Preparations

Preparations are well underway for the trip and as I write this on Fathers day three of our number, Bob, Steve and Tony are sitting in a café in Brighton having done the London to Brighton - a quick fuel stop before they cycle back again!

This annual pilgrimage sees them meet up with the Pearson boys and their team for a quick hammer up and down to the coast. Many of you will know Pearsons cycle shop in Sutton – it’s been there forever and we’ve known the family for years. Bob and I used to go out on our tandem with Roger and Carol Pearson and a group of their friends and I treasure some great memories of that time. Our last outing with them was when I was heavily pregnant with our son George (now 13), after one of many trips that took in a good local pub. We still have the tandem and now the children are getting older perhaps we’ll get dust it off and get back on it again one day….

Roger sadly died well before his time due to cancer and it reminds me again how this dreadful illness affects so many of our lives in so many ways. Guy and William Pearson run the family business now, two great guys and both very talented and enthusiastic cyclists.

The route of this years trip has been planned by Martin, a circular trek which means we have none of the logistical problems of last year which saw us having to get the bike bags across France independently of us. Our arrival in Nice will see the guys get straight on their bikes at the airport and commence a gruelling climb from sea level to the top of Auron and our first evenings destination.

Due to our large number this year we have hired a van to carry the overnight bags and spares so I will be adding van driver to my list of many talents! I should perhaps introduce myself – the wife of Bob I have, for the past two years, aided and abetted the guys on their adventures. I’m amazed and delighted as to how a chance meeting between Bob and Martin as they cycled up Box hill several years ago has lead to this, now annual event, and some great friendships.

Although all of the UK contingent live in London and Surrey most are South African nationals – some settled here permanently and some who are here on a temporary basis as their jobs have brought them over. We also have an incredible eight guys flying over from SA to join us in our adventures. Chris and Ben made the trip last year and its great that, not only are they joining us again, they are bringing six more of their number along.

I’m glad to know that they are arriving a few days ahead of the UK camp and will be collecting the van early in readiness for the big day. It seems you can’t collect a van at the airport like you can cars and I had images of leaving my daughter Rae who is coming to assist this year, minding a large pile of bags alone in Nice while I take a taxi to some van collection place.

The charity t-shirts arrived this week - a dark purple one each for Breakthrough Breast Cancer (a pleasant surprise for the guys when they saw the colours – we had visions of bright pink!) and a fetching white, green, and orange from SOS Children’s Villages. Thank you to both charities for sending these – we’ll be doing lots of photo shots on the tour with the guys all decked out so we can use them to help publicise your great causes on our return.

Hope you enjoy the blog – seems we have a vast readership and I hope that, if you haven’t already, you will donate to the charities. We should easily able to beat the £6,000 combined target between 23 team members - don’t be shy – doesn’t need to be a big one!

Sadly Simon (sorebum) Gosling has had to withdraw from the tour due to work commitments. Many of you will remember stories of Simons dogged determination last year as he battled on despite a down-below chafing injury that would have made a lesser man through in the towel. Thank you Si for donating your deposit – hope to see you next year!

Unfortunately Ivor Dorkin and Mike Brookman are two other members that have had to pull out before the big day and we have a last minute entry of Rodney Frost, someone I know from our school early morning swim sessions – having just competed a half ironman with Geoff and Gregg it sounds like he’s a man that will be up to the challenge.

I’m wondering whether I should start a sweep stake for the inevitable saddle injuries – Bob learned his lesson the hard way two years ago on Lejog and Si was the fall guy last year – let me know who you think?

I’d love to hear from you while we’re away so please post me some feedback. The blog only has one follower at the moment – click on Follow Blog so you know when something new has arrived and let me know that you’re out there!