London to Paris Cycle Challenge - June 2007

In a way I'm glad to find out that its not just the infamous British weather that can dish up an unexpected downpour in late June. When it wasn't pourin thundering and lightening it was drizzling and cold. The sun made too infrequent appearance but until lunchtime it was pretty miserable.

Just before lunch was my low point so far. I was wet, cold and my energy levels were low. The french terrain was throwing up a few tasty hills to test me. I put on the iPod and focussed on the water spray flying off the front wheel and ground away until lunch.

After a surprisingly delicious risotto type concoction and some delicious chocolate cake I was raring to go. After lunch the terrain was more similar to my training grounds in Suffolk, mainly flat with just a few undulations. I was storming. Lunch to water stop was completed with an average speed on 18.2 mph, which to be frank and imodest was pretty stunning.. I was flying and loving every minute. I even managed a stop to pay my respects to a British war memorial and look out across the Barley fields, lush from their foreboding fertiliser of a great many British bodies and blood. A very poignant moment..

Anyway, a number of milestones reached today. We're now 3/4 of the way to Paris and I passed 1,000 miles since I startedtraining in October.

Tommorow we ride 65 miles into Paris. A doddle compared to the last 3 days..

Nous allon la Paris..