Even though the time zone moves on one hour don't let this fool you into thinking you have had a decent few hours. Three and a half hours of pretty rubbish sleep was achieved. The alarm is then followed up by a friendly knock knock knock on your door with the stewards telling you we were approaching the port.
Luckily I had simply put all my clothes in a decent pile next to the bed to re dress. You are not allowed to wear bike shoes on board so I had to carry these along with my helmet and the rest of the kit I had taken off the bike for overnight. So carrying these I headed out the door back down to the bottom deck. No time for breakfast either. My 2 cups of coffee hit was really missed.
It was very dark outside too so lights were switched on.
Shoes on, bike re-packed, best wishes exchanged with all the other 4 cyclists onboard and Garmin switched on to record the longest ride of my life so far....
You have to follow HGV lorries off the boat as these are allowed off first so it's a bit strange but once down off the ramp I looked at the time and it was 5:15 AM (French time).
Time to get going. It is an amazing thing.. adrenalin. It can make you feel reasonably well even after little sleep and being tired. The route was very well rehearsed by trying to relive it on Google Maps but the real thing in the pitch black of night was a shock. Also I was trying to dodge potholes unsuccessfully as the road light was not good. I had to follow the river for a few hundred feet and take the D1 road out of Dieppe which was easy enough. I was heading for the start of the Avenue Verte cycle path and I found the best way to get there was to actually cycle through the car park of E'Leclerc Supermarket. This takes you onto the roundabout where you go straight ahead onto the D154E. This then takes you to another roundabout where you go all the way round and come off at the 3rd junction to refollow the D154 east. A few hundred yards fork left onto the D54 and when the road bends left about 100 yards up on the right is the entrance to a car park which is also the start of the Avenue Verte cyclepath.
This path passes by a collection of small lakes and just keep on the path and you will pick up the long straight pathway that is the AV about 5 miles into your day.
The twilight was already starting to appear and for the next 25 miles I thoroughly enjoyed the peace, complete quiet and tranquility of this ride. All I could hear was my breath, the noise of the tyres on the path and increasingly the sounds of the wildlife waking up and coming to life for another day in the North French countryside. I lost count of the number of rabbits, red squirrels and foxes I spotted quickly dashing away from the path before me as I approached. The temperature was good for that time of day too. I risked the clothing I had packed by just having a summer sleeveless base layer, my skinsuit and a kag in a bag under my seat just in case and just as I was starting to think I had gotten away with it I felt the first spots of rain on my neck.
As the sun appeared it was then that I also could just make out the very dark clouds up ahead. Oh dear !!
The rain that arrived as I got to Forges Les Eaux was 5/10. A rain shower. No real issue.
The kag was out of the bag and a real comfort.
From Forges Les Eaux, I got a bit lost heading into town to look for a shop which was open at 6:30 am. I was desperately in need of coffee and starting to feel a little cold from the rain shower. I changed the plan to follow the cycle path as much as I could for the easy option of joining the D915 road towards Paris.
The rain got worse, by the time I got to Gournay-en-Bray it was torrential. Large puddles of running water took up most of the third of the road that was my domain so it was not a great safe way to ride in the middle of the road but luckily the French drivers were still in bed and I had been told they were far more considerate than the UK ones so I risked it a bit.
I passed through some lovely villages, Bouchvilliers, Talmontiers & Serifontaine.
Just as I arrived at Gisors the rain eased and I had started that squeak from the rain water that had beaten the rainproof qualities of my kag. It was time for a coffee and food and more importantly more clothes. I had given up on my plan to do this as fast as I could. My ideal plan was to maintain a 17 mph average to try and get back to Dieppe in 12 hours. No way Jose !!!
In Gisors that day there was an open market which crazily was just in the process of clearing away ?! I asked a stall holder if he had any scarfs, etc and he tried to understand me but it was no chance. Top tip... when you want to cycle anywhere abroad learn some basic phrases.
I entered a supermarket only to be told to get out with my bike. The security man was very nice though, he told me where to go !! By this I mean he told me to get to the out of town shopping area. He pointed up the road and said . "Intermarche shop... sports shop !!" I knew the Intermarche shop chain very well from numerous trips there over the years whilst on holiday in Spain clutching a shopping list from my lovely wife Debby . " Milk, Cheese, Ham, Fruit, Wine, Juice and an inflatable Killer Whale !!" Same every year. ;) XX
This time my list was a little different, it was . " Head scarf, Neck scarf, cycling socks & an extra cycling jersey" . My budget for this trip had now doubled.
I was lost and went the wrong way eventually finding the Commercial Area not the Shopping Retail area of Gisors and tried my luck at a Gym. I asked the owner if he could help me find a sports/bike shop. He did not speak any English and why would he. He was very very nice though and quite possibly the biggest person I had ever seen, his neck was about 20 inches thick and his biseps were like tree trunks. Eventually we got there by me acting out being very cold and wanting a new jersey.
