £2,000.00 was reached and Balerno High School will have a new Smart Board in due course.

A short clip of area around Notre Dame on the Sunday evening of the 5th September 2010

Day 8 - Peronne to Compiegne

We had checked this route out on the bikehike and noticed there was a huge hill in the way which we dubbed 'the hill of inconvenience' but to be honest it doesn't come close to any of the hills around in and out of Rothbury (England).

This picture is on the other side coming down into the town of Ribecourt.

Again, the sun shone, no clouds to be seen and temperature climbing to 24c.

Had lunch in Ribercourt sitting outside a bar doing a bit of people watching for a change. (I think it's called getting into the French way of life?

Back on the bikes again and a detour to where the Armistice was signed in a Railway carriage in 1918. Unfortnately we were not allowed to take any photos of this - not sure why though?

The picture to the left is where the railway carriage was sited during the WW1. A replica of the carriage sits in a museum to the right of this picture.

The road to this place seemed to just go on forever, for the first time my legs seemed to be running out of steam and I new we still had to double back for another 10 miles to our hotel. This part of the trip is where I felt I just didn't have anymore fuel left in the tank but sheer determination to seek that hotel bed pulled me through.

Again, a short video of Graeme zooming down the 'Hill of Inconvenience' towards the town of Ribecourt and onwards to Compiegne.

Day 7 - Lille to Peronne

Left the centre of Lille and headed for the town of Carvin and onwards to a place called Henin-Beaumont. The signs around this town are shocking but the satnav pulled us through and we eventually found the right road to our lunchtime stop in Vitry-en-Artios.

Again the sun was shining and the temperature was heading up a notch to 22c. Not much wind either (I was in front of Phil).

The roads seemed to add a few more gradients to the cycle but nothing that we couldn't cope with. It was more the heat and the sun beating down. Although I had my factor 50 on, plus my helmet with a visor, my forehead always seemed to get red.

By midday we had reached Vitry-en-Artios and headed to the nearest Boulangerie. It doesn't matter was kind of Bagutte you ask for - they all seem to come with egg! Arrrghh!

30 mins later we were on our way again and stopped at a war memorial called Queant. There are soldiers there from not just Britain but Australia and Canada as well. These cemeteries are extremely well kept by the French as a thank you for liberating their country.

As you can see by this point we we flat out on the road to Peronne!

Just about 10 miles from Peronne we stopped at a little Tabac (pub to you and me) and had a wee stella for lubrication. 20 mins later we were on our way again but the hills seemed to get steeper just as we neared the town of Peronne. Legs were beginning to tire as we could see the finish point for the day.

We stopped for a photo outside a castle in the centre of Peronne for a short rest before heading to our B&B for the night at a Campanile. They are very basic - two single beds and a bathroom and that's it - but that's all you need, somewhere to put your head down.

A very short video of Graeme cycling to Peronne on Day 6. (Batterries ran out on video camera!)This was taken between the town of Henin Beaumont and Vitry-en-Artios.

Day 6 - Zeebrugge (Belgium) to Lille (France)

Not keen on Ferries, in fact even just to look at a boat, never mind get on one, I feel sea sick. However, pills prescribed by my doctor did the trick and even allowed me to eat the 'all you can eat ' buffet with a couple of drinks thrown in. It had to - it was a 14 hour crossing! Luckily the North Sea was relatively calm but these cabins are a tight squeeze ( the toilet forms part of the shower), which forms part of the sink.
By 9.30am we were through passport control and entered the country of Belgium through the port of Zeebrugge. Less than a minute on the road and we encountered a lorry crash. We navigated around the pummelled front end of the lorry - (no sign of what he hit though) and headed for the quite flat country lanes of Belgium.

As you can see from the photo on the left the countryside is as flat as a pancake which is great for cycling!


The sun shone again and the temperature was a mild 21c. We had calculated a 67 mile cycle today so it was time to up the pace a bit. Knee, and ankle holding out quite well at this moment - was really worried before I left Edinburgh as I could hardly climb a stair 6 weeks before but physio helped sort out that issue.


















The satnav on my bike took us over a canal that can be seen by the picture on the left.








While we were fiddling about taking photos etc the alarm went on the bridge and before being part of the canal itself we scurried across to the other side before a barge made its way through.

We then cycled to our lunchtime stop at Torhout where it was time to try a Belgium baguette. 30 mins later we were off again and found a strange statue that can been seen to the left.

Notice the missing arms?

Eventually we arrived at the town of Menen and stopped for a light refreshment before crossing the border in France with approx 15 miles left to run to Lille.

The above video shows us crossing over a canal in Belgium just south of a village called Meetkerke. Our lunchtime stop is showed here in the town of Torhout before heading on to Menen and crossing over into France for our night stop in Lille.

BSECT - Edinburgh to Paris 2010 - Cycling - Spot

Map of route completed

http://www.spotadventures.com/trip/view/?trip_id=224389

Quick Update

About to leave Paris for Bruges and then up to Zeebrugge to cath the ferry tonight.

My legs are aching after walking around Paris yesterday.

Internet connection has bee rubbish in France - will update pics and news when we get back.

