Those of you who have been loyally following ‘The Awesome Hen’ will know that at the end of last year I had a sudden rush of blood to the head & signed up for the Royal British Legion’s Pedal to Paris 2014 Bike Ride. It was an attempt to do something personally to honour the memories of the Bede Boys -WLS, Tutty and Bob H and to commemorate the Centenary of WW1 by trying to raise money to help today’s gallant service men and women and their families.
Nearly 300 cyclists gathered at Greenwich
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysrMJjG_ANk
to start the ride and we all finished at the Arc de Triomphe 4 days later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT_0TktHNIU
It was one of the very best experiences of my life; I loved every minute! Without your fantastic support, I could not have done it and I thank all of you very much indeed.
By looking on the web-site of the Royal British Legion, you can see how the charity uses money raised in donations to improve the lives of servicemen and their families. By looking at my blog (Category: ycling from London to Paris) you can read about my efforts to learn to ride a bike properly and (LOL) turn myself into a long distance cyclist.
Yours encouraging anyone who’s thinking about doing something similar to go ahead and do it – it was fabulous!
PEDAL2PARIS 2014
WITH THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
WAS
AWESOME!!!!
The Route!
View Pedal to Paris in a larger map
THE
CAUSE
WAS
AWESOME!!!
Wreaths were laid to commemorate those who died:
and funds raised to support for those who survive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ajzy9fjfLtU
(youtube video source: The Royal British Legion)
THE GENEROSITY OF MY
KIND SPONSORS
WAS
AWESOME!!!
THE
ROYAL
BRITISH
LEGION’S
LEGENDARY ORGANISATION AND SUPPORT TEAMS
WERE
AWESOME!!!
(photo credit: Dave Hayward)
MY
FELLOW CYCLISTS
WERE
AWESOME!!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysrMJjG_ANk
(Youtube video source: British Forces News)
THE WELCOME OUR
FRENCH HOSTS
GAVE US
WAS
AWESOME!!!
They welcomed us with ceremonies at their war memorials in Calais:
Abbeville:
Beauvais:
and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris:
(photo credits: Dave Hayward)
with bunting in Auchy la Montagne
and with a feature article written by Monique Biéri the ‘Courrier Picard ‘ at Poix de Picardie:
THE
CONSTANT SUPPORT
I WAS GIVEN
BY MY FAMILY & FRIENDS
WAS
AWESOME!!!
both before:
and afterwards:
W. L. S.
(WHO SURVIVED FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINE IN 2ND YPRES IN 1915
& IN WHOSE MEMORY
I PEDALLED TO PARIS)
WAS
AWESOME!!!
both in his youth:
and in his old age:
THANK YOU ALL SO, SO MUCH!
Yours feeling absolutely thrilled to have been part of The Royal British Legion’s Pedal2Paris ride, 2014,
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Want to join us but don’t live in Perch Fell? You’re in luck ! Yay!
Our crack Editorial Team at The Awesome Hen:
News Reporter
Lady Liberty Hen
WW1 Centenary & Barbecue Enthusiast
The Agent Pastoral Guide
The Rev. Rosecomb (aka Trev the Rev) Film and TV Buff
The Graf von Blommehön Gardening Guru
Lady Lohmann-Brown Party giver Extraordinaire
Lady Egality Maran Sporting Correspondent
Sir Plymouth Rock Author of '101 Ways to Organise Everything & Everyone'
Brown Owl Castle Coop Local Celebrity
Lady Eftie Nudge Perch Fell Resident Tourist
Julia. I'm allowed to be present at editorial meetings so long as I sit at the back & colour in quietly. 
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All the characters you meet in The Awesome Hen live in the virtual hamlet of Perch Fell and nowhere else. They are entirely their own selves and have no alter egos in either the actual or the virtual world.
Viva Lady Liberty and Chick Mi. What an achievement for you both and The Royal British Legion. The opening of the Invictus Games tonight brings us from the ravages of WW1 remembered during Pedal2Paris right up to today’s heroes who have given so much and bravely carry on.
Dearest Lady E, you’re so right. We don’t seem to have got very far in the last 100 years in this respect. xx
So pleased you are back in one piece and happy. You are an awesome lady and deserve all the plaudits you are receiving!!
Hello dear Mrs Nige, How absolutely lovely of you! Thank you so much! It really was a fabulous experience. How is the photography going? Wd love to meet up again soon – any chance?
And what a fab achievement to have got over five thousand pounds! WLS would be very proud of you.
Everyone has been so generous – I am overwhelmed by how kind everyone’s been. Now I must write the whole trip up properly! Don’t you think it’s a nice photo of WLS?
The whole Royal British Legion events team are addicted to your fantastic blog, looking forward to hearing more about the ride and hope you join us on future rides!
Thank you for being amazing!!
Oh Wow!!! How fab of you to leave a comment for me! Dear, kind Graham, thank you so much – you’ve just put the icing on my pedal2paris trip cake! However, it is I who must thank YOU and your colleagues for being amazing – I can’t get over how you all managed to organise every detail so beautifully – you thought of absolutely everything and you all worked so hard to make the ride easy for us. I really hope I can join in another Poppy Bike Ride in the future. It was an extraordinary experience and I loved every minute!
Congratulations, Lady Liberty!!! How marvellous! What a fantastic achievement – have plenty of bubbly to celebrate!
Hi Kate, thank YOU so much for all your wonderful support – your comments and tweets meant such a lot to me! IT WAS FANTASTIC fun! Now I must do all the housework I haven’t done for months & months!Hope you are well.xx
You are AWESOME and AMAZING! Congrats on a glorious ride!
Oh Beverly, gosh that’s kind! THANK YOU for all your fantastic encouragement and support right from the start when I couldn’t sit down! xx
Splendid!! Delighted to hear it. Trust that the Agent is breaking out champagne and that the Chairman of the Village Hall has already organized the celebratory full barbeque at the Ox and Moose.
Thank you so much Digby D – I have been thoroughly spoilt and feel very happy!
Congratulations on your wonderful achievement. Very pleased, though not at all surprised that you have completed this. Was Chick Mi able to keep up?
As my virtual trainer, I think you deserve all the glory! I shall recommend you to everyone who needs a VT. Good job!