And finally ..... the summary and Thanks

In summary.......it was hard, but enjoyable.

It was incident free (apart from the cyclist, the police, the closed campsites and restaurants, the snake (I almost forgot), the Sat Nav in London, the 2 punctures and the wind when it was against). Even after a few days back, I have no aches or pains, just tired. There were a few times when I did ask why?, but the e-mails of encouragement from my children soon snapped me out of any of those thoughts!

Would I do it again? Yes, but in a group - someone to share the workload into the wind, someone to share the map reading and someone to talk to.

The best bit - apart from coming home, the descent off the Pyrenees.
The worst bit - the 190 miles in France directly into the head wind.
The hardest bit - getting through London.
The easier than expected bit - the climb through the Pyrenees.
The best roads have to be in Spain - clean, smooth, wide, bike friendly & no cars.
The worst roads - Stockport. Some of the biggest climbs were out of the pot-holes on the last day!
The best campsites - in the UK. They were OPEN and cheaper.

More importantly, a big THANK YOU to all my family, friends and colleagues that have sponsored my charity fund raising effort - Thanks again

Stats
1170 miles (1884 kilometres)
14.7 mph (23.66 kph) average speed
44.4 mph (71.50 kph) maximum speed
79 hours 32 minutes cycling

Sponsorship
Geoff Thomas Foundation.. - Target £2,000 - Raised so far £2,520
Alzheimer's Society............ - Target .. £ 750 - Raised so far £1,760
Total................................. - Target £2,750 - Raised so far £4,280

Thanks go to......
*... Rod Heyhoe for the support on the challenge as 'coach', cook, hotelier, driver and everything else you had to put up with! I couldn't have done it without you
*... Rachel (my wife) for letting me do it
*... Rebecca & Matthew (the kids) for being good while I was off.
*... Graham Weaver (Steria - my boss) for his support and sponsorship (and not saying 'no' at the start!)
*... Tim Jorgensson (Steria) for his support in promoting the challenge and updating the blog on my behalf late at night
*... Tim Difford & Stephanie Ward (both Steria) for their support with 'dress down', book club, other communication activities.... and the finish
*... Sarah Darbey (Steria) for co-ordinating the wider Steria communications
*... Jaime Gutierrez (Steria) for coming into the Madrid office on a Saturday
*... Geraldine Merret (Steria) for co-ordinating events in Paris
*... Eve Grant (Steria) for co-ordinating events in Hemel
*... Pam Griffiths (Steria) for co-ordinating events at Manchester Parkway
*... And finally all my colleagues at Steria for the support, best wishes and congratulations

The sponsors

Steria.... - Thanks again Graham





SIS........ - Great energy products






Endura.. - Great kit


What's next?...... a few days rest and then the Original Source Mountain Mayhem 24hr mountain bike race on June 20th/21st...... and then start thinking about the next challenge........ (I really must be a MADMAN!)

That must hurt ...

... after 1200 miles sat on that!

Day 14 - Buxton to Manchester

Woke up early after a good nights sleep - Pub grub and a few beers!! Unfortunately we couldn't see caravans parked 20m away - Fog! We slowly got ready and the sun started to burn off the mist, so I put on a rear light and we set off. (Yes, we - my brother had joined me to ride the last day). A steady drop into Buxton itself and then up to A5004 - Long Hill! Over the top it was a nice 5 mile descent - no pedalling. Then in was Whalley Bridge. Again trying to avoid the A6, we set off up over the back road to Disley (another hill!), but then the steady ride into the Steria office at Manchester Parkway, arriving at 11:30 to a great reception from colleagues.

From Parkway it was the short ride into Manchester city centre and the finish near the Arndale. On time, I pulled to the finish line to a great reception from colleagues who had come out into the Manchester sunshine. Also at the finish was my wife Rachel, with our children Rebecca and Matthew, ready to give Daddy a big hug and kiss.