Must dash.....
Graeme & Phil

Day 5 – York/Pocklington to Hull

Day 5 – York/Pocklington to Hull

We decided to leave the last day as a short day so if there were any issues with the bikes etc we would have time to fix it before the ferry at 4pm. As it turned out there were no issues (apart from my tyres being on the soft side).

We headed out of Pocklington through their Tuesday market day – it looks like there is a market every day? Onwards to Market Weighton where we made a pit stop for me to get some nail scissors (what a woos? Eh!).



The photo to the left is in a place called North Newbold - very picturesque.
Again the sun was shining and very little if no wind at all. Stopped in a little village called Little Weighton – can of juice consumed and we were off again, only to be held up by a tractor for the best part of a mile.












Into Hull we went and stopped outside Hull Univeristy and asked a chap to take a picture of us – wish we hadn’t, he talked for Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales etc etc etc. half an hour later he was still talking and Phil admitted he had shut his eyes behind his dark glasses and gone to sleep standing up – none of us really understood what he was talking about and as soon as the photo was taken we made a sharp exit.










Phil needed a haircut so we were now on the look out for a barbers (I’m sure he wanted it cut to cut the wind resistance down – a bit late for that.) He was absolutely delighted – it cost him a fiver.

Cycled into the centre of Hull and had a Big Mac meal with a hot caramel sundae to ply the calories back on that we had just got rid off. Then along to a park area for a lie down to recover before setting off for the port. We had another ice-cream as there was a stall selling them for only 50p - bargain!

20 mins later and we had finally made it to the port. Yahoo! Half way to Paris!

Next up Zeebrugge (Belgium) to Lille (France).

Graeme & Phil

The first bit of video shows Graeme cycling through the town of Market Weighton, followed by both Graeme & Phil cycling through North Newbold on route to Little Weighton and Hull itself.

Day 4 – Darlington to York/Pocklington

Up early for a 60 mile run to the south east side of York

Many thanks to Ellie and family for putting Phil and I up – great hosts!

Beautiful sunny day again and no wind – fantastic country roads with very little traffic and picture postcard views of North Yorkshire.

Life got easier as the hills of inconvenience came to and end – both of us mightily relieved! Just as well because our legs, arms etc were feeling very achie, but generally ok.

Saw a white horse on a hill and took a picture as can be seen to the left.

Into York and lunch at a deli. It was then time to hassle the tourists, block the roads/cobbled streets and get our pictures taken.

This place was a 'Shambles' (terrible pun eh?)

Got a phone call from a friend in York inviting us in for a cup of tea – difficult to refuse that offer! It was handy because our route took us right past his house! He then offered to take us both on the tourist route to Pocklington via some back country roads – it’s great when you have somebody with local knowledge of the area – just wish him and his mate hadn’t zoomed off at a 100mph (should have strapped our luggage to both of their bikes! (to be fair he rode mine for a short bit while I discovered his razor, 45 degree angle saddle). I soon handed that back at the first opportunity I had to catch up with him.

Thanks to Steve and Kevin (I hope I’ve got the name right?) to guide us to our B&B where we sat down for a well deserved beer.

Dinner was consumed and we walked around the village to find a pub with a pool table. Current overall score so far….

Graeme 5 – 2 Phil
Next up Hull…….

Newcastle to Darlington - The Wind Was Behind Us

Threatening clouds were nearly upon us as we set off from Newcastle - 15 mins later and the waterproofs were on. We thought we could outrun it but we were wrong! As we crossed the river Tyne we felt we were in it rather than above it.

There were numerous cyclists standing in a bus stop laughing at us as they knew what was to come - another mountain of inconvenience, 738 feet and a few hundred yards later we were searching for a brown paper bag to regulate breathing.

However, into County Durham we went...

Further on through Sunniside village (it was actually sunny by this point) the maps flew off again - seriously need to do something about the that folder. Just for a change my sun specs flew off as well - however Phil was there to pick up the pieces.

Graeme at the top of Daisy Hill

Phil at the top of Daisy Hill

We then rattled down the A167 and had lunch in Darlingtom. Into M&S for a BLT sandwich.

Then off to Croft-on-Tees, very scenic as can be seen by this photo.

Finally we made our destination at North Cowton, with Ellie as host. Dinner at a local pub as Ellie only had beer in the fridge!

Next up York/Pocklington.... can the weather hold out for 4 days of sunshine on the trot????

Graeme & Phil (29th August 2010)

Kelso to Newcastle - Many Hills of Inconvenience

Many Thanks to Jane and Ted for looking after us and providing a full Scottish Breakfast in their beautiful surroundings of Kelso!

We said goodbye to Mike as he headed north back to Edinburgh and Phil and I headed south to Newcastle.

As we passed through Coldstream we crossed over into England (there was a tiny wee sign saying England - blink and you would miss it).

Stopped at a garage on the way to refuel with a Mars Bar.

As we headed to Rothbury it all got a bit hilly, with more than one shout of 'not another one'. We have come to the conclusion that they built hills around Rothbury to keep the cyclists out and the locals in. When we got there this was confirmed as no other cyclists to be seen.

