Friday 29th May – The Finale – 72 miles

The French countryside at 5.30 in the morning was magical – mist in the valleys, sun rising over lovely villages. I take my hat off to the route markers who marked very road junction with orange flags, without fail, so navigation was easy. They did have some fun though because there was a team who brought up the rear of the ride whose task was to collect the flags – and seeing six flags going to near the top of a telegraph pole – or a manure heap liberally covered in flags – must have caused the markers some amusement! Lizzie – an opera singer with great character – who set her own pace all week, left the hotel at 4am, in the dark. Speaking to her over an illicet coffee stop in a village she said she felt like she was in he SAS – stopping at each junction in the dark, getting her torch out – and trying to find which direction the arrows went!

It was a long slog to lunch, near Versailles – most of the journey had been on minor roads with little traffic, but as we approached Paris, the roads became busier, very long and straight with plenty of undulation – and a headwind (speeds varied between 20mph and 100 mp depending on who one spoke to!). Most people’s determination was tested – but we all made it. After lunch (pasta again!) – the food stops were amazing, Discovey Adventure, who organised all the logistics, had a great catering team who set up a field kitchen at each lunch stop with a great variety of salads, cold meats, delicious hot pasta bakes, and huge freshly cooked muffins. What with that, choccy bars at the regular water stops, and the odd beer in the evening, I doubt anyone lost much weight on the trip (certainly not me!).

Next stop – the Arc de Triumph – the most exciting part of the journey. Legs well warmed up – Parisian drivers not wanting to give an inch – and all of us – determined to beat them off the lights. Chaos and medlem – but fun, and fortunately all arrived safely. We formed up, without our bikes, the roundabout around the Arc de Triumph was closed – and for those who have been you will know what a feat that must have been – one of the fastest, most terrifying roundabouts, certainly that I have experienced in the world, for a march to the Arc and a ceremony. Our National Anthem was sung (apparently not a regular occurance as the Arc was built to commerorate various battles between the French and the British over the years), and we gave a rousing rendition of the French National Anthem – though the original author may not have recognised quite so many dum-di-dum’s in our version.

The Champs Elysee – the widest and most beautiful of Paris’ boulevards was then closed as we rode the full length, preceded by a landrover bristeling with photographers with “The Sun” bus at the back – complete with 2 Page 3 girls. The route then took us to the finish – under the Eiffel Tower. What an ending to a remakable journey – everyone who started finished – with quite a number showing huge reserves of courage and determination. A great trip which was suitably celebrated on a boat trip on the Seine on Friday night – grown up food, decent wine – and a great atmosphere.

Saturday was a relaxed morning with the train back to London in the afternoon – so writing this from my garden in Wiltshire. Reflecting on the week it was marvellous, we raised over a million pounds, I met and chatted to a lot of very inspiring people from all walks of life (from retired 3 star generals to private soldiers with missing limbs, from Harry the lorry driver to a grandmother who just wanted to “do her bit”. A great “Band of Brothers”.

Thank you all for your tremendous support.