A quick spray of Champagne and an interview by Tim Difford and then it was load up the bike and head for home - two loads of washing, a garage full of bike and bits to put away, have a bath, light the BBQ and chill...



Garmin Stats :
48.13 km / 2 hour 26 min / Av 19.8 kph / Max - 49.2kph

No last song of the IPOD today (I had my brother to chat to....) however thanks to a suggestion from Sarah Darbey, Rebecca has started to go through my IPOD tunes to find appropriate songs for the ride. For a 10 year old, she's got a warped sense of humour! So far....

Alive and Kicking – Simple Minds
Back to the Start – Razorlight
Beautiful Day – U2
Before I fall to Pieces - Razorlight
Bicycle Race - Queen
Blaze of Glory – The Alarm
Boredom – The Buzzcocks
Breathe – The Prodigy
Career Opportunities – The Clash
Dawn Chorus – Toyah
Day In Day Out – David Bowie
Don’t Stand so close to me - The Police
Don't stop me now - Queen
Easy – Terrorvision
End to End – Blondie
Everyday is a winding road - Sheryl Crow
Fame – David Bowie
Holiday in the Sun – Sex Pistols
I can see for miles – The Who
I can’t explain – The Who
I fought the Law – The Clash
I Will Follow – U2
I won't back down - Tom Petty
I’m going slightly mad – Queen
Keep the Faith – Bon Jovi
King of Pain – The Police
London Calling – The Clash
Madness – Madness
Mission Impossible – Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen
Only the Strong survive – McFly
Pride (In the name of love) – U2
Silly Thing – Sex Pistols
Sit Down – James
Smile – Lily Allen
Some like it Hot – Power Station
Strength – The Alarm
The Best – Tina Turner
The End - McFly
Thunder in the Mountains – Toyah
Tower of Strength – The Mission
Unbelievable – EMF
Where do you think you’re going – Dire Straits
Where the streets have no name – U2
White Flag – Dido
Wild is the Wind – David Bowie

Day 13 - Wigston Parva (Hinckley) to Buxton

13 down - 1 to go

A comparatively short day - but made worse by the wind, Pretty uneventful day. Last night, after watching the football, I took the management (body management)decision of taking the shortest route to Buxton, irrespective of the road. So off up the A5 and a number of other major roads. When I reached Ashbourne I was in for a shock. The road to Buxton was very hilly, even the road out of Ashbourne was a serious climb. But 20 miles of up and down finally finished my legs, once and for all. Then we reached the campsite - Clover Fields Touring Caravan Park - Harpur Hill (Buxton), we pitched up and my brother then arrived from Sheffield (on his bike) to help me over the final hurdle tomorrow.

Also a big thank you to owners Stephen and Jan Redfern for the recommendation of a local pub (we had already decided to have only our second meal out) , and more importantly the 'free' night as a contribution to our sponsorship - Cheers great campsite. And we also managed a visit to Church on the trip - the Church Inn (great food guys).

Last song today U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)

Garmin Stats :
107.37 km / 4 hour 52 min / Av 22.00 kph / Max - 57.7kph

Day 12 - Watford to Wigston Parva (Hinckley)

A cold night, but slept well. A comparative lie-in as the Steria office in Hemel was only just around the corner. The routine in the morning hasn't changed but is taking just that little bit longer. It was also raining. All packed up we were ready, that was until Rod tried to start the camper - flat battery. A very helpful campsite manager had a 'jump start' machine, so I set off so as not to be late.





On arrival, a nice cup of coffee and a bacon roll and then some photos, including a visit from John Torrie (Chief Executive Officer, Steria UK), some more photos and a visit from some of the Hemel staff (Thanks to Ian Guppy for the photos). Then it was out into the rain and very windy conditions for the comparatively short day to Hinckley. I had already decided to risk an alternative route - straight up the A5. As it runs parallel with the M1 I assumed it would be quiet and it wasn't too bad.

