Day 1

The first day called for a really early start, arriving at Blackheath Common by 06:00. I dumped my bag in the van, making a last few adjustments to the bike before signing on and getting a copy of the route. It seemed like the ferry was getting earlier, departing at 17:15 instead of my recollection of 17:45. Looks like the pace of the first day was going to be that little bit quicker than what I estimated!

We had a short briefing at 07:00. Everyone was getting excited, especially since Paddington had turned up to see us off. The official start was at 07:20 in several packs. I got underway in the second set of twenty five. It didn't take long before I was passed by a load of road bikes heading out quickly. However, I soon caught them up again when we reached Shooters Hill because I could drop to gears that they didn't have :) My legs were still cold at this point, but the climb to the top was well worth it as I touched 40mph coming down the other side just by coasting. This road carried on straight for several miles with the usual London scenery on either side. It didn't take long for me to spot my first puncture, how unlucky must that person have felt? All the glass on the London roads is no good for those rubber band tyres! I remember hoping I wouldn't become to the same fate quite so quickly.

On the second big climb of the day I stopped to help a fellow cyclist as their chain fell off when changing down. My assistance wasn't really required other than to support the bike so two hands could be used to get everything back in working order. Everyone seemed so prepared for every kind of mechanical failure, not even my wet wipes were needed :( Setting off again, it was just more of the same old London road that I am used to. However, after Dartford, things improved and slowly narrowed down to minor A-roads. The scenery turned rural, even if the volume of traffic was positively suburban.

Around 08:30 I had to make a quick pit stop for a banana breakfast. I realised I had been cycling too long on an empty stomach and was starting to flag. This bit of fuel soon got me through to the first official water stop at 09:30. There were lots of snacks available, maybe I shouldn't be carrying so much in my backpack! It was a good feeling to have covered so much distance already. Normally I would just be arriving at work around now! After only ten minutes for the break, I was back on the road again.

By now we were cycling down country lanes in the heart of Kent. There were a couple of big climbs, all with the reward of a long downhill. In hindsight, 40mph on a thin, windy country lane was a bit silly, but still good fun! Entering Maidstone we were back on some busy roads again, but soon past to the other side. I was amused by a sign persuading you to park and ride and travel by bus. It claimed the centre was six minutes by bus, but seven minutes till the next bus. By my calculations this isn't better than the claimed twelve minutes by car. Anyway, it is all irrelevant because it only took four minutes by bike! I felt like going back and putting up my own sign ;)

Forty miles into the ride we were confronted with a really steep hill, about half a mile long! Luckily I had received advanced warning of this one and had prepared myself for it. I managed to get all the way up, but stopped for a regroup at the top. After this ten minute breather we had just six miles to lunch, arriving at 11:35. The location couldn't have been better, a picturesque Kent beer garden. I resisted the beer since it was still early in the day and we had a ferry to catch. Once the sun had come out, I could have stayed there all afternoon .... well maybe if I bought something other than a pint of coke!

Scores on the doors so far:

An hour later, all fed and digested, it was time to get back on the bike. The route led us through brewery country and I was certainly tempted by all the pubs. We seemed to pass loads just before 14:00 but nobody wanted to pop in for last orders. If this was the second day, or the second year, I am sure it would have been different. Once past the collection of pubs we travelled down some long country roads, with not a great deal around other than ... well country. The open fields were occasionally interrupted by the odd little village. In fact, of all the little lanes in Kent, the route took us right past the front door of one of my colleagues. It's a small world! By now my legs were starting to feel the effects, but overall I felt surprisingly fresh. However, I am sure I didn't smell too fresh since the sun had been out for a few hours.

14:40 was the arrival time for the second water stop, a playing field in the middle of another Kent village. The kids were pouring out of the school opposite, the last day before summer. Parents and cars lined both sides of the road, and then some. It was exactly the same this morning when they were being dropped off. In my opinion it really would be better all round if they walked, or cycled. I was amused to see that most of the mothers can't parallel park either, just like the drivers in London! One idiot reversed straight into someone's bike without noticing, she can't have looked in her mirror at all. She mumbled and groaned something along the lines of there being too many bikes around and how could she be expected to do anything different than reverse over them all!

I headed off at my own pace again because I lost the pack I was riding with earlier when going up the hills. After the climb out of the village it was a relatively relaxing ride into Dover. I caught my first view of the sea and a few minutes later was greeted with a spectacular view of the castle. As I stopped to take a photo I realised that my arse was really sore now. Marks and Sparks really need to do a pant redesign and remove all the seams.

Arriving at the docks by 16:00 meant I probably could have squeezed a pint or two in. However, if I had been pushed for time then fate would have ensure I suffered several punctures and a snapped chain. Fortunately I finished the majority of the first day with no troubles. Instead of a beer, I joined the front runners (ie dedicated cyclists) on the grass for a break whilst the remaining cyclists arrived. Statistics for the English leg are:

The ferry finally set sail at 17:30. The steak, chips, bread and beer on board were all very welcome, especially the large chocolate mousse for pudding. It was a hard first day, hillier than expected, but still very enjoyable. After landing at 20:00 French time, there was a short final slog to the hotel and some welcome showers.

The clean up and long soak did me wonders, I always look forward to getting out of the cycle gear at the end of the day. Since everyone ate on the boat, people reconvened in the hotel bar. However, the celebrations were relatively muted because a couple of very tasty pints were all that was required to send most people to sleep. I retired before midnight for some welcome rest, leaving the hard core drinkers to stay up till the early hours celebrating a birthday.

Day 2