tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75000578653490548392024-03-13T06:57:09.977+00:00Shut Up Legs!2014's cycling challenge to help the Royal British Legion and Cancer Research UK: 1000 miles solo & unsupported from Blackpool to Mont Ventoux in 8 days, and then up & down Ventoux six times in 24 hours...more climbing than the height of Mount Everest. La Bicinglette, I hope!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-19908498597276110162014-08-07T21:29:00.000+01:002014-08-08T10:39:24.887+01:00Going Back Home!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Alright then, you know by now that the mission was accomplished over two weeks ago, so why this post? Well, I wanted to give any of you poor sods who are still interested an update to how the fundraising has gone...after all, that was the main driver behind this malarkey.</div>
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Do yourselves a favour and play the song above...just a tremendous number, and as much as I love France it's nice to get back to the U.K.!</div>
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As you might imagine after the long day we did pretty much slob around and basically drink and eat like eejits. Unbelievably, what took (or seemed to, at any rate) up most time was sorting through photos and trying to get the blog written up. And that tardiness wasn't solely down to a superbly temperamental wi-fi (Gallic pronunciation 'wiffy') connection or a few local cold brews...actually, it pretty much was.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeXmGrDY9e0kU5WcebApmlCM-gVaen2ED9ZNBHvhzzTICJxXIaEQb29ASTJYACAEoiTPyXyA5n8vBsV6Xd4bSAOOH8tdufFi0yZq29Sm3XLFUHzJde3JCfwSFKCAN0eAWWvEUWHpRYcT5/s1600/IMG_0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeXmGrDY9e0kU5WcebApmlCM-gVaen2ED9ZNBHvhzzTICJxXIaEQb29ASTJYACAEoiTPyXyA5n8vBsV6Xd4bSAOOH8tdufFi0yZq29Sm3XLFUHzJde3JCfwSFKCAN0eAWWvEUWHpRYcT5/s1600/IMG_0360.JPG" height="341" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See, an iffy wiffy connection. Told ya'...</td></tr>
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The following day was again a tad on the lazy side but we did manage almost an 18 mile round-trip to a restaurant and then a winery that Andy had visited on his previous assault on Ventolux in 2011. Amazed they let him back to be honest...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8JFFJ-lMwXPR6_ETmwaB71SU8VrBJsNtVrVOPe57G_-aY5JNXOLnGwEoE1kicagbkFbR_MKx4KH3cR24WsBJCA1QwaSAoOfMEJOQLMVjocUs91gUJAx6hJJRhjq0b9m3NQ5XRGC9Fpdr/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8JFFJ-lMwXPR6_ETmwaB71SU8VrBJsNtVrVOPe57G_-aY5JNXOLnGwEoE1kicagbkFbR_MKx4KH3cR24WsBJCA1QwaSAoOfMEJOQLMVjocUs91gUJAx6hJJRhjq0b9m3NQ5XRGC9Fpdr/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG" height="315" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No desire to ever see Ventoux again but this scenery is always welcome.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQVvcElscetgU6ecyZwiAaE573m0LCawhA_hQiaQ9JPU2RwbMJL3oewLE2iggD4dY99I8Z6Mey24fRp0tKz3RKQ19qx0DA2vQPBspkaYXRsqpj4TJJbn_TWFO03xRWnnsPRaEO7F7yU05/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQVvcElscetgU6ecyZwiAaE573m0LCawhA_hQiaQ9JPU2RwbMJL3oewLE2iggD4dY99I8Z6Mey24fRp0tKz3RKQ19qx0DA2vQPBspkaYXRsqpj4TJJbn_TWFO03xRWnnsPRaEO7F7yU05/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG" height="220" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This'll have to do pour luncheon. Tres bon!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAKNV8wU5ALuVglovlwk5slnTif1iS4_JY0r4sKVXAXUtIY28-S6b8NwtCZ_sb7J6eiGaB9ECSKHplCg_A6_dx_QieAxbrlS9s9GuL_ioS2VF8Xzsj-o3P1upG-CSbGsTtk319dBqDajT/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAKNV8wU5ALuVglovlwk5slnTif1iS4_JY0r4sKVXAXUtIY28-S6b8NwtCZ_sb7J6eiGaB9ECSKHplCg_A6_dx_QieAxbrlS9s9GuL_ioS2VF8Xzsj-o3P1upG-CSbGsTtk319dBqDajT/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amouse bouche...appetisers...and local Rose. Les frites must be on the way...cheers!</td></tr>
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Perhaps slightly charged by 'local produce' I gave it my best to cane it back to Malaucene and give my fortnight a decent sign-off. HR felt like 190 bpm by the end of those what, three miles? Wow.<br />
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/549164702" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR SIGN-OFF STATS'N'MAPS...NO HR THOUGH!</a></div>
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Then it was a case of chucking the bikes in the back of Andy's much better-half's motor (thank you Tish!) and retiring for another steak and perhaps an ale or two prior to an early doors drop-off at Avignon TGV staion. Thanks for that mate!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DEer0NtepWPY1Zlb6xBE2aRfjHzUkUiF8sjgPf9xtP8OmfFNUchzlWiT-5qhSJsULvxlddx9mfd6IQI4gfEDBKieGfhFNqWkclCFZLvNeRl8o-WQgw2isgDXJLgXKBlllQu0OPW_1onN/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DEer0NtepWPY1Zlb6xBE2aRfjHzUkUiF8sjgPf9xtP8OmfFNUchzlWiT-5qhSJsULvxlddx9mfd6IQI4gfEDBKieGfhFNqWkclCFZLvNeRl8o-WQgw2isgDXJLgXKBlllQu0OPW_1onN/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1664? Mais oui. Le Chunnel not far away...</td></tr>
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My transit was fine until I encountered Eurostar at Gare du Nord...it was chaos due a computer outage and not really what anyone was looking forward to. Just as well I wasn't trying to cart a bike as well!<br />
Strictly a First World Problem and by 3.30pm I was sat in The Coal Hole on the Strand with a very cold cider, waiting for my mate Rog and then a show at the Royal Festival Hall by Mr Burt Bacharach. Howzat for random?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73wlFIe4-v8xMQ2SRygWgFiYzzOgK4e1JjF-gA483n7wlL5krbI1JeWTkoqm7LNPzh8bE5DnrUhbjVtBzNGdtnf2Bi3Q71x4DmsI2G8FC3DON7oUghfjQarqLePMVQaJVPnpGOHV0_PHd/s1600/P1050197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73wlFIe4-v8xMQ2SRygWgFiYzzOgK4e1JjF-gA483n7wlL5krbI1JeWTkoqm7LNPzh8bE5DnrUhbjVtBzNGdtnf2Bi3Q71x4DmsI2G8FC3DON7oUghfjQarqLePMVQaJVPnpGOHV0_PHd/s1600/P1050197.JPG" height="232" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many songs has Burt had a hand in? More than a few!</td></tr>
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One other daft occurence worth noting: when Le Tracteur kicked me out at Avignon I ran through a checklist while I waited for the on-time train...passport...work ID...house keys...whoa! That sudden cold shot when you realise that you've dropped the ball: I left my keys in my saddle bag that Andy was taking back to the UK (along with my bike and panniers). D'oh!<br />
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No drama as there is always a plan b, right? My long-suffering neighbours always have a spare set so I'll text Alison and give her a heads-up. In the unlikely event of that failing then there is a spare in a jam-jar buried in the back garden, so no drama.<br />
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Anyway after a while I get a text saying that a) my neighbours are in Scotland on a mini-break and b) for some reason they didn't think that they had a spare set anyway this time.<br />
Ok, so it'll either be the buried spare or a brick through the back window...in the event it was a call to my home insurers who confirmed that I was covered for just such moronic behaviour. Two hours and one drilled lock later and I was sat watching the finale of the TdF with my first decent cup of tea in a fortnight, hah-hah!<br />