A minor detour into Milton Keynes to allow Rod to visit the Institute of Groundmanship head office (He's Secretary / Treasurer of the West Yorkshire branch). On the whole the drivers gave me plenty of room, in particular the Eddie Stobart driver. He allowed time to overtake when it was safe for him and me, ignoring the horns etc. from the growing queue behind him - Thanks again.

On the health front, I've decided my legs are a spent force - running on empty for most of the day. Anything resembling an uphill slope, then engage the lowest gear, switch the brain off (no comments) and churn it out. And it was on to Hinckley and another open campsite (2/2 in UK). A quick shower, something to eat, some washing of cycling kit, just in time to sit down and watch the Champions League final. All mod cons in this camper.

Last song on IPOD today : The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I go

Garmin Stats:
115.00 km / 4 hour 42 min / Av 24.48 kph / Max - 47.63 kph

Day 11 - Newhaven to Watford

Having arrived at Dieppe at around 8.00 in the evening after a 100+ mile ride, it was a quick shower, some food and then trying to get some sleep before the 3:00 check-in for the 5:00 ferry and in the middle of a thunder storm. The ferry itself was quiet and the journey uneventful - apart from the fog and driving rain!!

When we docked in Newhaven, we found the nearest carpark, got changed into some winter weather clothing and set off towards London. The Southern Downs is anything but when you are heading north - it should be the Northern Ups...... and then there was Reigate hill. My trusty Sat Nav kept me off the main drag and found a side road. Initially steep and got progressively steeper! That was it my legs had gone - running on empty. Time to go on autopilot and just get to Hemel. To top it off the wind had picked up and was straight into my face.

And then there was London. A Sat Nav set to bicycle in the middle of London, trying to keep you off major roads, and it took me all over the place.....It nearly ended in the Thames. And then it stopped working altogether. I did get a trip down Kings Road, National History museum, BBC etc. and ended up on the North Circular. I eventually had to use the compass and take whatever road I could. Eventually I found the Edgware Road (A5) and set off. During my tour of London, I also had a puncture and it wasn't in the nicest of areas. I've never changed one as quick. So eventually I got to the campsite at Hemel at 8.00pm having started at 10.00am. And the drama wasn't over. The camper had sprung a water leak that needed some repair before a shower etc.

Last song on IPOD today : Nickleback - How you remind me

Garmin Stats :
153.11 km / Stats 7 hour 31 min / Av 20.4 / Max - 53.68 kph

Day 10 - Paris to Dieppe

Just a quick note - I will do a better update later / tomorrow.

A late start followed by a short 5km ride through Paris should have been uneventful, had it not been for Roland Garros (French Open tennis) and the closure of a few roads. Good job I'd planned ahead and had a feel for the office location and still managed to get there on time.

A few photos with colleagues from the Steria office outside the front, then up to the 6th floor for a coffee. Whilst there I had a quick chat with Francois Enaud the Steria Chairman and CEO and many other colleagues, who all wished me luck for the rest of the challenge.

Then it was time to go (11:30 - late start) and find a way through the streets and suburbs of Paris. The weather was hot and storms predicted (good job the French forecast is as good as UK) and the wind favourable.

Unfortunately some of the roads temporarily changed status into non-cycle roads - the first I rode through and had got half way through the second when the police sirens went off. Initially I ignored it, thinking it was for something else, but a glance over my shoulder and there was the local constabulary. I don't think he spoke any English and I only have a very limited French vocabulary, but after a 5 minute lecture (!) he gestured I get back on my bike and finish the last 500m before it returned back to a normal road. After this and a favourable tail wind the miles just raced by, but it was one of the longest on the challenge. I had to press on to make Dieppe before nightfall, and I rode up to the ferry terminal at around 8:00, just as the predicted thunder storm started to rumble.

Au Revoir et Merci France


Last song on the IPOD : Christina Aguilera - Candyman

Garmin Stats :
172.9 km / 6 hrs 55 mins / 25.02 avg / 60.25 max.