Our early start saw the alarm ringing at 4am! We departed from the new terminal 5 at Heathrow - an easy place to spend lots of money if you’re into the designer look. We were surprised to see many other bicycles being loaded onto the flight, it appears we are arriving just in time for the Nice iron man.
The boys from South Africa were waiting to meet us and I gulped when I saw the huge van that I would have to drive across the Alps. The boys quickly stripped off on a lawn within the car park; unfortunately the camera was still packed so I missed the chance to snap a few bare butts, instead Rae and I did the right thing and averted our gaze….
We packed the bike bag into the van and while Martin, Rae and I took them to Michelle’s house the rest of the team started there journey leaving Chris King in charge of bag minding at the airport.
The boys from South Africa were waiting to meet us and I gulped when I saw the huge van that I would have to drive across the Alps. The boys quickly stripped off on a lawn within the car park; unfortunately the camera was still packed so I missed the chance to snap a few bare butts, instead Rae and I did the right thing and averted our gaze….
We packed the bike bag into the van and while Martin, Rae and I took them to Michelle’s house the rest of the team started there journey leaving Chris King in charge of bag minding at the airport.
Martin’s cousin Michelle has very kindly allowed us to use her garage to store the bike bags and I had a real baptism of fire negotiating a very long white van from the airport, through the City up to Michelle’s idyllic home half way up a very steep very narrow twisty road, lucky for me Martin is very kind and very encouraging so I made it.
Rae and I dropped Martin and Chris at the bottom of the mountain. Geoff nearly got himself killed in Nice due to his own stupidity and has been heavily fined. All fines are going to our two charities – more of that below.
The climb today only became very steep in the last few miles and having arrived, Auron is strangely quiet outside of the ski season. We sat in the late afternoon sun enjoying a beer and photographed the crew as they arrived at the hotel.
We have a few guys not feeling too well at the end of the day, and Rae and I shared the latter part of are journey in the van with Kevin Perry, who’s unfortunately suffering with a stomach complaint that he’s had for the last two weeks. We have only one extra seat in the van for passengers so I am considering a levying a charge (to go to charity, of course!) if there is a big demand for the seat.
Rae and I dropped Martin and Chris at the bottom of the mountain. Geoff nearly got himself killed in Nice due to his own stupidity and has been heavily fined. All fines are going to our two charities – more of that below.
The climb today only became very steep in the last few miles and having arrived, Auron is strangely quiet outside of the ski season. We sat in the late afternoon sun enjoying a beer and photographed the crew as they arrived at the hotel.
We have a few guys not feeling too well at the end of the day, and Rae and I shared the latter part of are journey in the van with Kevin Perry, who’s unfortunately suffering with a stomach complaint that he’s had for the last two weeks. We have only one extra seat in the van for passengers so I am considering a levying a charge (to go to charity, of course!) if there is a big demand for the seat.
Many of us had not stopped for lunch (I did break up the emergency fruit cake I brought to fill a bit of the gap) so we sat down hungrily for simple but tasty local fair - the bread just kept on coming. The ‘madam de la maison’ was not the happiest soul and got very cross with Geoff when he walked into her kitchen. He switched on the McDonald charm and she was soon flirting with him as she served dinner…..
It was Chris King’s birthday, so we all raised a glass and sang happy birthday to him. We have all admired the ‘Southern Ropes’ cycle jerseys that most of the SA boys have and were delighted to see that Secret Santa had come early and placed a pair of SR cycle socks at each place setting. Thank you Chris J
Bob has been appointed Fine Master, the largest fine being levied on Geoff for nearly getting himself killed… Other fines included one for Roger for a really bad hairdo when he arrived at the airport; the boys are already threatening to give him a hair cut before he goes home.
Etienne had a fine for stupidly, storing his bike chain inside his bike frame which was then extremely difficult to retrieve. Why didn’t he didn’t coil it up like everyone else to travel? Philip had a fine for putting washing powder in his drink bottle (thought it was his energy drink…) Gary L was also fined for upsetting ‘le madame’ by nipping behind the bar and helping himself to the Pernod for a birthday toast to Chris. The hard core SA boys ended the night with a game of poker before retiring for the night.
It was Chris King’s birthday, so we all raised a glass and sang happy birthday to him. We have all admired the ‘Southern Ropes’ cycle jerseys that most of the SA boys have and were delighted to see that Secret Santa had come early and placed a pair of SR cycle socks at each place setting. Thank you Chris J
Bob has been appointed Fine Master, the largest fine being levied on Geoff for nearly getting himself killed… Other fines included one for Roger for a really bad hairdo when he arrived at the airport; the boys are already threatening to give him a hair cut before he goes home.
Etienne had a fine for stupidly, storing his bike chain inside his bike frame which was then extremely difficult to retrieve. Why didn’t he didn’t coil it up like everyone else to travel? Philip had a fine for putting washing powder in his drink bottle (thought it was his energy drink…) Gary L was also fined for upsetting ‘le madame’ by nipping behind the bar and helping himself to the Pernod for a birthday toast to Chris. The hard core SA boys ended the night with a game of poker before retiring for the night.
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