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So to the serious end of things: did we raise a decent amount for the two great causes? Yes, I think we did do that as the photos below show: £2100 for the Royal British Legion and £2500 for Cancer Research UK.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsJrK-oo3c17bp0HdEpcPSugKVUNuu9nANcMw4MReQ2zTe9Bu251ITTTajuLitBcVR-VQLJ0LZfeW3PPku5UHjcRjmMPOTEWs3knHEEUTgTtsVWwVR90ATLypOVvFM3dIriq12fLaYVmA/s1600/Capture1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsJrK-oo3c17bp0HdEpcPSugKVUNuu9nANcMw4MReQ2zTe9Bu251ITTTajuLitBcVR-VQLJ0LZfeW3PPku5UHjcRjmMPOTEWs3knHEEUTgTtsVWwVR90ATLypOVvFM3dIriq12fLaYVmA/s1600/Capture1.JPG" height="261" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know that you've heard it all before but thank you.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-94ixg7xhqn5F22YKYNzBkMtA9KcD81OxSVBzpDzN0wJOMeu8-Eb6u4hBnyeAdfELwL8O8PZkJaagjPexKVGUhswb5JCWn41FHeuEdx6WAqTDMScF_vGk7ekAdCe9jkdscFA1AgyJOPk/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-94ixg7xhqn5F22YKYNzBkMtA9KcD81OxSVBzpDzN0wJOMeu8-Eb6u4hBnyeAdfELwL8O8PZkJaagjPexKVGUhswb5JCWn41FHeuEdx6WAqTDMScF_vGk7ekAdCe9jkdscFA1AgyJOPk/s1600/Capture.JPG" height="253" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brilliant! Good on you people.</td></tr>
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The Just Giving sites are still open if you haven't been able to donate and still would like to do just that...here are the links:<br />
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<b>I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
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Cheers!<br />
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To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
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To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span></div>
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Before I wrap this adventure up, I am chuffed to announce that our efforts were recognised by the loons at the 'Club Des Cingles Du Mont Ventoux': myself and Andy are the 92nd and 93rd people to have completed La Bicinglette. Get in!<br />
Also worth noting that he really doesn't mind that I have the lower number despite the fact that he bested/beasted me all day, hah-hah-hah! Never mind, no.93, hah-hah-hah!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuzK9S228Pltx91qWqpjJXOx3ON9cZjWGHmHueOqMZqcqnxiCf9CmrYUrjHoGsMouKNnU5olBjEz4vPV5LqffsVXpSR27NXyTlz7iwnMoe5Z2DkBwBYYGPGq23br-5w1FWvgQ9WemTl5K/s1600/IMG_0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuzK9S228Pltx91qWqpjJXOx3ON9cZjWGHmHueOqMZqcqnxiCf9CmrYUrjHoGsMouKNnU5olBjEz4vPV5LqffsVXpSR27NXyTlz7iwnMoe5Z2DkBwBYYGPGq23br-5w1FWvgQ9WemTl5K/s1600/IMG_0378.JPG" height="381" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The turn-around time for these certificates was almost quicker than my time up the mountain!</td></tr>
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One final time...thank you for all your support and sponsorship. I owe you all a beer...eventually. Cheers!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-66521004514336728852014-07-24T14:44:00.001+01:002014-08-03T20:28:01.838+01:00Tomorrow Is A Long Time...La Bicinglette!Just one of the finest covers by anyone...Dylan multiplied by Elv. I know that I've used it before but class is permanent!<br />
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Just in case you have come to this blog a bit late and saved yourself a ton of wasted time, here is a rundown of the challenge that we had a crack at yesterday:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRTBGwToI3EafOOb13J7Xm-qItFqfUZdrRkZpDE8prI-04mOAoKrLCp85TtMafU8XW2tq0yiNYcJn-HiuglmA2XakHqUBJwsNQEoEKwmLl7FmdF0daJNfugTes1THUBHSTtdWTBpkj-IR/s1600/10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRTBGwToI3EafOOb13J7Xm-qItFqfUZdrRkZpDE8prI-04mOAoKrLCp85TtMafU8XW2tq0yiNYcJn-HiuglmA2XakHqUBJwsNQEoEKwmLl7FmdF0daJNfugTes1THUBHSTtdWTBpkj-IR/s1600/10.JPG" height="392" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garmin recording gadget died just after the fifth ascent. Means I'm missing 40 miles and 5000'. Never mind.</td></tr>
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It was to ride up and down Mont Ventoux 6 times within 24 hours, and you have to ride each of the three roads up to the summit, twice. This guarantees a long day out as the distance cycled will be 170 miles and the total amount of climbing just under 30,000 feet. If you complete the challenge then you are eligible to become a member of La Bicinglette: to date only 90 people have done this, although I'm not sure that I'd want to be a member of any club that'd have me as a member. Cheers Groucho!<br />
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Right, now you have a vague idea of what yesterday was all about, here goes with my version of it all...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEwYP6iSG7cqXB_iFoopSh1CvXWPePq4HsToe9Dt9M8gtkyPk2u-_bxA2hWoy5fEubl7P6T2BBZFKIwus5WcyTk7FOGvfG6FSIgaXxo1BPrVj-jPgy3HIbnmVvHea3lghatpjWubYwfRl/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEwYP6iSG7cqXB_iFoopSh1CvXWPePq4HsToe9Dt9M8gtkyPk2u-_bxA2hWoy5fEubl7P6T2BBZFKIwus5WcyTk7FOGvfG6FSIgaXxo1BPrVj-jPgy3HIbnmVvHea3lghatpjWubYwfRl/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deliberately blurred to convey the sense of how we felt at the start. 0042 hours...roll!</td></tr>
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The plan was to start at 0030 hours so we did try and get some shut-eye after a condemned man's pasta-heavy dinner. Sod's Law dictated that there would be a bit of a knees-up going on in the restaurant until the early hours which didn't help our cause, hah-hah! When the alarm sounded it was a case of sheer disbelief: we're going to go and try to do this, aren't we?<br />
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I honestly cannot say that I enjoyed any aspect of cycling up or down the mountain in the dark. It all seemed a tad surreal, as in "what on earth are we doing?". I heard a few animal noises but reckon our unique sounds and smells frightened them right off!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4A96bka1p_2UlWWJzlGNfSGa21HUMiPfdXABp3WF1Ya1OoYkV6AUHBERT8cdgIo81Usz5ViBIHTfqF4j_K-qh3X9PlrW0zJ3poTDCwyuXsfU2Oa6hL90xu4pkpGggz1KXr1Y6lf7rYxY/s1600/IMG_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4A96bka1p_2UlWWJzlGNfSGa21HUMiPfdXABp3WF1Ya1OoYkV6AUHBERT8cdgIo81Usz5ViBIHTfqF4j_K-qh3X9PlrW0zJ3poTDCwyuXsfU2Oa6hL90xu4pkpGggz1KXr1Y6lf7rYxY/s1600/IMG_0355.JPG" height="400" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took a punt that this would be a safe place to stash our water & food supplies. If you like to gamble...</td></tr>
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Still for all that we did complete the first climb and thankfully the couple of supply bags that we had stashed behind a wall at the summit were still intact. We have water and food...get in!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMVh1_sMahVQkGmOzfCIdMJBrAYsIqgtFS1E_NuJeUKk2HIyouWRHYZvHRc6crttKisMn7CTD45c24qtz853_dVCMK9YN8x9Usrfebd5H-5x0mahkP7k6W5i487GpMs-12_1qU8ky2lBc/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMVh1_sMahVQkGmOzfCIdMJBrAYsIqgtFS1E_NuJeUKk2HIyouWRHYZvHRc6crttKisMn7CTD45c24qtz853_dVCMK9YN8x9Usrfebd5H-5x0mahkP7k6W5i487GpMs-12_1qU8ky2lBc/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" height="400" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First of six cliched poses.</td></tr>
