Day 8. Sunday Sept 7.

Amiens to Paris

Distance:150 km

Time: 7 hrs 2 mins.

Speed: 23.4 km/ hr to edge of Paris. 21.2 km/hr overall. 

Distance so far: 1155 km.

AHR: 110 b/ min.

Ft climbed today: 3397 ft

Weather: Dry all day. Fog when we climbed out of Amiens. Cleared and temps in upper 20’s.

After breakfast we loaded up for the last time as a group. Is interesting how a group moulds together after 3 ’short’ days. Bottles were filled and some bikes got a rub down for the entry to the city.

We pulled away at 7.20, ten minutes ahead of schedule. The streets were clear although the spire of the cathedral was in cloud/fog. A few turns and twists to get on the correct road for Paris. Our route would take us parallel to the Autoroute (Motorway) on D (departmental) roads.

Once we gained higher ground visibility deteriorated and eventually we all decided to don high-viz jackets. French cars were moving along very fast with no lights on. I’ll bring on one of these tops for the rest of this trip.

Today's roads were a pure joy to cycle on. Very little climbing for the first two hours with large open fields stretch away on either side. Grain had been harvested and the ground tilled for the next crop.

I was taken aback for the last two days with the few cyclists that we’ve seen. Saw one on Saturday and about five today. It usen’t be like that. You’d see more on the road from Tipp to Cashel. The route passed through very quiet villages and hamlets and by remote graveyards and churches.

At around 10 am the fog cleared, hi-viz was off and temperatures started to climb. It was also that the road started to climb. A number of long demanding hills but our legs are stronger now than on Friday when we started. 

When ground evened out we moved along at speed and it always paid dividends to draft in behind a rider. As yesterday some stretches of road were along long vistas of trees.

In one village Sunday market was in full swing with the smell of roast pig tickling our noses. Many other smells today also....freshly mown grass. Freshly turned soil, the usual morning smells from farmyards close to the road. Actually the soil didn’t look very fertile. It seemed very heavy and lacking in organic matter.

Morning breakfast was in Beauvais ...this is Paris according to Ryanair, but we had another 80 km to go.

 

Freshened and re-hydrated we set off again and I kept an eye on things in my rear-view mirror! One long climb went on for almost 3 km and registered between 5% and 8% but all arrived at the top in due course.

Our final major stop was at Auvers-sur Oise, the town where Van Gogh lived at the time of his death (1890). Here he painted 80 works in 70 days including the Church at Auvers. Bearing in mind his famous sunflower opus, the local Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) was fronted by a vast array of sunflowers.

As we neared Paris we left the wide open spaces and had the shade and shelter of trees on both sides.

The last 35 km was through the suburbs. Derek navigated us expertly along quiet roads and streets. This section of the cycle naturally brought down our average speed for the day.

Along by Stade de France and under the Peripherique we moved along by Gare de Nord. Here we had news that Tipp were up by 2 points at half-time. There was another 10 km along streets (many with cycling tracks) before we passed the Élysée Palace and out onto the Champs Élysées. This last part was rocky with all the cobble stones.

Adrenaline pumped as we crested the hill with our target towering above us. It surprised me how expertly we dealt with the crazy circle of traffic here and we had got right into the centre in just half. circuit. High fives all round, group photo, medals presented but the gendarmerie wouldn't allow us to uncork champagne. Just a few minutes to savour the occasion. And Tipp were down 4 points in the 64th minute.

Retraced our steps to Gare de Nord and met up with  with Pat and the van. Tipp had forced a draw and I’ll be back for the replay....the same as last year.

Showers were taken in a nearby hotel and time for a bite to eat and drink before the main bunch hopped across to the station for Eurostar back to London.

I remain here and set out solo tomorrow morning eastwards across France to Troyes. My own navigation and panniers on the back. but I’m looking forward to it.

Our 3-day cycle was remarkable in that there were no punctures, no major mechanical bike problems, no injuries of note but a few tender spots you-know-where. The group gelled magnificently in such a short time and in a very positive way. Everyone got satisfaction from the trip and all in a great cause. Later we’ll see on the JustGiving page how much funds were raised.

So, I’m back on my own again.

Now for a good night’s sleep and an early rise to attack the day.

Thank God for the health and for the energy.