You kind of go past the point of wanting to hold onto any form of self respect.
He drew me a map of how to get to Sports 2000 which was the only shop he could think I was after and yes it was next door to Intermarche, result !!
When I got there it was just right, a multi sport mega store with a bike section. I bought the only cycling jersey that they had left and the only neck scarf too. The stock was limited to say the least. In the running section I found a head cap and went to check out. Unfortunately the internet was down so I had to pay cash. I had taken 50 euros with me and the bill came to 60 !!! AAAHHHHHHH !!!!!!!
Being a bit of a bargain hound I noticed there was a sign saying 50% off some summer lines and I asked the girl and she added the discount which meant it came to 45. Woohoo ! Saved. I had however, used up all my EU cash which I would find out later was a mistake.
The clothes added just the right amount of heat to comfort me for the rest of the day.
A few more miles on I went through Chars and then the town of Marines where after 4 hours and 60 miles I got my first coffee of the day (make that 2 with the last of my Euros)
Back onto the D915 which would eventually lead me all the way to Pontoise. Before I got there I passed by a large water tower and I remembered when researching routes my google map insisted I turn right here but I carried on into the busier traffic of the arteries of Paris. It was much straighter and easier to just keep going in a South Easterly direction towards the French capital and I just tried to be careful and watch for dangers. To be fair my assessment of the French is that they do indeed beat the Brits for being a lower danger to cyclists so Chapeau to you !!
Down to the River Oise in Pontoise was a steep downhill which I would not be looking forward to on the return but it is not wise to think of the negatives on days like this but focus on the positives. So for now it was WWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!!!! all the way down.... nice.
Bridge crossed and then the D14, Allo, a new road at last.
You can tell you are getting close to a massive city when the out of town shopping malls and huge stores appear 10 miles before you get to the city itself.
Next look out was for a right turn onto the D392. This took me to Bezons and across another bridge over the River Seine ! Woohoo must be getting close now.
The D992 was my new road now which was starting to look like a serious city inward route, care must be taken and head up at all times. I find riding upwards better in cities rather than adopting the TT position much more safe. At least I felt safer, making sure I was as visible as possible to cars, lorries coming from side streets. I also put my front and rear flashing lights on just before crossing the river to ensure maximum security.
Next landmark was a huge glass blob of a building on my left where I turned left onto the D908. There were plenty of cycle paths which ran alongside the main road but I felt safer on the road to be honest as people tend to walk in the cycle paths in cities and cars also tend to park on them too making them more treacherous in my opinion.
Last big landmark coming was a big fountain roundabout where I turned right staying on the D908. I was starting to feel really hungry and wanted to stop for some more coffee and some proper food before I decided what to do after getting to the Arc de Triomphe. As per usual no cafe/restaurant wanted a cyclist with a bike in their establishments and the look of the clientele was becoming more and more suited and booted the closer I got to the city centre. So it was back to Plan A for me on all my rides...petrol station pasty/sandwich, chocolate bars and fluid top ups. However, the next petrol station only had drinks so I had to do with just topping up water bottles.
More bridges, in fact what I thought was 2 bridges was actually 1 bridge with an island in the middle over the Seine (Île de la Grande Jatte)
Next landmark was the Hotel Hyatt Tower. I could see this from quite a way so I took the right fork down Avenue de la Porte de Villiers. Then a right and left infront of the hotel onto Avenue des Ternes.
I was then just looking for the FNAC store in a really impressive corner building up on the left hand side and I knew that taking a right here up Avenue Mac-Mahon would lead me straight to the Arc de Triomphe.
Turning right up ahead i could see the massive structure of the Arc de Triomphe in front of me and a sudden rush of blood shot from my legs right up my spine towards the back of my head and caused a sudden and unexpected flood of emotion. I started to cry, not sobbing like a baby just leaking quietly to myself. I think every every action has an appropriate reaction and I had planned this since 26th December 2016, spent hours pouring over maps, planning routes, planning my kit, thinking about and planning the whole thing and now I had reached the target of my challenge. It is a feeling like no other and only can be felt by a person who does this sort of thing and indescribable.
Crazy traffic, how do I cross !!!
So what next ?
Looking at the time, it was 1 pm. That meant I had taken a massive 8 hours to get to Paris. I was not impressed. I think the lack of sleep, the weather and the time I lost looking for more clothes in Gisors did not help. That meant that not only had I given up any chance of getting the 6 pm ferry back but I also was now wondering whether I would make the 11 pm deadline for the midnight ferry.
Decisions...decisions....decisions !!
I don't know whether it was being alone in the romantic city of Paris that made me feel so alone, the need to complete the challenge total or just the fact that I felt reasonably OK.
Anyway, I set off back for Dieppe but first I had to find a friendly cafe for real food, more coffee and cake !!