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There then followed a thoroughly unpleasant descent to Bedoin which involved one sketchy moment but we both remained upright and intact. Not much fun, and I found the climb a flamin' nightmare, only made bearable by the sun beginning to rise. Wow, what a difference! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWd8xhv9J8nQJsZEcB1COcV_ChkHhwjeUKzMz69tuVtBW5bMcdciLwql6JGtOx5QOMyqBAbhWgo2a8Epnu7AJMhiHIUhkpEVIQezs1j0Zc-w9_c0vKhDM29O10VHWsF2omUFlX_ey5tz-Z/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWd8xhv9J8nQJsZEcB1COcV_ChkHhwjeUKzMz69tuVtBW5bMcdciLwql6JGtOx5QOMyqBAbhWgo2a8Epnu7AJMhiHIUhkpEVIQezs1j0Zc-w9_c0vKhDM29O10VHWsF2omUFlX_ey5tz-Z/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" height="256" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on the 2nd ascent (1st time from Bedoin and a horrible climb.). Big lump in the distance.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOPH9P1yigw64Irxif9KnlYZHMadJFS7qRB1fxtl-R0m4IWS20m0_oFSaUUu_Q1Vi52LIOJlkLUzNIipPWg2EQg9U1TYjwpM3PoqpiiVfoziUnvm68sJIRhmZ9RrQhGRlYK1WI1eVDch-/s1600/IMG_0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOPH9P1yigw64Irxif9KnlYZHMadJFS7qRB1fxtl-R0m4IWS20m0_oFSaUUu_Q1Vi52LIOJlkLUzNIipPWg2EQg9U1TYjwpM3PoqpiiVfoziUnvm68sJIRhmZ9RrQhGRlYK1WI1eVDch-/s1600/IMG_0313.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seems close but the last few miles aren't easy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7loTDdClT7ecWklXYAvUkQQ4mzaofaMt6OR84Y0naWGpO_ZWmW46aBEh3CxW4IGXlVRSz4-lBiL_BWwgDMtHPAr1slfwr70sPgDyfxDd8lgy1sY733j6clfobXy9UJ_2Zxwb6HQzkTom/s1600/IMG_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7loTDdClT7ecWklXYAvUkQQ4mzaofaMt6OR84Y0naWGpO_ZWmW46aBEh3CxW4IGXlVRSz4-lBiL_BWwgDMtHPAr1slfwr70sPgDyfxDd8lgy1sY733j6clfobXy9UJ_2Zxwb6HQzkTom/s1600/IMG_0315.JPG" height="197" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were so lucky with the weather...beautiful sunrise!</td></tr>
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The last few miles from Bedoin are difficult as you can see your destination loud and proud but it doesn't seem to get as close as you'd like quick enough!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ15Sg4SXBKunE7-7VRCOn7qiFrCRWMV1rXICrmyNWD5pRzLX4UCpSmTqGEl2P_ZuOKRxptP-Fjr5kWZZ0k9t1AYloKmBfrijjJ5MFFxaMnmJYpUFsD7NG-RVMv9OUS-haMB4jKWG1vYYN/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ15Sg4SXBKunE7-7VRCOn7qiFrCRWMV1rXICrmyNWD5pRzLX4UCpSmTqGEl2P_ZuOKRxptP-Fjr5kWZZ0k9t1AYloKmBfrijjJ5MFFxaMnmJYpUFsD7NG-RVMv9OUS-haMB4jKWG1vYYN/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second of six cliched photos...</td></tr>
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From there it was a repeat: straight back down to Bedoin (at least we had an idea what was ahead this time) and a quick slice of cold pizza from a Boulangerie and then straight back up again. Still a loathsome climb as far as I'm concerned but nailing the the third ascent was a big boost as we had completed 3 out of the 4 hardest ascents by 0930.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8eda8424yiADD3BochAR5OV30uLwAGka81OU_5pYWB8V-Vmv4xTapp4IWDREuKhzzxkZ1lFFLM0RhnU8JczmwZ3HHCHJsHcSm0g97ueRHlL0bXq05YWcWbV148LIVxjr7k-eUDJ47KSq/s1600/IMG_0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8eda8424yiADD3BochAR5OV30uLwAGka81OU_5pYWB8V-Vmv4xTapp4IWDREuKhzzxkZ1lFFLM0RhnU8JczmwZ3HHCHJsHcSm0g97ueRHlL0bXq05YWcWbV148LIVxjr7k-eUDJ47KSq/s1600/IMG_0328.JPG" height="207" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is a pretty unique and brutal landscape. I don't need to ever see it again!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQnREWSge42HDXOJ02TPlRfWBuW6ErAix_yVhHJZgn5PMHggNhqcrfbhTXyZ7pDwnt3kLb0EQzCJ5IpIYfDu4EBjHhhxpjnKN9zEwAnUvib5zKziRGVy4lQzq1z8m0DwJH_96Nlb01SCW/s1600/Capture6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQnREWSge42HDXOJ02TPlRfWBuW6ErAix_yVhHJZgn5PMHggNhqcrfbhTXyZ7pDwnt3kLb0EQzCJ5IpIYfDu4EBjHhhxpjnKN9zEwAnUvib5zKziRGVy4lQzq1z8m0DwJH_96Nlb01SCW/s1600/Capture6.JPG" height="400" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You wanna see the prices that these snappers charge...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspYpaE0TJN2nnIgoh4ebPAtGihD5Ao9YIYV4LST6qRPMil6v_Wdmz-TIhDs6olsVwppUnMXGPNbVoINmFwe92OygoGTPJq1GrfSCJ77aoYivzn-Vm408wJ4HgSvfrSRWBEC30y6e-Taiz/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspYpaE0TJN2nnIgoh4ebPAtGihD5Ao9YIYV4LST6qRPMil6v_Wdmz-TIhDs6olsVwppUnMXGPNbVoINmFwe92OygoGTPJq1GrfSCJ77aoYivzn-Vm408wJ4HgSvfrSRWBEC30y6e-Taiz/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" height="356" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third of six cheesy photos. Feeling a tad warm by 0930...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oLsT5IjtDBl7KJ9IskRzkPj4qwe0UuA0EqSLCyp-g4pKwYA9pgg9XA14ZQ4OkWqXK2xPjLrPr1QcG_UxaA3uI-G-8W8fraij_B_SBQtsQZDJ3IlJMJgDX9a3HVxWz-YLnbIqLctu1Ls_/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oLsT5IjtDBl7KJ9IskRzkPj4qwe0UuA0EqSLCyp-g4pKwYA9pgg9XA14ZQ4OkWqXK2xPjLrPr1QcG_UxaA3uI-G-8W8fraij_B_SBQtsQZDJ3IlJMJgDX9a3HVxWz-YLnbIqLctu1Ls_/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" height="173" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If we had the time to dawdle then this was ours.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_DzzYVxBHQ6klaoIODuCYGqAnuAo3AZ0CTsIBqlit-REf6kkPe6EAbvRw0RMoPkgtPohrvCbb36z75MBZCInJ1pNaDs3aeSf_deVOfy_gSho4PrYinH1hpHgMudYj_BSUcCUIwo67P46/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_DzzYVxBHQ6klaoIODuCYGqAnuAo3AZ0CTsIBqlit-REf6kkPe6EAbvRw0RMoPkgtPohrvCbb36z75MBZCInJ1pNaDs3aeSf_deVOfy_gSho4PrYinH1hpHgMudYj_BSUcCUIwo67P46/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" height="180" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this aspect of the whole caper.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We sped back down to Malaucene for a le petit dejuner break at our hotel. Those 90 minutes off the bike sped by and all too soon we were off and into the climb from Malaucene for the second time: temperatures would reach 33c on the way up. Despite that, it went ok with Andy dropping me yet again, hah-hah!<br />
<br />
Truth be told, I was never able to have a go on any of the climbs and it was a case of "I'll see you at the top..." which was only right. In previous tours it has been roles reversed at times but whether I had expended more than I thought on the journey down to Carpentras or was just plain useless, who can say?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AGPW6EWUaVN01JPhPbJIRIhw34kXOSNWgSEbcZTDw3nap0gtSgT8zidQFsQxZbKQvd9URTcZlwE9YL7iws8AoyhkTdldjcSQ8yfcQ03ii7VN36BDgMQ2yxS6A0TYECiyKjAcRAYRgsA7/s1600/IMG_0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AGPW6EWUaVN01JPhPbJIRIhw34kXOSNWgSEbcZTDw3nap0gtSgT8zidQFsQxZbKQvd9URTcZlwE9YL7iws8AoyhkTdldjcSQ8yfcQ03ii7VN36BDgMQ2yxS6A0TYECiyKjAcRAYRgsA7/s1600/IMG_0338.JPG" height="400" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fourth ascent (second from Malaucene) in 33c, and it looks like you have a wall ahead of you. And you do, hah-hah!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVyc9zvMO_clAWdWy6GV8kmPIhPMd_pDhNvawfn2icdM4SeJc1EtpJu5bYOis7ulhn4gsrxbY7N4j87HcFtGf2pzPpK-oAV0Nqp2qaOrgFU9Bva7XazuhM_uSDyVDcv37IFOS2YGOMCFq/s1600/Capture1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVyc9zvMO_clAWdWy6GV8kmPIhPMd_pDhNvawfn2icdM4SeJc1EtpJu5bYOis7ulhn4gsrxbY7N4j87HcFtGf2pzPpK-oAV0Nqp2qaOrgFU9Bva7XazuhM_uSDyVDcv37IFOS2YGOMCFq/s1600/Capture1.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheapskate on the fourth climb...