Horsley to Paris by Bicycle by Clive Smee

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Bryan Derrick Warren
5 years ago
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1 HCPS Around and About Horsley Sept 2013 Horsley to Paris by Bicycle by Clive Smee A cycle ride of 190 miles from Horsley to Paris should be approached with a certain amount of caution, particularly if you are aged between 64 and 81. The seven members of Horsley U3A (Hugh Bucknill, Richard Deighton, Shonagh Finnan, Roland Masset, Chris Tailby, Clive Smee, and Bob Spackman) who took up this challenge in May certainly prepared thoroughly for the trip. The route and logistics were meticulously researched and pre-planned; training was exhaustive and sometimes exhausting - one member racked up over one thousand miles on training rides, while another had the misfortune to fall off and break a wrist; two support vehicles and three spouses were organised to provide enroute support and TLC; medical supplies were carefully checked by a local doctor, though it was not deemed necessary to test cyclists for illegal drug taking; and, to ensure energy did not flag on the journey, provisions included an almost unlimited supply of jelly babies and flapjack.

As it turned out, the biggest hazard faced by the Horsley U3A cycling team was in Horsley itself. To launch the ride, a French style send-off of croissants and coffee had been organised at Quaich.

2 As it turned out, the biggest hazard faced by the Horsley U3A cycling team was in Horsley itself. To launch the ride, a French style send-off of croissants and coffee had been organised at Quaich. Unfortunately only six of the seven cyclists reached the start safely. On the way from West to East Horsley the seventh member swerved to avoid pedestrians and ended up in a ditch with a bent wheel. Facing a tight timetable, the other members set off without him. Luckily, with the aid of one of the team s support vehicles, a spare wheel was rapidly located and the group were reunited about 10 miles from Horsley.

3 A second hazard also faced on the first day s 50 mile ride from Horsley to Newhaven was high wind, forecast to rise to near gale force. Passing the National Trust s Nymans Gardens just before lunch, we were disconcerted to find the gardens closed because of fears of falling trees. Luckily the forecast proved overly pessimistic, as did nearly all the weather forecasts over the next three days. More unpleasant was the evening rush hour traffic around Lewes and on the descent into Newhaven. Next morning the bikes and support vehicles were loaded on to the ferry for a four hour crossing to Dieppe. First off the boat, we were quickly on the Avenue Verte by 3pm, an almost flat tarmac path following the route of a disused

railway line. For over 30 miles we rode in sunshine through lush and rolling countryside dotted with charming villages, grazing herds of cattle, old churches and the occasional chateau.

4 railway line. For over 30 miles we rode in sunshine through lush and rolling countryside dotted with charming villages, grazing herds of cattle, old churches and the occasional chateau. Judged by the number of converted railway stations and signal boxes, the line had once been well used. By contrast we met few users of the cycle track. In fact there were so few that our chosen tea stop had not opened for the year. Luckily, seeing seven parched faces peering through their windows, the owners kindly opened up just for us.

The first night in France was spent in Forges les Eaux at the family run Sofhotel. An evening that began with the sampling of local ciders ended with a somewhat rowdy dinner.

5 The first night in France was spent in Forges les Eaux at the family run Sofhotel. An evening that began with the sampling of local ciders ended with a somewhat rowdy dinner. The third day of the journey was expected to be the longest, with a ride of over 70 miles. A little delayed by a puncture (one of only two punctures experienced in the whole trip), we set off next morning under threatening skies and with forecasts of heavy rain showers. It did rain, but only for five minutes. The flat railway track gave way to country lanes and almost empty roads across rolling rapeseed-covered hills. The quality of the road surfaces were generally in marked contrast to those in Surrey; the few rough surfaces encountered were ascribed to misguided export activity by Surrey County Council.

Morale and energy were kept up with stops for patisseries, coffee, lunch, and tea in a succession of attractive small towns: Gournay, St Germer de Fly, Jouy sous Thelle and Marines.

6 Morale and energy were kept up with stops for patisseries, coffee, lunch, and tea in a succession of attractive small towns: Gournay, St Germer de Fly, Jouy sous Thelle and Marines. Tiring headwinds and climbs were forgotten in the downhill swoops. On the long hill down into Triel sur Seine several members broke the 50 km.p.h speed limit, including our most senior member who should have known better! Where our senior member clearly showed that he did know better was in route finding. A tight roll of paper on his handlebars with a careful listing of every turning and change of direction proved to be a more reliable guide to our route

7 than the three state- of- the- art GPSs used by other members of the team. Finding the Campanile hotel at Villennes sur Seine was a mission. Mis-directed, we struggled up what felt like the steepest hill in France. Having reached the top, some of our party found they were then expected to carry their bikes up to their first floor bedrooms. To add insult to injury, one of those so treated found that at dinner a row of cocktail sausages was presented as a brochette de viandes. He got his money back. The fourth day, a Sunday, was a leisurely cycle in mild sunny conditions through the forests and parks that provide a green corridor around the south west of Paris: Foret de St Germain, Foret de Marly le Roi, Versailles, and Parc de St-Cloud.

8 Lunch in the magnificent grounds of Versailles was followed by an aqueduct crossing of the Seine, a ride in the Bois de Boulogne past the racecourse and finally a short stretch of on-street cycling to the Eiffel Tower and celebratory ice creams.

9 Later, celebrations continued over dinner at Julien, a splendid Art Nouveau restaurant north of the river. This was the only occasion on which our leader s knowledge let him down: a supposed thirty minute walk turned into an hour s route march and, for the first time in four days, some of us resorted to public transport. The cyclists and their supporters returned home in different but less energetic ways over the next two days. At least, most of them did: one participant with an interest also in Transport and Industrial Archaeology has reportedly taken up employment operating the lifts in the Eiffel Tower.

My challenge by Charlie Griffiths

My challenge by Charlie Griffiths As you may or may not know I was born with an eye condition called Nystagmus. This means my eye muscles are weak and I have to work harder to see things as I have little