After negotiating with the cafe owner, a very large blonde older lady I successfully sat on an outside table with my bike resting on the kerb !! The bill came and I got out my credit card and the lady said "Non card, you no spend enuff !!" Oh !! A great way of getting a good tip ? Maybe but I was past caring !!
Once I had filled myself on the largest ham and cheese baguette I could handle, 2 coffees and juice I headed back on the same route I arrived on.
The route back should be identical but some roads are one way so just out of the area off the Arc I made use of Rue Guersant which cut out the need for going past the Hyatt.
Apart from this though it was pretty much the same way back to the outskirts of Paris. Hello Pontoise hill climb . Ouch !!
Reacquainted with the D915 my old friend I was happy again. We would spend alot of today in each others company and it was quiet and peaceful. I wonder if anyone has ever fallen asleep cycling ? Especially in the time trial position as it is surprisingly comfortable.
Oops, I forgot to tell you a little cheat. When you get to Marines on the way to Paris do not join the D915 which bypasses the town, go straight in and then hop over a one way road after a climb out of the town, it says no entry but it takes you back to the D915. Coming back from Paris just take the slip road which says Marines centre. Trust me seeing houses, people and things other than a road and trees will be what you need for sanity's sake after hours in the saddle.
There was not alot to report of interest on the way back. I cycled, drank, ate a bit and ticked off the miles. The longest ride I had done before today was a couple of years ago I did the most southern bit of Wales (Barry Island) to the most northernmost (Talacre) which was 181.5 miles. Today would be over 200 so I was as the yanks might say "motivated"
At Gournay-en-Bray I had to top up fluids desperately so eventually found a store and bought what I thought would be a good choice. 4 bottles of Oasis. Now as much as I love the Manchester band. I Definitely Maybe do not like their juice, way too sugary and I felt sick after one mouthful, and remember I had bought 4 bottles.
The rural area between Paris and Dieppe is quite flat and has mile after mile of fields of wheat. Now I know why their baguettes are so bloody big.
Next was Forges Les Eaux which looked rather wet last time I was here around 11 hours ago but from here I knew from the route it was rejoin Avenue Verte which had a slight 0.5-1.5 % downhill slope all the way to Dieppe. 175 miles done and I was well on the way to getting there, also looking at the time it was now 8:45 pm so I had around 30 miles to go and could relax. It was just then that I started seeing the hallucinations.
All the way along the Avenue Verte there are crossing points where you have to slow down, almost to a stop and check the road which crosses and ride through gates across the path.
On approaching some of these I thought I was looking at people on the path and I was certain it was a dog walker or someone standing in the middle of the path looking straight at me but when I got closer I realised it was either a sign or a tree or something else. I also could swear I spotted large cats or animals in the bushes. I needed to get this done and rest. I knew that this was the effects of the day and lack of sleep. Kind of realising this calmed me down and I just waited for the next one to pop up.
The route took me past a few gorgeous chateaux....
I was worried about the effects of fatigue on my ability to ride my bike towards the end of this day and I really found myself having to concentrate to keep on going. It is a weird feeling but I noticed that I felt light headed and a bit sick. Why is it that the distance seems to take ages to count down. Along the Ave Verte distance markers tell you how long to go until Dieppe, and the kilometers seemed to be agonisingly slow to count down.
Eventually I reached the start of the Ave Verte and just to underline my worries I could not find the path back to Dieppe harbour. I first went into a cement factory and had to turn around and then I found my way into the labyrinth of lakes. I heard some children's voices and remembered that there was a holiday company close by and found my way back to the D54.
I then went flat out into Dieppe although I did not need to as the time was around 10:30 pm and I had loads of time until my midnight ferry but I just wanted to get there before I had an accident or mechanical or felt any worse. Panic. More hallucinations. Some black bins bags turned into beggars and people like the dancers on Michael Jacksons Thriller video.
I know I must have looked slightly crazed coming into the town as it was getting dark and a few people stopped and did a double take when they looked at the wide eyed sweaty panting vision in lycra coming towards them.
I got to the ferry gates and as they were closed and I had ridden as far as I could I stopped the Garmin and looked down at my record ride so far... 208.5 miles.
I entered the holding area and was pleasantly surprised. It was modern, comfortable and was about half full of people including a few cyclists. More double takes by people. My crazed look must have stuck. I sat down and the relief and achievement washed over me. I do not think this was an hallucination but the toilet seemed to have shrunk to a quarter of it's normal size !!!
I went to see the man on the reception and asked him if there a possibility of an upgrade to a room. Thankfully this was sorted and my budget was blown once again. But I could not care, I really really needed a bed that night.
I met some great people waiting for the ferry, no idea who or where they came from but I just remember them being nice.
Ferry boarded, fish and chips with the tartare sauce and tomato ketchup explosion consumed. Two bottles of water and 2 cakes demolished and then a quick shower and bed. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
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