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4IJb6t-gmq6d-2w_mdSH8G_PuLyhH_6kotV601n6wWBdwKi3_Bcc4-0WuOkrWIdOu2WtHsdzlCRFrUcpDacCeM9udbqcXx4QRItk-RVSYsV9Swe1GcmTrQHV29yK76HXbxZrvOctQDjv/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4IJb6t-gmq6d-2w_mdSH8G_PuLyhH_6kotV601n6wWBdwKi3_Bcc4-0WuOkrWIdOu2WtHsdzlCRFrUcpDacCeM9udbqcXx4QRItk-RVSYsV9Swe1GcmTrQHV29yK76HXbxZrvOctQDjv/s1600/Capture.JPG" height="400" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This nonsense earned me a push from the snapper, hah-hah!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We were at the top for the fourth time around 2pm and it was now teeming with cycling wildlife. Loads of different nationalites, shapes and sizes. We even saw one kid being towed in a trailer by his dad. Magnifique!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqqL6OOyD9hY78BpVg5EvQKtEkWekkclNT0rkY3TT-NhyphenhyphenxtrMvl2kWFx8PRAFp-34XR3YhRupSZWWlZgs8_7l6v1sf9ucMAb6lRXttsVAZ3NyGgm6iGjWsuDYR6_d8bok2TJRQ-IUk8E5/s1600/IMG_0339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqqL6OOyD9hY78BpVg5EvQKtEkWekkclNT0rkY3TT-NhyphenhyphenxtrMvl2kWFx8PRAFp-34XR3YhRupSZWWlZgs8_7l6v1sf9ucMAb6lRXttsVAZ3NyGgm6iGjWsuDYR6_d8bok2TJRQ-IUk8E5/s1600/IMG_0339.JPG" height="360" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fourth cheesy pose...</td></tr>
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On the the final bends of the climb there are local commercial photographers who will snap away regardless and then hand you their business card which allows you to view their capture of your distress on their website. As per, I tried to show-boat and this bloke loved the effort and had a laugh and then pushed me for about 10 yards. Think this may mean that my whole effort is illegal and null and void! It's the little things...<br />
<br />
From there it was a fast run down to Sault to begin our first climb from there, and fifth overall. As a wise Bicinglette man said to me, "...fifth is nowhere, sixth is La Bicinglette!". Mozza is a tad mental though, to be fair.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUtSvFSSciV9NEzyeyJLp05PbXYERgFg36kv6yUkjoIdpobUCAhx6vXDovTWInh_C3t1KU3qrBHOQ_XjGTYtqMEMf12oVF0reEjlpaHLyeh4KVmP1Gv5glra7d3lU-98FEBfBeJS3MK1D/s1600/IMG_0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUtSvFSSciV9NEzyeyJLp05PbXYERgFg36kv6yUkjoIdpobUCAhx6vXDovTWInh_C3t1KU3qrBHOQ_XjGTYtqMEMf12oVF0reEjlpaHLyeh4KVmP1Gv5glra7d3lU-98FEBfBeJS3MK1D/s1600/IMG_0341.JPG" height="208" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the run down to Sault. Lavender fields: do not be fooled for they contain stingy, bitey things!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The scenery changed again with patches of lavender fields which looked beautiful. Beauty fades especially when the various insects that the fields attract decide not to avoid you and either bite or sting. Andy got attacked first so I had a good laugh. I got done on the way back out from Sault so we both had direct hits from the little bast**ds.<br />
Wasn't all bad though as it provided a temporary distraction from the rest of the pain. Genuinely, there wasn't a bit of me that didn't hurt. Ridiculous behaviour.<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7XmHJCZyygdVv816Rn3GyAltnT_wQjhEnZ3gcCq7zeDl20jpLGP6FHZfPSniDdKj3b3rGN3GfyZ2Z0ROP2-VgV2UWoKmKk9MFslO73NCeJayzpNEMxTokUFaqoApIWMBUmd2v58tutUH/s1600/IMG_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7XmHJCZyygdVv816Rn3GyAltnT_wQjhEnZ3gcCq7zeDl20jpLGP6FHZfPSniDdKj3b3rGN3GfyZ2Z0ROP2-VgV2UWoKmKk9MFslO73NCeJayzpNEMxTokUFaqoApIWMBUmd2v58tutUH/s1600/IMG_0343.JPG" height="400" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freshest, coldest eau ever...beautiful!</td></tr>
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Those final miles on the fifth climb really had a word...would this bloody mountain ever quit?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmC2MD6zh-4N3pOr4yWkpgwfsX7y6d6wePXiIkoRnnCopXbls2mEUY5q1OwskpqZ8ypRdEdUr2cRZNspg4S8hDwoAtIS0vdcpZXq6VVHtHsJ3ubNoGCnPccbl0SNAowCODy-P2Hq8eg0SY/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmC2MD6zh-4N3pOr4yWkpgwfsX7y6d6wePXiIkoRnnCopXbls2mEUY5q1OwskpqZ8ypRdEdUr2cRZNspg4S8hDwoAtIS0vdcpZXq6VVHtHsJ3ubNoGCnPccbl0SNAowCODy-P2Hq8eg0SY/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" height="400" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fifth of six cliched poses- oh, you know the script!</td></tr>
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At the summit we both wanted to head straight back into the final climb and get this over with asap, so it was another fast 18 mile descent back to Sault (with no insect misbehaviour this time) and then a ride back up to the summit together.<br />
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By now there weren't too many other vehicles or cyclists around...time was getting on but we still managed identical times for the fifth and six climbs (2 hours and 4 mins). Despite having recharged my Garmin at breakfast it died on me about 5 miles from the end so I'm missing some miles and height and then the last descent: you have my word that I didn't just climb-off, hah-hah!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9UBVuDzNR5vw41W7tsQuWXfBfvOaqGuEjyJ_jl_iZdJdwc6wnCaPtl9AdCkajny3VN35oCOfIcs7d8ZJiLD3YGwSw3X8Y1Lay4nb-QZ9xwm9nKadL-Ctzbcg0Y84BXrNHm7bdbDDTc2Y/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9UBVuDzNR5vw41W7tsQuWXfBfvOaqGuEjyJ_jl_iZdJdwc6wnCaPtl9AdCkajny3VN35oCOfIcs7d8ZJiLD3YGwSw3X8Y1Lay4nb-QZ9xwm9nKadL-Ctzbcg0Y84BXrNHm7bdbDDTc2Y/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="371" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final corner. 12%. Bring it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAZeG9WlEeVkOqZkXhsDdmteGqMLlxNIje0d15e4AhrgO_pBuHnF0xOAsSUs6TLvI4hHqs2xSiQf7GXjqIXEn6DZ3W60Gk09jqymsAeH4PHXxCP7tzaGA_3dex3y_u33x6tCW4r6RbXdj/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAZeG9WlEeVkOqZkXhsDdmteGqMLlxNIje0d15e4AhrgO_pBuHnF0xOAsSUs6TLvI4hHqs2xSiQf7GXjqIXEn6DZ3W60Gk09jqymsAeH4PHXxCP7tzaGA_3dex3y_u33x6tCW4r6RbXdj/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG" height="400" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers mate- don't think that I could've done it without you!</td></tr>
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We reached the summit for the final time just before 9pm. There was the spectacular sight of an electrical storm off to the north-east <i>and below us! </i>Venotux was perhaps displeased with the liberties that this pair of Herberts had clearly taken, hah-hah!<br />
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Thankfully one German chap just coasted in a few moments after us and he was pretty pleased with his effort. We asked him how many ascents he had done (meaning today), and he said four which was good going. He reciprocated and was appalled when we said six. Turns out he meant he had done four ascents over the week, hah-hah! Bloke was good enough to perform necessary camera duties before we all layered-up and descended from the summit for (hopefully) my last time.<br />
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I say "hopefully" because I have no wish or cause to ever lay eyes on Ventoux ever again: Le Tracteur concurs. Been there, seen it...you know the drill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjWi_gVUGdT1PhdW5zAjA-KrDlBbpIMfTJZm8QKWTvTSgAdyO3F2E4p_RHLfUA6tkfY6WgB_3WB0BBWSKMa7zVuXw8AWrnZj8Gv6NRJ-uuDWQ4FbSBjldpCoU9F7VT9dMnO40XGCME90g/s1600/Card.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjWi_gVUGdT1PhdW5zAjA-KrDlBbpIMfTJZm8QKWTvTSgAdyO3F2E4p_RHLfUA6tkfY6WgB_3WB0BBWSKMa7zVuXw8AWrnZj8Gv6NRJ-uuDWQ4FbSBjldpCoU9F7VT9dMnO40XGCME90g/s1600/Card.JPG" height="187" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most important bit of card that I have, hah-hah!</td></tr>
