Complete the Journey - The Finish!

Well here we go, here is my final blog of the trip - the shortened posts of the last few days were the result of not much happening when you're on your own on a bike for 10 hours!

I arrived home Monday afternoon, and to be honest felt sad that it was all over. Whilst I dreaded waking in the morning only to face a day of pain, I knew that Sean was going through his own battle, so it made my pain much less.

My mileage was helped by my ever good support man Graeme, after my speedo packed up he decided to disguise the mileage, basically bullshit me, which at the end of the day did help as I covered 20 to 30 miles extra each day!

It's been a long 6 days on the bike, day two was the hardest day, the days following that, while in pain through my legs and my bum, I was quicker!

My best day was Saturday where I left the main group at 47 miles arriving into Paris on my own. That day I completed 135 miles, boy my arse was sore!

I am still working toward my £10k target, with £8234 raised to date. I do hope in the next 3 weeks I will hit my target and move the funds over to the Cycle Across America pot. I would like to thank everyone for your support, I know that Sean will be so please with everything WE have all achieved.

Many thanks and here's to the next challenge


Gary

to Paris and back...

Hi,

Everything's broken! - body, laptop (will do full update when this is working), but not my spirit...

Saturday was a long, long day - after arriving in Paris at lunch time from an early start, we had a quick beer to celebrate. I then set off back to Rugby - covering 65 miles. In total on Saturday I covered 130 miles

Sunday - up at dawn for the earliest start yet to cover some miles, all going well, legs were very tired in the morning, so it was a case of going through the pain, again!

full update will be put on here as soon as laptop is working -

Gary

photo one - arriving after 130 miles on the bike, 57 miles north of Paris, proper done in!

photo two - puncture...

Day 4 Lisieux - Pain!

Day 4 -

Woke up to thunderstorms and pouring rain, so we've brought the weather! everything hurts and i mean everything - still got to keep going.

Glad to hear that Sean's operation has been successful - has spurred us all on.

we left Lisieux at around 8:30, as the town is in a valley we went straight off and into another, you guessed it, hill! this was 3 miles climbing till it leveled out - we really, really didn't need that

Will update you all later when we stop

Keep smiling

Gary

Day 3 - Dieppe - Lisieux

Here we go again!

Before I get into the day I need to update you all about yesterday evening...

After finishing our 2 pints of well earned! Guiness, we headed back to the meeting point to catch the bus. After arriving into Dover earlier than others, we were the last to load our bikes. We then found out that our bags had been left outside in the glorious English weather - so we had soaking wet clothes! - we then found out that we had a three hour journey on the other side, nightmare! - not sure which one of us was supposed to read the itineary!!

We finally arrived in Dieppe at midnight and after a shower, it was straight to bed.

Today - early start again, everyone was quite sore, legs, bums, knees, but once on the road we soon got into our rhythm, well sort of! - the ride started off with a puncture for Leigh (Clifton)! and then a two mile climb! As we hit the open road of Northern France we faced a nasty head wind.

We've done a good strong day of cycling, and make no mistake we are all in serious pain as we achieved 5 long climbs in the baking heat. It is only pain and pain is temporary. Not a lot else to report, but a hard day.

With 12 miles to go to Lisieux we hit another two big and long climbs - all we needed! - Legs extremely tired. We've done just over 90 miles today, we are knackered, but with a rest, we will be ready for another day in the saddle

No matter what pain we are feeling, Sean (Newman) will be going under the knife today with an operation on his spine. So all the pain in comparison is nothing. Check Sean's blog for a full update. http://www.cycleacrossamerica2010.com/2010/07/big-back-operation-on-thursday/

Here is to another day

Keep smiling - stay strong

Day 2 - London to Dover

Day 2: Part one - The Morning

Up at 5:30 for breakfast with Leigh (Clifton, right) and Jamie (Hanson, centre) before we meet up with Action Medical Research.

Looking forward to cycling with other people today, on the road for 7:30. After 10 minutes Jamie fell off at the lights, nothing serious but gave us all a laugh!

I also managed to lose them both for a couple of miles and then both managed to get themselves lost! I missed the next chapter but apparently Jamie fell off again..its gonna be a long journey!

Day 2: Part two - The Afternoon

After lunch which was taken at the 50 mile point it got much harder, some serious climbs in the afternoon heat. The scenery through the Kent countryside was great, all three of us at one point couldn't believe we kept finding ourselves at the bottom of another climb!

Apart from Jamie falling off for the third time - repeat third time! it was a good ride!

The legs are tired, we are now in Dover, so i'm going to find a pub for a well deserved beer for us all!

update you all again tomorrow

Gary

First leg...

Set off from Newman's Estate Agents, Rugby, at 9:30 after photo's and catching up with James (Golding).

8 bikes set off to cover the first 15 miles with me, many thanks to the 8 who joined me. I never realised how hilly it was from the Midlands to London, I thought they would never end! First day I covered 89 miles in total for just over 6 hours including the break.

My legs are now officially dead, but after I stuff my face with pasta and a glass of wine, i'm sure they will be fine for the next leg tomorrow - London to Dover.

Thanks for all the messages of support, I will be adding on shortly the photos of yesterday.

Gary

Hi Everyone,

I've set up this blog to keep everyone updated with my journey. The trip was originally to be from London to Paris. Due to receiving some awful news regarding two close friends last weekend, I have extended the route and sponsorship for what is a cause that is very worthwhile and close to my heart.

Sean Newman and James Golding were cycling across America, raising £100k in the process for Macmillan Cancer, CoppaFeel and Livestrong.

All was going well, they had left Texas and entered Louisiana, when on Sunday 11th July a truck hit Sean at 70mph propelling him into James. Both are recovering in hospital and are both very, very lucky to be alive.

All donations received will go to the three charities James and Sean were raising money for.

Thanks for the support I've received thus far, I've never cycled this far in such a short space of time but they way i see it, the pain I will go through is nothing compared to what the boys have gone through - not just the physical injuries but the fact that their journey and ability to raise money for such worthy causes has been cut short.

Wish me luck!

Gary

ps: if anyone would like to sponsor, please click here