timwilkes

80 miles

As we headed out of Le Havre, following the ubiquitous orange markers the organisers used to mark the route, we passed through a tunnel littered with glass and debris. Needless to say there were numerous punctures and the day seemed to be littered with riders stopping to repair their tyres. It was at this point that we passed and then stopped to help Miss Peta Todd, the Sun’s Page 3 Girl who whose doing the ride.

The first memorial site visited was at Fontaine La Malet. The site was the battleground high above Le Havre. A Churchill Tank was suitably situated with an anti tank ditch over which was placed a replica of an assault bridge. Adjacent to this a memorial wall had been constructed, housing all the Memorial Plaques and badges which were originally present.

Onwards and I was riding fast and easy, my mucker was doing a steady Norfolk pace. Whence we came upon a group starting to form on a lane, where all riders had been stopped as the route markers had been moved and the riders were about to head off into a forest! The impromptu stop seemed to help morale for those who needed it, especially in a beautiful spot. Normandy was proving to be delightful countryside. However, my riding buddy had his first puncture, so the score was one all.

Lunch was a damp squib as the clouds which had been threatening all morning opened and the wind got up. We huddled under the mean shelter until we decided enough was enough and moved off. As we ascended away from St Valerie en Caux the roads opened up into beautiful countryside and the sun broke through. Through picturesque villages the two of us spun until, mid afternoon, we heard the call of a cup of chocolate. So turning off the designated route we used our initiative and rode into the lovely seaside village of Veules les Roses and found the delightful Hotel Douce France. Here we were able to take our time in the rose-bordered courtyard, in bright sunshine, whilst we gratefully answered the call of a marvellous cup of home made chocolat.

On to Dieppe, journeying up a large cliff face and down the other side into the well known resort. As we came to a stop on the outskirts to be directed to our hotels, we were told to turn right at the next lights. As we did so we were greeted by the sight of a mile long very steep hill climb to our particular hotel. Not a good way to finish the day! The evening meal was chicken.

57 miles

Arriving early at Ouistreham some 300 cyclists left the ferry and within ten metres the first puncture occurred. There were to be many more! A short ride bought us up at Pegasus Bridge, the D Day objective of the airborne forces led by Major John Howard. Following our first taste of the wonderful roadside catering that was laid on for us every twenty five kilometres or so we were given an illuminating and animated talk on the operation to capture the bridge by one of six Guild of Battlefield Guides who accompanied us. There was then a short ceremony where Mme Arlette Gondree, whose house, now the Pegasus Bridge Café, was the first to be liberated by allied troops, when she was four, handed a wreath to Sgt Stu Pearson, one of the Headley Court team who placed it on the memorial. One of the riders, General Richard Shirreff and Mme Gondree both spoke on the importance of the allied relationship.

We left Pegasus Bridge and knew we were in France when we soon found ourselves cycling along one of those quintessential long, straight poplar-lined roads. The team spirit was fantastic and lasted the entire ride. People were pushing each other up hills, helping each other mend punctures and sharing food and water bottles. It was also always interesting to talk to riders as we pedalled along, finding out what had motivated them to join the ride, what training they had or had not done, what stories they had.

At the lunch stop we had a surprise visit from the TV journalist Jeremy Bowen, who happened to be on a family holiday in the village we were in. Soon after lunch we found ourselves on a long downhill stretch. A puncture on the front tyre bought me to a halt near the top of this hill. Unable to get my gas cylinder to operate to blow up the new inner tube, I was delighted to find my old mate had walked back up the hill to help me out. After a session of stop/start cycling, we hit a windy path over the huge and impressive Pont de Normandie and then on through the city of Le Havre, avoiding some stiking French fishermen. We arrived at our hotel ready for a cup of tea and a bath. The reality of this challenge was brought home when a chap crashed into a culvert, breaking five ribs and needing stitches. Sadly he had to return to the UK. The evening meal was chicken.

2 miles

The journey to Portsmouth did not bode well. It poured with rain until we topped the South Downs and we feared we were in for a very wet ride. I am doing this ride with 300 others, one of whom is an old friend of mine. However, by the time we stopped and unloaded both our bikes the sun was out. We assembled at HMS Victory for a send off by the Red Arrows and the Band of the Royal Marines. We only had to cycle two miles to get to the ferry but it was a case of rush to wait, as we were held on the quayside for over an hour before being allowed to board the ferry that would takes us overnight to France.