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While we're here, and I know that I say this quite a bit, but a massive thank you to you generous types who have donated to these causes. Good on you. You know that I'm busting my balls out there at times, so it's really appreciated.</div>
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<b>I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
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Cheers!<br />
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To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
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To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span><br />
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I'm sure that it always sounds trite but I cannot thank everyone enough for your support both in terms of sponsorship and messages...it makes this nonsense do-able. To date we have raised almost £2000 for Cancer Research UK and almost £1700 for the Royal British Legion: good on you!<br />
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I do wonder where our money that we give does go and what good does it do, so it was gratifying to read this e-mail from Ms Madeleine Blower who is my contact at the RBL:<br />
"...<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">so very many thanks for your efforts here. Your £1673.91 is enough to provide defence accommodation (level access showers, stairlifts etc.) for beneficiaries recovering from serious injury or new disability, so we are extremely grateful for your sponsorship raised...".</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd84SqJgyWWhLqqqcSzziufLMbCDuMh39mTyv1PlDPOQwfJrTFk1GP7ZWrz06UrgyaaG1xmqpNsTey3PS53KzqyTWIczA9_P-Wb_F4iHpP-kM9FS9Hh3AUlD1odbKSvADph5LTK9e6pUKM/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd84SqJgyWWhLqqqcSzziufLMbCDuMh39mTyv1PlDPOQwfJrTFk1GP7ZWrz06UrgyaaG1xmqpNsTey3PS53KzqyTWIczA9_P-Wb_F4iHpP-kM9FS9Hh3AUlD1odbKSvADph5LTK9e6pUKM/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le cheers et merci!</td></tr>
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See you next time. Maybe!<br />
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/548321173" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR VERY SLIGHTLY TRUNCATED MAP'N'STATS!</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">A momento of the misery, hah-hah-hah! Courtesy Le Tracteur...bonnet de douche!</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-17090810271188243452014-07-21T18:12:00.000+01:002014-07-30T20:20:24.839+01:00It's A Long Way To The Top...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
So I get my first day-off on Saturday in Carpentras and do precisely sod-all, which just what was needed. Well, whilst watching the final hour of that day's stage in the TdF I almost got into a row with a couple of Americans and an Australian who didn't share my anti-doping sentiments. In the end we had to agree to disagree and say no more. Extraordinary position to take. Eejits.</div>
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The highlight of the day was being able to enjoy some relaxed and delicious food in the sunshine...some things you just don't tire of!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dC_SN-gL2v1sJkL7VqWZRdUF4hcyZ6JxPbJcXUi6Utq2BSWtvloLq-tJrvr1BnU0SlV42Sd70bmJk6gKRDbMCgJGPlus_ZcDItc371AEANZhE1eL1twIxF19SLtHttObODXxkbr-emNr/s1600/9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dC_SN-gL2v1sJkL7VqWZRdUF4hcyZ6JxPbJcXUi6Utq2BSWtvloLq-tJrvr1BnU0SlV42Sd70bmJk6gKRDbMCgJGPlus_ZcDItc371AEANZhE1eL1twIxF19SLtHttObODXxkbr-emNr/s1600/9.JPG" height="390" width="640" /></a></div>
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Nevertheless, Sunday saw me set off on the 15 mile spin to the base for the next six days, Malaucene, which is right at the start of one of the three roads up to the Giant Of Provence. The small town was actually buzzing with life with tons of cyclists milling around, posing and passing through and there was plenty of people watching to be done while having lunch.<br />
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Post-lunch came the decision: to wait until 2pm and check-in and get settled and watch that day's TdF stage live or try something ill-advised and a bit daft. No decision at all is it? I set off up the mountain still fully loaded with all my luggage attached. How bad could it be?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNl2qJ-Q-NhWvaEADI9eH4zHgIIZJm_f2pJT599LDHDR8biBloyS1hLn2f3S9-UlUcxgIClFjLPQL_mnLuTlupiq6vUqhXl7s0joROT2X6OHoiDaWF2sW1lGfgmLjXGqgYV1B6xyHbv11/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNl2qJ-Q-NhWvaEADI9eH4zHgIIZJm_f2pJT599LDHDR8biBloyS1hLn2f3S9-UlUcxgIClFjLPQL_mnLuTlupiq6vUqhXl7s0joROT2X6OHoiDaWF2sW1lGfgmLjXGqgYV1B6xyHbv11/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG" height="367" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gentle start. Bon!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjQny1QlVwAvS1W5ZVAWWY_uSz7Nk4IZUIZFAwCSpgG3cAGcFrVOhGHAbQl_Wdk2CQ4YK0U9rn7osoyV6O7xBDZLKi6X_5Gxz32XewutEgPJ2zadu-xwVAHr3gxu44vhPLmsxPS6NrTly/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjQny1QlVwAvS1W5ZVAWWY_uSz7Nk4IZUIZFAwCSpgG3cAGcFrVOhGHAbQl_Wdk2CQ4YK0U9rn7osoyV6O7xBDZLKi6X_5Gxz32XewutEgPJ2zadu-xwVAHr3gxu44vhPLmsxPS6NrTly/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh really? Shame.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpoaka5QLyOhx9iP2oJR1I-PKJQOIRvpprQUUZJirSWCMdqvpBIORm5TBqaTvvJmDWFmWDqcxTqoyRBp4STR_Z2jy3gkkDxTBpAhsqJYNiinX8WcJTV0LcWmuzKdiorzHLNCk6Vi56CMB/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpoaka5QLyOhx9iP2oJR1I-PKJQOIRvpprQUUZJirSWCMdqvpBIORm5TBqaTvvJmDWFmWDqcxTqoyRBp4STR_Z2jy3gkkDxTBpAhsqJYNiinX8WcJTV0LcWmuzKdiorzHLNCk6Vi56CMB/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billy Big-Time shows no respect in the big chain-ring. Lasted for 100 yards max.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_Rm8al9leJjNuaTiKBP6Dt_k56otK2GlNOIPJrGWkklsDbuxlC4MNTUEa3img9i93J4fK0OENQF38j1MOM9O41zuQiMwYN-aMOpaARoRlpZ3hRzdEE26iqyDvUOz9oQnDigX8F6gqqI6/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_Rm8al9leJjNuaTiKBP6Dt_k56otK2GlNOIPJrGWkklsDbuxlC4MNTUEa3img9i93J4fK0OENQF38j1MOM9O41zuQiMwYN-aMOpaARoRlpZ3hRzdEE26iqyDvUOz9oQnDigX8F6gqqI6/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You should've seen how much gear these loons were struggling with. Think they're still on the way up.</td></tr>
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The climb naturally was slow but was doable, made more so by the occasional word or shout of encouagement from car passengers and other climbers. Tres bon!<br />
