Day 2 - British Day

Day 2. 48 miles. Average speed 13.6. Top speed 40.1. British Day.
A short ride in the morning to Arromanche – to our base for the morning – a hill above the beaches. Arromanche is the town where the British built the Mulberry Harbour – a most incredible engineering feat – a harbour built in sections in Southern England then towed across the channel to ensure that all the supplies needed by an army could be unloaded. An excellent service overlooking the harbour – the peddling padre being on fine form – a 15 minute amusing talk without notes followed by wreath laying ceremony. The best thing about being at the top of the hill is when one starts cycling again it is downhill all the way. The route took us along the coast and at certain key points the Guild of Battlefield Tour Guides who are travelling with us told us about individual battles as well as telling the overall D-Day story. Night at a small hotel on the outskirts of Caen – very upmarket in comparison to the second day - the rooms had an extra square feet of space, and there was a bar and restaurant on site. On the food stakes it is all perfectly adequate. Lunch is provided by an excellent company called Extreme Catering and they do an excellent job – the pasta meatballs for lunch were memorable. Food in the hotels is basic but nourishing – and washed down with copious quantities of cheap French red wine is perfectly acceptable.

Day 1 -- American Forces Day

50.2 miles, average speed 14.8, top speed 38.1.

The start of the ride itself was at St Mere Eglis which was the town where the first allied troops landed – paratroopers from 82nd and 101st Airborne (US). To be in the town on the day the anniversary of the event was quite special and the place was buzzing with some old soldiers and quite a few “new soldiers” – individuals who dress up in old uniforms and drive around in old military jeeps. A strange hobby – but it appears popular. The first of our ceremonies took place in the town square with one of the wreaths being paid by a serving member of the 101st – a young man from San Antonio, Texas with a prosthetic leg - an Afghanistan casualty. The ceremonies are good – we have our own “peddling padre” – a current vicar from the midlands who used to be a Greenjacket, a bugler from the Royal Artillery and a piper from the Highland regiment. Controlling us all is the old Regimental Corporal Major (Equivalent to RSM) of the Blues and Royals – to ensure that everything runs smoothly – and we are in the right place at the right time!

We have been joined on this trip by a team of 10 US wounded from Operation Comfort – to add to our own Headley Court team, so there are 8 hand powered (sit down) bikes as well as servicemen with missing limbs. So no complaining about sore legs from the rest of us! The highlight of the day was the afternoon ceremony at the American ceremony above Omaha Beach – if you have not been there it is highly recommended – acre upon acre of gravestones – all immaculately laid out and really quite a beautiful and serene part of the world.

Overnight in the Premiere Classe hotel – a misnomer if ever there was one. 3 to a room and one had to stand up in turn – it worked though and even the non-snorer in the room claimed to have slept well (poor fellow).

The Off

How quickly time flies! Today is the day and we all assemble to head to France. I am with a small group who have volunteered to be an advance party - heading over to France this afternoon on the fast ferry to overnight near the start tomorrow - with the rest of the team coming over on the overnight ferry (original large ferry not working so quite a few having to sleep in chairs - not fun). Delighted to see that the BBC news this morning has an article about our efforts. (And I cannot work out how to create a link - sorry! Please have a look at the BBC news web site!)

One week to go

With only a week to go before the 2011 Bike Battlefield Bike Ride, the nerves are starting to kick in. Am I going to be fit enough? Probably not - and indeed considering the severe lack of training this year I will probably suffer. I am heartened though to hear that we will be accompanied by 2 teams of wounded soldiers - one from the Uk and another from the US. So - no complaining!

As in previous years I will attempt to maintain this blog during the week - however this will be subject to getting adequate internet connections in the rather small French hotels we will be staying in. Based on previous years normally every other day.

The full itinerary for the ride is below and for those with time on their hands my reports of the 2 previous rides are lower down this blog!

INTRODUCTION
Our exciting cycle challenge takes us from Southwick Park in Portsmouth – a hugely important part of naval history – across the channel to Le Havre and Northern France. Our challenging ride traces some of the region’s most significant WW2 battle sites, including the Northern beaches around Arromanches, and the area south of Caen which witnessed the culmination of Operation Goodwood. This will be a great physical challenge, but also an amazing emotional journey. We finish our challenge by cycling through central Paris, via the Arc de Triomphe before finishing at the Eiffel Tower.

ITINERARY
Day 1: Portsmouth – Le Havre
We meet for registration in Portsmouth where there is a rare opportunity to visit the D-Day map room, from where Eisenhower made all his tactical decisions, and also some of the museums at Southwick Park. We’ll then have a send-off supper at Southwick House before cycling down to the ferry terminal, leaving our bikes with the transport crew and boarding the overnight ferry to Le Havre.
Cycle approx 5 miles

Day 2: Ste Mere Eglise – Bayeux
Disembarking from the ferry, we board coaches and travel to our start point on the Cherbourg Peninsula, Ste Mere Eglise. Here, the first French town to be liberated in 1944, we will remember the American Airborne Forces and lay the first of our memorial wreaths in a special ceremony. After looking around the Airborne Museum we continue on to visit the main American landing beach, Omaha, before heading for our night stop in the beautiful town of Bayeux. Overnight hotel.
Cycle approx 55 miles

Day 3: Bayeux – Caen
Today – the British Day – we visit the coast where the troops landed. First we tour the museum at Arromanches and see the film footage of the historical events that took place. After a moving wreath-laying, we head onto the Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches, where guides will be waiting to deliver some history at your leisure. From here we continue on to Pegasus Bridge, where the first house to be liberated from the Germans in June 1944 still stands. Here we are piped over the Bridge by Pipers and after a gathering and historical briefing we ride to our hotel in Caen as the bugler sounds The Advance. Overnight hotel.
Cycle approx 45 miles

Day 4: Caen – Lisieux
Today, the Canadian and Polish are remembered as we cycle from Caen down to Falaise, where the Germans were very nearly defeated! After a stop in the square to hear the Guides explain how close it was, we take a spectacular climb to the Mace. Here we will lay a wreath to commemorate the Polish soldiers, before continuing on to Lisieux. Overnight hotel.
Cycle approx 75 miles

Day 5: Lisieux – Evreux
The French Resistance and Special Forces Day, today we will remember the brave soldiers as well as women and civilians and hear the stories of the much celebrated SOE (Special Operation Executive) Agents, who parachuted into the countryside to work undercover against the enemy. We will have SOE individuals who were there at the time, as well as modern-day SOEs, when we remember those no longer with us. We shall once again lay a wreath in the memory of resistance fighters. Then we continue to Evreux. Overnight hotel.
Cycle approx 55 miles

Day 6: Evreux – Paris
Free French day – the liberation of Paris. An exciting day today, as it was back then, as we cycle eastwards and follow the route many soldiers took in the liberation of Paris. With personal memories from those who were there, we cycle towards the capital city where a wonderful celebration welcome awaits us. A wreath will be laid at the Arc de Triomphe as we cycle past, and on down the Champs Elysees to our finishing point at the iconic Eiffel Tower. This is a long, emotional yet rewarding day to finish the cycle challenge! All cyclists will be part of a celebratory evening reception at a hotel in Paris. Overnight hotel.
Cycle approx 70 miles

Day 7: Paris – London
Arriving about 6pm