Phil, just after climbing the first hill of inconvenience, 100 more to follow...

Graeme, just after climbing the first hill of inconvenience, 100 more to follow...

We stopped at a lovely pub called the 'Queens Head' where we furnished our stomachs with hamburgers and chips.

Soon after we hauled ourselves out of the pub and then up a 1:12 gradient hill - kept looking down to see if I had any gears left to use going up the hill but alas no.

Again, the SPOT tracker managed to dislodge itself again, usually at the bottom of a hill to stop the momentum of climbing the next hill of inconvenience.

Just to add a bit of spice the maps, quickly followed by the waterproofs managed to fly of my bike, again at the bottom of a hill -luckily Phil was there to pick up the pieces.

After Scots Gap Phil was like a dog with a bone going for home aka B&B in Newcastle.

Dinner at the Wheatsheaf followed by a jar at Newcastle Falcons/Gosforth Rugby Club. where Phil seemed over confident to thrash me at pool - he lost the first game very quickly and nearly lost the second and decided a score draw was sufficient. In bed for 10pm and lights out!

Next up Darlington.....

Graeme & Phil (Saturday 28th August 2010)

Day 1 - Road to Kelso

Left Balerno High School at 8:30am (ish) - Thanks to everyone who turned up to wave us off - greatly appreciated. Also thanks to Nigel who cycled a bit of the way with us to Currie before he headed off in another direction to his work (shame that eh ?).

We arrived in Dalkeith to be met by Mike who at the last minute decided to accompany us to Kelso (he returns to Edinburgh tomorrow).

As we left Dalkeith the sun came out and it got very warm, even warmer as we cycled up through Pathhead and Soutra!

Hunger pains were abating and just after Pathhead we spied a 'Bacon roll' van - Magic! After stuffing our faces with bacon, link sausage and black pudding rolls we were on our way again (check Graeme and Phil stuffing their faces in the photo!)

As the carbs were recharged we headed of for the long climb up Soutra - to be honest, it was a bit of an anti climax if you have ever done Dukes Pass near Aberfoyle, unless you had a link sausage like Phil as he seemed to struggle slightly up that hill.

A few miles later and the first incident of the day - my chain decided to remove itself from all the cogs - need to remind myslef I need to be in middle cogs before changing gear in future.

The sun was shining and a small tailwind as well with rolling scottish borders countryside, however, a piece of the A697 that can only be described as 'off road' led to my tracking device dislodging itself from it's holder - luckily it was attached to another part of the bike or I would be getting a bill from Tom in the post.

By 1:30pm we were in Kelso and spent 30 mins trying to find a pub with seats outside so we could keep an eye on the bikes. Phil, in his usual investigate self manage to locate one and our first drink of the day was consumed.

Graeme and Phil in the centre of Kelso

Then, up to the in-laws for a swim and a chinese carry oot.

Next up Newcastle but we probably won't have access to the internet so next blog will probably be Sunday.

Adios for now...

Graeme & Phil Friday 27th August 2010

Got up this morning at 6am and decided to cycle all the way to Carnwrath - 18 miles into a strong headwind. Took me an hour and a half to get there and only 1 hour to get back!

36 miles done and all while Phil was snooozing........

Graeme

Sky Blue - Loch Katrine

The training is going well, however, I have had to deal with the tragic loss of my mother who passed away a few days ago. A supposedly routine operation went completely wrong and now she is no longer with us.

Life doesn't get any easier but I will just have to pick up the pieces and carry on.

The pictures shown here are from a training run earlier up at Loch Katrine on a beautiful summers day - that doesn't happen often these days in Scotland! We started off in Aberfoyle chose the clockwise route around the loch.

After about 7 miles we stopped off at a lovely Tea room called "The Pier". We tucked into our bacon sandwiches and a cup of tea and watched the "Maid of the Mist" Steamer dock there to let some passengers off. There was the slight temptation to just push our bikes onto the boat and sail across to the other end of the loch but that would be defeating the purpose of our training run! It was tempting though!

As you can see from this picture on the left the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. When the sun shines in Scotland there it's difficult to find a more beautiful place than here.

The next stage of the run around the loch provided some cracking scenery with many undulations of the narrow country road/path.

The picture to the left is looking west along the loch with only a few hundred yards before the next pit stop.

We had another stop at the other end of the loch as you can see - who's the steamer in that photo?!!!

I was incredibly thirsty, so went across to put some money in a machine to get some juice, only to discover the red light showing on my choice of drink - pushed button to get my change back and only 80p of the £1 I had put in came back - typical - you're gagging on a drink and this happens. Thankfully the store that owned the machine apologised and gave me my cold Fanta and a bottle of water as an inconvenience. That was very kind of them.

Next up - Dukes Pass and a very, very, very, very steep and long hill to get over and back down to Aberfoyle - it just keeps climbing, and climbing and climbing - makes Soutra look like a doddle - at least I hope so!

30 miles done and into the pub at Aberfoyle for a light refreshment, bikes in the car and back to Edinburgh. T minus 9 days to departure.

Graeme