Pedal2Paris was AWESOME!

Posted by in Castle Coop News | 16 comments

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.

 

over-the-moon-6

 

Yours encouraging anyone who’s thinking about doing something similar to go ahead and do it – it was fabulous!

LLH signature

 

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:

Pedal2Paris wreaths

and funds raised to support for those who survive:

RBL cause

 

 

 

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!!!

 

TAH donations 5

THE

ROYAL

BRITISH

LEGION’S

LEGENDARY ORGANISATION AND SUPPORT TEAMS

WERE

AWESOME!!!

Pedal2Paris crew 1

 (photo credit: Dave Hayward)

 

 

MY

FELLOW CYCLISTS

WERE

AWESOME!!!

pedaltoparis luggage 1

 

 (photo credit: Dave Hayward):

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:

P2P Calais war memorial

Abbeville:

P2P Abbeyville

Beauvais:

P2P Beauvais

 and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris:

P2P tomb of unknow soldier 1

 

  (photo credits: Dave Hayward)

with bunting in Auchy la Montagne

Pedal2Paris, Auchy la Montagne1

and with a feature article written by Monique Biéri the ‘Courrier Picard ‘ at Poix de Picardie:

Pedal2Paris article1

THE

CONSTANT SUPPORT

I WAS GIVEN

BY MY FAMILY & FRIENDS

WAS

AWESOME!!!

both before:

Pedal2Paris good luck cards1

and afterwards:

 

Peda2Paris flowers

 

 

 

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:

WLS 9

and in his old age:

WLS

 

 

THANK YOU ALL SO, SO MUCH!

 

 

 

Yours feeling absolutely thrilled to have been part of The Royal British Legion’s Pedal2Paris ride, 2014,

Pedal2Paris 2014 1

LLH signature

16 Comments

  1. 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

  2. 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?

  3. 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?

  4. 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!

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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!

  8. 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!

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