It wasn't until about 2 miles from the summit that the weather closed in and went pretty horrible...hail, wind, cloud and then heavy rain. Thankfully somebody had no end of clothing to choose from, hah-hah! I did feel for some other cyclists who had been caught out: that would not have been pleasant.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TIN4hSThlyYujVCQp8Ss4VU4OZoch4QXU4g3Ia5IyJoxeduhEX0-UdyjT4zlBm4MzcpvLgQzO45AY92VXxexgZLhJofRkdBDLv6zZ_l6whIej-5yKpQaeVs_Fp75JrLl9chrDp5Zkvj8/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TIN4hSThlyYujVCQp8Ss4VU4OZoch4QXU4g3Ia5IyJoxeduhEX0-UdyjT4zlBm4MzcpvLgQzO45AY92VXxexgZLhJofRkdBDLv6zZ_l6whIej-5yKpQaeVs_Fp75JrLl9chrDp5Zkvj8/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First sight of the weather station at around 5km to go. A welcome sight!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjch9nM9CIMEsQDWGlmKJAuxP8vAhmbrannmEXRatQwcn_NGTZj10FhwcnoXYXvOta5E_bCAwdeQbiVnGD25JQiw3w5KROVZcDhm4cEJK_NIkGBDFHsTuuacDqgX_t6oOikcZR9F_JMIRFX/s1600/IMG_0274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjch9nM9CIMEsQDWGlmKJAuxP8vAhmbrannmEXRatQwcn_NGTZj10FhwcnoXYXvOta5E_bCAwdeQbiVnGD25JQiw3w5KROVZcDhm4cEJK_NIkGBDFHsTuuacDqgX_t6oOikcZR9F_JMIRFX/s1600/IMG_0274.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And that's when the conditions changed a tad abruptly...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFmXLQ6JA-dnJfMnl0tZBsMaOEym75pe5dsWJaFT5ehxy7pjDFDSBnCnqz9WCGwryLliI-O9M8Yi-uE_NBVL728vhmt8Fpcq0BiSnc_lekx_rURUxvIT7vC32GzFTwsfr2kuyRfHkRgvl/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFmXLQ6JA-dnJfMnl0tZBsMaOEym75pe5dsWJaFT5ehxy7pjDFDSBnCnqz9WCGwryLliI-O9M8Yi-uE_NBVL728vhmt8Fpcq0BiSnc_lekx_rURUxvIT7vC32GzFTwsfr2kuyRfHkRgvl/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG" height="335" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In memory of Mr Keith Spong.</td></tr>
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Glad that I did the climb and even happier to descend back to the hotel and get showered and warm again. We'll be waiting and watching the local weather forecast to give us the kindest possible day. Right now, Wednesday looks favourite...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX10qBOlRLusGx1lGOsa_CkNtPUDyXPJ2aMW9qcDP6lBbTLHtaceafyyjBpxoscw4nfb2R9c5nlpcjxV6mCKiCN86vw-Y3lqk_Bhk7KpIR3kus5iXmCoKcX1BPacEqM8gdX_037-6i0z9/s1600/photo+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX10qBOlRLusGx1lGOsa_CkNtPUDyXPJ2aMW9qcDP6lBbTLHtaceafyyjBpxoscw4nfb2R9c5nlpcjxV6mCKiCN86vw-Y3lqk_Bhk7KpIR3kus5iXmCoKcX1BPacEqM8gdX_037-6i0z9/s1600/photo+(3).jpg" height="640" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No forecast about shot legs etc...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHDNAojEvbh2yDoVk-69JTLNchDKBJLHvY-9WoZE2n2-lUA_GqsuEoKDAZiK7K5MrTwi2HOAXMY_ZeahUgCPRPpg_dJBcxrV8zA-Z5hfVaTYCDdOQ3BD9vS0_R9zP-3aPY4QScUusG2Oy/s1600/photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHDNAojEvbh2yDoVk-69JTLNchDKBJLHvY-9WoZE2n2-lUA_GqsuEoKDAZiK7K5MrTwi2HOAXMY_ZeahUgCPRPpg_dJBcxrV8zA-Z5hfVaTYCDdOQ3BD9vS0_R9zP-3aPY4QScUusG2Oy/s1600/photo1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asymetric alright.</td></tr>
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Andy arrived as expected at around 8.30pm after an 800 mile drive...he was ready for a beer and I wasn't going to argue. Good to see you, pal!<br />
Today was a drive back up to the summit via the climb that I did yesterday and then a recce of the descent to the village of Bedoin. There was a terrific number of cyclists in varying states of distress climbing up the mountain: great to see!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9URJZGJl81nkUWnjpPm8en1g0VRDqzjO76B1PPhPgBXBdgMzIq64sIqm-5FtNF737W1wWw-34hsjHsZ6YcfnpZlZPVUYbR2pTAIY-J8Co-bwo5ms0Bw7vbSM5oxLWl7lAWj2ppsEDvCNw/s1600/IMG_0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9URJZGJl81nkUWnjpPm8en1g0VRDqzjO76B1PPhPgBXBdgMzIq64sIqm-5FtNF737W1wWw-34hsjHsZ6YcfnpZlZPVUYbR2pTAIY-J8Co-bwo5ms0Bw7vbSM5oxLWl7lAWj2ppsEDvCNw/s1600/IMG_0285.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A familiar sight. In trail and struggling to keep up, hah-hah!</td></tr>
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We went out for a quick spin this afternoon and it was indeed a tad rapid...a walk in the park for m'learned colleague but a slight sufferfest for myself. Back at the ranch we discovered that is was La Fete Nationale Belge today, so it was obligatory to try one of their mentally strong brews. Duvel. Diabolical, more like. But strangely compelling...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BjqjaTJIqauxLhQcn3jGQ5Ow395d36sZRAFA6nk5OR6BEKjWeb5Z-Dkvtf5j-Q0_lPkFjI-qsI4XKWT9UiArAb770Vm8qJhVFbrTMQSKdXgxC1R8im8n-2L2hs6yEARUR82sqKp6dlhn/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BjqjaTJIqauxLhQcn3jGQ5Ow395d36sZRAFA6nk5OR6BEKjWeb5Z-Dkvtf5j-Q0_lPkFjI-qsI4XKWT9UiArAb770Vm8qJhVFbrTMQSKdXgxC1R8im8n-2L2hs6yEARUR82sqKp6dlhn/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replenishing lost fluid. And celebrating Les Belgiques, apparently...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKC_1matK9-MbAW5cLHC01FUSXmVrn_xPiZ0-TUJdR-0ozfJJF0glcLWmHMvv1mKwovl6d2ZkFC_z5beV7WDEfuN_TmK_tgFnxI4lJEEk8KMbFrGyji7nVoP33tUbN4JvVvMGqVVs9AWP/s1600/IMG_0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKC_1matK9-MbAW5cLHC01FUSXmVrn_xPiZ0-TUJdR-0ozfJJF0glcLWmHMvv1mKwovl6d2ZkFC_z5beV7WDEfuN_TmK_tgFnxI4lJEEk8KMbFrGyji7nVoP33tUbN4JvVvMGqVVs9AWP/s1600/IMG_0290.JPG" height="327" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So today is La Fete Nationale Belge? Of course we all knew that.</td></tr>
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We're almost in danger of having a plan now: we'll kick-off at 0030 on Wednesday morning and hopefully be complete by 1900. Top boffins have been sweating over the small stuff, as you can see from the meisterplan below. M= Malaucene, B= Bedoin and S= Sault with approximate timings. Very approximate timings...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oLuqsQw7u84NcS-MuxZ4-EQ2q5_AhxO4Dd9EJgnXgWtJCZvZcsgJPOOgMUlsOCqIu3ZgsWHgAAVXhRG8Pdcjr1U1xY-6c0-j9yHNSbLg5Q9yN17V5Adq0W19mix1DN2wKkwOyt7ZB0EX/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oLuqsQw7u84NcS-MuxZ4-EQ2q5_AhxO4Dd9EJgnXgWtJCZvZcsgJPOOgMUlsOCqIu3ZgsWHgAAVXhRG8Pdcjr1U1xY-6c0-j9yHNSbLg5Q9yN17V5Adq0W19mix1DN2wKkwOyt7ZB0EX/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Men, we'll parachute in here and surprise Jerry here...the bridge is marked here."</td></tr>
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Further prep involved the world's least complicated shopping list and a trip to the supermarche across the road. This evening we'll stash a couple of bags containing supplies near the top of the climb, as there is nowt open before 0830 most likely...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IqfSYDIheO3WcyWJmdppj5Vyks78R2aolRdAkZiXMmDoflWf567vBQh_hoKENZBUO_iAzDDjrJDGEW8D3yYtyb9KXXQhPT7EA3Cv7Kv4weSb-icfmx9qsf2Wec9R7rBQLj2B861UhAxd/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IqfSYDIheO3WcyWJmdppj5Vyks78R2aolRdAkZiXMmDoflWf567vBQh_hoKENZBUO_iAzDDjrJDGEW8D3yYtyb9KXXQhPT7EA3Cv7Kv4weSb-icfmx9qsf2Wec9R7rBQLj2B861UhAxd/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG" height="305" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are you sure this is how Team Sky prepare?</td></tr>
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Hmmm...this all looks a bit real now. Keep your fingers crossed!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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While we're here, and I know that I say this quite a bit, but a massive thank you to you generous types who have donated to these causes. Good on you. You know that I'm busting my balls out there at times, so it's really appreciated.</div>
