The Ride is On

Day 1 - London to New Haven
We had a wonderful service on Sunday morning and following that a wonderful send off. It seemed no time to get to Bromley. The adrenaline was really soaring. So much so that I blew right on past the turn for Biggin Hill and it was 3 miles or more before I realized that I had. I couldn't believe it as I have made that turn a hundred times before. Well, with having to come back this really put me behind by a half hour and I knew I was going to have a problem reaching the ferry on time. My time allowance was wasted on a silly mistake! But perhaps not. I thought to myself that I just might have missed on an accident and believe it or not that is just what had happened. I came across a 3 car pileup and when I asked the police when it had happened, he said about a half hour earlier. I thought it was just as well I had missed the turn.

I reached Westerham and stopped to have a drink then carried on through Edenbridge. My cold had depleted me of my energy for the hills and I remember someone telling me that it was basically downhill to New Haven. Well, it is not down hill by the route I took! I had to walk up a few, but I have developed a technique for the hills. I stop for about 30 seconds then get back on and ride up. It seems that that is enough time to replenish the muscles. The rest of the trip was mostly uneventful. The wind was quite warm and blowing hard against me though. All I could think about was the Old Testament reading that morning from Jeremiah 4: 11-12 when he talks about the Lord sending a scorching wind. When people try to do things on their own and forget the Lord, he will let them know.

By the time 5 o'clock came, I still had 7 miles to go. The cut off time for the boat was 5:30 and I knew I was not going to make it. I would be about 10 minutes late. I am not sure if the missed turn was a blessing or a curse but that missed turn was just the amount of time I needed. It would be something of a catastrophe to miss the boat. So I decided to do something for which I am not known - I decided to be practical. I stopped at the first house I came across and knocked at the door. The door was already open and when the couple came to the door and I told them my need to get to the ferry and asked for a ride. They looked at each other and communicated with their eyebrows and without much hesitation, agreed to take me. She said she would drive but then he said he would drive. I suspected he knew how fast he would need to be. She said she would turn down the oven. Off we went and got there with just 5 minutes to spare. Not even enough time to get a drink at the kiosk. Les and Kate were the couple to whom I owe a great thanks. Without that ride the timetable for the ride would be totaly blown. I really have to admire their generosity to just up and help a stranger like that.

The ferry took 4 hours and after a couple of miles riding in Dieppe I got to my hotel. Even though I had the help of a car, I did get the mileage in. The missed turn was just the same as the car ride. 55 miles for the day

Day 2 - Dieppe to Paris
It was midnight when I got to bed and up again a 5am. I traded my 'British racing green' shirt (well, the logo was green) in for a very nice French Blue. After a quick coffee and a pain chocolat I was off. The road out of Dieppe was quite flat and I was making some good time. The hills are more like swells and the road up them more gentle so I was quite pleased about that. There was a steady climb though for quite a few miles. I thought I would stop every 10 miles for a short break but it soon became clear I would have to keep going. I decided I would stop when I hit mile 39. I thought there would be a place to sit for a little while and just take the strain off my derriere. When I did get to mile 39, there was a cluster of trees with vines growing through them. It made me stop. The large tree looked like our Lord on the cross and the two smaller trees beside it were like Mary and John or Mary and the Madeleine kneeling and holding each other. There are other trees around and they remind of others who may have been there at the cross. It was and incredible sight and quite inspiring. It certainly makes me think about why I am doing this trip. It cannot be vanity or a slap on the back, but for the glory of God and the growth and sustenance of the church. When I had turned the bike around, the balance shifted and off I fell into the nettles on the roadside - a reminder that the route one takes will not always be easy!

I carried on and hit Beauvais at about mile 65. I felt so tired that I was beginning to think 'Beauvais looks like a nice place to stay'. I tried to eat but couldn't. My digestive system was beginning to shut down. I managed to eat some noodles hoping the carbs would be of some real use to me later in the day. I took a bit of a look around the town but did not have time to stop long.

I took the N1 out of Beauvais which is similar to the A303 out to Devon. I was a bit concerned it would be too busy but continued on it as this was the planned route. About 5 miles out of Beauvais there was a hill which I decided to walk up. The traffic was quite busy and if I got a bit wobbly, it could prove to be a problem. The hill was 2 miles long but the walk did me good. Though I was only able to do 3 mph, it gave a rest to the peddling muscles and the derriere. In total, I was on the N1 for about 35 miles. On one downhill run there were 2 lanes so I took the inside lane for myself. I hit 40.8 mph. It was quite exhilarating and seemed to make up for the slower 3mph walking speed. There were quite a few places when I was in top gear and doing 25mph and more on the flats. But there were just as many places where 7-10 mph was the norm. Overall, I think I probably only did about 11mph average.

I reached Chambly where I left the N1 and got into more intricate map deciphering. Little did I realize that it was going to be several more hours before I finished for the day. I was certainly weary by now and I had finished about 90 miles. Although it had all become quite flat, it felt very long. I thought I had the back broken but I really just wanted to stop. I got into the suburbs of Paris and instantly began to get misdirected (I certainly cannot say lost!) I went around in a couple of circles, asked a few directions, and eventually got to Argenteuil. Argenteuil is not a place I would want to spend much time as I spent too much time trying to get out it and while there, there was a sudden down pour of rain so I was drenched. Eventually, after crossing several bridges, I passed over the periphery road and knew I would soon be to my destination. So, a right on to rue Berthier and then a left and then a right onto avenue Wagram and there was the Arc de Triomphe in sight. I arrived to the Arc at 9:30. That was 15 hours of riding. I asked someone to take my photo and he happily obliged.

I took my victory ride down the Champs Elysee to the Place de la Concorde then turned up rue Royale, to rue La Fayette then on to the hotel which was about 4 miles away. Total mileage for the day was 125 miles.

I give thanks to the Lord for my safety, for perseverence and the strength. I give thanks to everyone for their prayers and support.

Day 3 - The Rest Day
I am certainly feeling tired today and I must consider how it is I will get home. My cold is rather strong and I am considering taking the train or the bus back to London. I will decide later in the day. I have some very full days as soon as I get back. I think it would have been wiser to allow the time for a recovery day then a rest day before the trip back.