Paris

We're finally here! Neal and I have dropped our bikes with some dodgy looking chaps in some outbuilding at the Gare de Nord. Neal bought his ticket and we walked, nay stumbled home.

Paris is VERY hot. As we approached the Arc de Triomphe it was 34 degrees and humid, not great cycling weather!

Today was a really good day's cycling. Apart from the temperature, we made really good progress and maintained a very good average speed of about 14.5 mph despite a couple of big hills.

I took some of the advice from the pro yesterday and kept a high cadence (fast pedalling), which really helped me, especially up the hills.

It was some quite slow going after Van Gogh's home due to an increasing density of traffic lights. As we got into the Paris suburbs, the maps Spen had brought really lacked sufficient detail to get us where we needed to go, so ended up relying on the GPS which was VERY helpful. The downside to that was the battery died on the phone (which we use to update the blog) when we got to the Arc de Triomphe. Which unfortunately meant that I couldn't update you all on the mini-adventure that has been what's happened since the Arc de Triomphe...

So to fill you in on how things went after I sent the victory post. We went for a victory lap around the Arc and to be honest it wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it might be. Neal correctly described it as real-life Frogger. It was a total rush, and combined with the amazing feeling of riding to Paris (which is still sinking in) I was feeling very very good.

We decided to stop for some more pictures at the Arc but were promptly moved along by an overly officious police woman telling us we had to move the bikes! After some 300 miles we couldn't believe it, but none of us could be bothered to argue! We all needed water and were planning on meeting Zoe and Kirsty at the Eifel tower after a late change in plans by Spencer before we left.

We stopped off at some expensive food hall and were massively ripped off for the water. At this point Zoe had spoken to Spencer to tell us the hotel we were booked in at had no hot water and the A/C had packed up, the result of which meant they had moved us to a different hotel. Because of THAT they were now running behind and would't be at the Eifel tower for a while.

At this point Spen suggested we cycle down the Champs Ellyses, which to be honest was the last thing I wanted to do. I just needed some shade and water and then get to the hotel.

Eventually after the cobbled streets of the Champs Ellyses, which in the sun and with a blue sky looked stunning and a quick detour around the Place de la Concorde we headed to the Tower. We found Zoe and Peterson, Kirsty and Archie, and celebrated our arrival in Paris by spraying some (cheap) Champagne over the place - Formula 1 style.

We all made our way to the hotel which is in the Opera district I believe. Once we'd found the hotel Spencer started having some discussions with the hotel after there was some concern expressed by the girls about the rooms. He also wanted to sort out where his and Rich's bikes were going to go as they're staying until Wednesday.

That I think brings you up to date. Neal are sat at a restaurant at the moment waiting for our food after which we're crashing out ready for our very early start tomorrow which will take us home!

Once home, I don't anticipate full movement to return to my legs for a week! I'm really really tired, but already thinking about doing another!!

Han, just want to let you know how much I love you and miss you. Thanks for all of your support in helping me get this far.

Will, Josie and Rufus - I'm looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

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