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Cheers!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-26092668901271646522014-07-19T18:27:00.000+01:002014-08-05T12:03:43.184+01:00Born To Rhone...Stage 8: Vienne to Carpentras.Awful pun redeemed by a barstorming tune! There were a few contendahs for today's theme but The Boss won out in the end...especially since I spent a fair chunk of time paralleling the great river heading south.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/zDMr59T3JSM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Right then, you'll know that yesterday's jaunt was a bit on the extreme side, so it was to be expected that I'd have a slightly later start which in turn guarantees a later finish. Didn't realise quite how late, hah-hah!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi9TpIfRifdtMmM6xWRxCwyJOlK9kiEGj3dV3ZtdQnT7plh0sqIv2ZrhyphenhyphenPjNUyeDR2G1AB2AEEDAbNGisOkGRZmBRs2Ix-i8pcT8nbzPyYUm2qwej6RiAxQkkIcVZdOqjQZgSiv1f7YGX/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi9TpIfRifdtMmM6xWRxCwyJOlK9kiEGj3dV3ZtdQnT7plh0sqIv2ZrhyphenhyphenPjNUyeDR2G1AB2AEEDAbNGisOkGRZmBRs2Ix-i8pcT8nbzPyYUm2qwej6RiAxQkkIcVZdOqjQZgSiv1f7YGX/s1600/8.JPG" height="388" width="640" /></a></div>
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There was a McDonalds around the corner from my Formule 1 dump of a hotel, so this was my intended breakfast stop. Great idea until you realised that they didn't open until 0900. Best they could offer was an orange juice. In 23 minutes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i6EKKggiX3Mc5o9d-mW4oAPkjtSNoYdoG-TSplS9wDaz5DNT2ghI20RjRrzkRH9yqPyOm8lbQ2rvf_Y_APq1GoKoAex0xmmXks3rdiezpF1vfeEWKB0iYCBY8A1ws5b7vAtbL9KfQHbz/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i6EKKggiX3Mc5o9d-mW4oAPkjtSNoYdoG-TSplS9wDaz5DNT2ghI20RjRrzkRH9yqPyOm8lbQ2rvf_Y_APq1GoKoAex0xmmXks3rdiezpF1vfeEWKB0iYCBY8A1ws5b7vAtbL9KfQHbz/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" height="241" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hell yeah! Right into a 9%er...</td></tr>
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No dramas as there was a handy gasoline/boulangerie stop after that *expletive deleted* climb. What wasn't quite so handy was the realisation that the wind was going to be against me. All day. Still, it was only reaching 28c so why the kvetching?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPP2h5ot5QaHWVc-kxHkuI8T0rlSK0fDoYOx1IL5sGcLpDzqfREfDAYpk7Aw_m_8NnwDEA6JchmhX3rUR4D0i4IDhxjau4HzX8uw6tEFYe4G6O7O8lWcZkiPDyI-1OfpE3g_A-EOW-CAJ/s1600/IMG_0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPP2h5ot5QaHWVc-kxHkuI8T0rlSK0fDoYOx1IL5sGcLpDzqfREfDAYpk7Aw_m_8NnwDEA6JchmhX3rUR4D0i4IDhxjau4HzX8uw6tEFYe4G6O7O8lWcZkiPDyI-1OfpE3g_A-EOW-CAJ/s1600/IMG_0235.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A.N.Other village.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uiR6VvrQow4kkVB9NuEgidkgOSgArpYldzo89YVJgTD2Og7hRoVAgrtaONogOlkSVbj7nj2ru5gyC7JS-07UGsJmcfNGwSrrRjP9PsW8Qk84ajude2vK7VnkE2SWqYmCNkHyUCARLmom/s1600/IMG_0237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uiR6VvrQow4kkVB9NuEgidkgOSgArpYldzo89YVJgTD2Og7hRoVAgrtaONogOlkSVbj7nj2ru5gyC7JS-07UGsJmcfNGwSrrRjP9PsW8Qk84ajude2vK7VnkE2SWqYmCNkHyUCARLmom/s1600/IMG_0237.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come rain or shine...you got the wine!</td></tr>
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You always keep an eye on the clock, not last because this lets you know when you may expect to have a pint...although this has been the driest Le Tour by some margin. Ouch!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUd_oUB8eGJXPVrBqQy1S2oiLJUSU5EVXMqyGA1FrzycTavBXPnLrZsqCrSZEeIGKrNAQg6BK_A0lmcsTzfG4Z4056RvtUq7X42slpgP1SdDkCpFKlu4bjJaS8s69gGCH1qgtpu_W_Xtx/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUd_oUB8eGJXPVrBqQy1S2oiLJUSU5EVXMqyGA1FrzycTavBXPnLrZsqCrSZEeIGKrNAQg6BK_A0lmcsTzfG4Z4056RvtUq7X42slpgP1SdDkCpFKlu4bjJaS8s69gGCH1qgtpu_W_Xtx/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There maybe long climbs ahead, but while there's sweating and sunlight and cramps, let's face the headwind...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Uknh9Tz6Jfptw-ZREtUz8MmXK510zuZKtkDnFTJ0zub5YValvWHMwueRFCp9f_1Abn-KUDbSL4iQd28OgcV3PePNLDbHGPx_eSU5EuDazy0Id2WzHWsEucEXgBrd1HrklM9bP7E22dMR/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Uknh9Tz6Jfptw-ZREtUz8MmXK510zuZKtkDnFTJ0zub5YValvWHMwueRFCp9f_1Abn-KUDbSL4iQd28OgcV3PePNLDbHGPx_eSU5EuDazy0Id2WzHWsEucEXgBrd1HrklM9bP7E22dMR/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" height="190" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mighty Rhone. Some pretty villages along it...wish I could've tarried a'while.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0bTrs_T8GenPzLrhc7Rt0sjhauyT4wGSOi9IzOBFpF_2P_FOP4MRvYnjGJjvkFmT4AdFRenwg_Vdd09aO1VCkE009zdHbfCdiQP3RSE3pibEZCiXBI6ZTt-BQJ8dsOJdImsuWFfCfgcQ/s1600/IMG_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0bTrs_T8GenPzLrhc7Rt0sjhauyT4wGSOi9IzOBFpF_2P_FOP4MRvYnjGJjvkFmT4AdFRenwg_Vdd09aO1VCkE009zdHbfCdiQP3RSE3pibEZCiXBI6ZTt-BQJ8dsOJdImsuWFfCfgcQ/s1600/IMG_0242.JPG" height="237" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not dissin' Moto or whatnot, but our services leave a little to be desired.</td></tr>
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Only 70 miles done but the realisation that it really will be a long, hot day- I saw 38c plus...so, what do you do? Stick with another few miles to Montelimar (which is a reminder of a great track on '<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJqPxpWD5w" target="_blank">The White Album'</a>), or...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5W_yQxiGghyjjk5r83BYmwyO4fSLp6BxC3Rgtc-c-12L-5pAN_R3GwlF_6D1h-99OQe9-9H9nK88kIEFpZ4NEm2w0edo6WLPZRgKf6hLw4qyHCp6MTzWr7CgNttdhE50dx92FXN8gpz7/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5W_yQxiGghyjjk5r83BYmwyO4fSLp6BxC3Rgtc-c-12L-5pAN_R3GwlF_6D1h-99OQe9-9H9nK88kIEFpZ4NEm2w0edo6WLPZRgKf6hLw4qyHCp6MTzWr7CgNttdhE50dx92FXN8gpz7/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just. Too. Easy. But still worthwhile. Bell-end.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz3dFw76DJObpzjGbkDp1OFEqIcSVhcgjqkw_q1Un5Ut2MoKExFZt-61HuLgANPMkKc97ZHlz5zP9itjwzwWDGqAnI_5du8JOZG9rnJeYd2K8Nu894oiSjzGeKm-qx_JDJdb4cjNj65_O/s1600/IMG_0244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz3dFw76DJObpzjGbkDp1OFEqIcSVhcgjqkw_q1Un5Ut2MoKExFZt-61HuLgANPMkKc97ZHlz5zP9itjwzwWDGqAnI_5du8JOZG9rnJeYd2K8Nu894oiSjzGeKm-qx_JDJdb4cjNj65_O/s1600/IMG_0244.JPG" height="400" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montelimar loved this caper.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvPxc7chaKN3dHEoIdtBoPxBiLT3NVmKhc-tCMs82817m9muIT9TPX4FG10Jz-CJnXlNunY43s8i6U-djNdavQFnfJRrQB8Herl3WPWRtncjhCGeBjqHxAZc9tkiJuO624JcY8EH4ZQDp/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvPxc7chaKN3dHEoIdtBoPxBiLT3NVmKhc-tCMs82817m9muIT9TPX4FG10Jz-CJnXlNunY43s8i6U-djNdavQFnfJRrQB8Herl3WPWRtncjhCGeBjqHxAZc9tkiJuO624JcY8EH4ZQDp/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" height="400" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Told you. '32 Ford?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvPXnp1_T54txWHa_2oFCRlkXCoOYXOllu_956Dbr-5t8KJUGf_g4ZZvYESK2FQOltIBkvHrYaw8s4r5oDZv8OMuChs_jjrZiiFe7_tTDiVzCLXI6njnXbMjI_-qHT4_zqriBc-Rk2tM0/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvPXnp1_T54txWHa_2oFCRlkXCoOYXOllu_956Dbr-5t8KJUGf_g4ZZvYESK2FQOltIBkvHrYaw8s4r5oDZv8OMuChs_jjrZiiFe7_tTDiVzCLXI6njnXbMjI_-qHT4_zqriBc-Rk2tM0/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG" height="226" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern Art. 'Nuff said.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
...go for the long one?<br />
<br />
I decided to gamble and go for Carpentras despite the fact that it was gone 6pm and that home was 40 miles away, still with the wind and heat. Stubborn/ tight/ stupid. Still not sure!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJRqE-Kv9gebbpX0SVeRiYIkozhGE0sLJ62QYHJK0H6qhtYt_m8xX7iyeV0egpFalipu7HsloH0qGXIVHIjwgWGMF0OyueyUAWNZCy9uq0Ng-o5kMm4wk9WWYVxzuSztH6X_9ouBDGDmK/s1600/IMG_0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJRqE-Kv9gebbpX0SVeRiYIkozhGE0sLJ62QYHJK0H6qhtYt_m8xX7iyeV0egpFalipu7HsloH0qGXIVHIjwgWGMF0OyueyUAWNZCy9uq0Ng-o5kMm4wk9WWYVxzuSztH6X_9ouBDGDmK/s1600/IMG_0248.JPG" height="217" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montelimar would be a nice place for a night...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O1qmExHdinUrOSKLxSwalMVcOhvvQjjGiwKAwm6ugNPj1a-dE5NIEj2bul4_fOCv7FhjbL9Y64KrefpaGRGlTk6a1tfp-0k28ihyIQAt3yuWEar9tPRiCN4RB2yEYiLSMYAlfFgFX0qy/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O1qmExHdinUrOSKLxSwalMVcOhvvQjjGiwKAwm6ugNPj1a-dE5NIEj2bul4_fOCv7FhjbL9Y64KrefpaGRGlTk6a1tfp-0k28ihyIQAt3yuWEar9tPRiCN4RB2yEYiLSMYAlfFgFX0qy/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh come on, give it some Dolly! "Bollene, Bollene...Bo-llene!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_-Y-oeBVMPhyphenhyphencyvgmxxfdSTYzL8LvcIpwm8la4jEr7Zrk1o6VtOR1Lake_FB82psdVh4vMnFYDupMRYtMtBp-4JDi0SOy0H8WKxS6aZwKgxD0TTBlmGXfR_UGOQHhGS73a-wJaVR5bBF/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_-Y-oeBVMPhyphenhyphencyvgmxxfdSTYzL8LvcIpwm8la4jEr7Zrk1o6VtOR1Lake_FB82psdVh4vMnFYDupMRYtMtBp-4JDi0SOy0H8WKxS6aZwKgxD0TTBlmGXfR_UGOQHhGS73a-wJaVR5bBF/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mofo was against me almost all of the way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When the 100 miles mark came up it was a cause for minor celebration: this was probably the hardest one that I've done. Some daft satisfaction in that, hah-hah!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvFQ3QvqJpqa8t_wnzz5K0hS9-RHTKf5tC_odE-rgFL-mK-V3EnGy9Cu1UDVuH-8_scWb3b-GhmFoIOr0PaUJcOMucjgHUFphespuHA7_Xz1tG7QZHw_0TKbVaziAjpDhX1n4ANLRltRQ/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvFQ3QvqJpqa8t_wnzz5K0hS9-RHTKf5tC_odE-rgFL-mK-V3EnGy9Cu1UDVuH-8_scWb3b-GhmFoIOr0PaUJcOMucjgHUFphespuHA7_Xz1tG7QZHw_0TKbVaziAjpDhX1n4ANLRltRQ/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes! There he is...the big guy in the distance. I did shout!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivQbYVxFsqrGeo8-cC8YNKEIxQfk-u6x7F4cVRCJxC7Kr4EK8DzBnyqhLjVgoG8yco3mZxj0EK_PPcx4MGEu2spOg4p96Sk2x1tI-FX_ljm18B2zeBUruYXpFaiWTXUGf0t2PqeInFMMk/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivQbYVxFsqrGeo8-cC8YNKEIxQfk-u6x7F4cVRCJxC7Kr4EK8DzBnyqhLjVgoG8yco3mZxj0EK_PPcx4MGEu2spOg4p96Sk2x1tI-FX_ljm18B2zeBUruYXpFaiWTXUGf0t2PqeInFMMk/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gonna need lights soon....keep turning the pedals mate...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY58KLU2uZKEOZZcKQzKIdOqh_PNFfLnTE6hsxyAq8iHeGZim3ZWBDFKZ8xzeU7d140Llspnhltxc5z6HJu7WN95H8Vj_yHYCx3365doEh2i-Mwdvoa6fsUFBvfwcfGmDNQFn3YNfYEePY/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY58KLU2uZKEOZZcKQzKIdOqh_PNFfLnTE6hsxyAq8iHeGZim3ZWBDFKZ8xzeU7d140Llspnhltxc5z6HJu7WN95H8Vj_yHYCx3365doEh2i-Mwdvoa6fsUFBvfwcfGmDNQFn3YNfYEePY/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Was cooling rapidly to 30c. Second layer needed? Non.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeRZGJ-SkJ1ayEQ-kz_4sPJWQfPwO_qe0qrRUgfjsPQNpDLasLRzRTF6EnuK_6lFetKdLhB9BpKD59RGIBZWiAdhMOxUgfQm-V3G7kPYTbgpJwY7KFn9VwKpPimuuyCQ5YuBTyGROQFIK/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeRZGJ-SkJ1ayEQ-kz_4sPJWQfPwO_qe0qrRUgfjsPQNpDLasLRzRTF6EnuK_6lFetKdLhB9BpKD59RGIBZWiAdhMOxUgfQm-V3G7kPYTbgpJwY7KFn9VwKpPimuuyCQ5YuBTyGROQFIK/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll wing the last 10 miles...go, go, go!</td></tr>
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I was so slow that that I had to complete the day in twilight, but I took cycle paths and pavements so stayed out of the way. After abbreviated admin I legged it out to find hot food and cold beer: got 50% right with a tapas bar that were happy to serve. Cheers!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTYkcx88hXhejL-B2uwQDyWn-VdjyEjZcELekW62Tm1BP0wxJSNsJ3hM-2PCtnJxvvU8Seo_4Xwv4-4bjl86n6-0HAl0DUqkSPTcp41owCFQQIGro06m-beAcCF2RhXM_oFQBGu1Ryr82/s1600/IMG_0346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTYkcx88hXhejL-B2uwQDyWn-VdjyEjZcELekW62Tm1BP0wxJSNsJ3hM-2PCtnJxvvU8Seo_4Xwv4-4bjl86n6-0HAl0DUqkSPTcp41owCFQQIGro06m-beAcCF2RhXM_oFQBGu1Ryr82/s1600/IMG_0346.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sort that posture out. Top, cold brew!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucmVfGwpMsz4rUr_V3grItx-HHlNpomengytsWFYN-_UgwRwJFvextlJFW4ZVMOnVylizKozUOMnEBJazTpzh0m8JgfXMFPKjJlT33nixcSABILebivTfbll3bGjynTUINkmxK3_dDtw5/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucmVfGwpMsz4rUr_V3grItx-HHlNpomengytsWFYN-_UgwRwJFvextlJFW4ZVMOnVylizKozUOMnEBJazTpzh0m8JgfXMFPKjJlT33nixcSABILebivTfbll3bGjynTUINkmxK3_dDtw5/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" height="400" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's head the other direction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Safe to say that that was the hardest century that I've done. A walk in the park however compared to what some people are going through. It also puts an end to part one of this challenge- and it has been exactly that, no minor trundle just to get donations going. To those that have donated, thank you!<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/544569174" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR VERRRRRRRRY LONG MAPS'N'STATS!</a></div>
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While we're here, and I know that I say this quite a bit, but a massive thank you to you generous types who have donated to these causes. Good on you. You know that I'm busting my balls out there at times, so it's really appreciated.</div>
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If you've read this far then you deserve a reward...here is Dion still loving that belting song!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8L17Cc5HhiY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-22303370970615932062014-07-17T23:08:00.000+01:002014-07-30T20:16:09.502+01:00Working In The Coalmine...Stage 7: Dijon to Vienne.Listen, it's my blog and we're not having Ultravox on here! Instead it's Mr Lee Dorsey's work of genius...chosen because a) I love it, and b) you want to have seen the colour of the water in the shower just now...<br />
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Away from Dijon a bit later again despite knowing that this would be an extraordinary day, both in terms of time and temperature. The hotel receptionist raised an eyebrow when I said that I was off to Lyon and beyond: "But the temperatures will be worse than yesterday- the hottest day of the year so far!".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkUTe0pGGocvjUIg2holG5BooWOnSGeYoDb2Wmbnjg8tXFuvzRx1rXBUhjs1p1L-2UIkZsJtWHLwDJyYVRGDVU_XUmZlS4BJ4SLm3rGPvZok83rx10PiRKZjeSPs2cgkGhbWwAKHMQaWc/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkUTe0pGGocvjUIg2holG5BooWOnSGeYoDb2Wmbnjg8tXFuvzRx1rXBUhjs1p1L-2UIkZsJtWHLwDJyYVRGDVU_XUmZlS4BJ4SLm3rGPvZok83rx10PiRKZjeSPs2cgkGhbWwAKHMQaWc/s1600/7.JPG" height="390" width="640" /></a></div>
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To be fair to the harbinger of doom, he was practical in that he filled m'bidons and put them in the freezer until the very last minute, which I appreciated. I just wish that I could have climbed in there too...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6CQxWQ0U5eVbSiR_tI-3a4u6AW93Gv3RSKAFjO9MQM5tDLQoECr7zsOqwCnSi4FxOCYYpYbGHlH69lCP2RCuuzbNGphFSXulEShYBDsOn4Wme-K6LiSi8og5aA_rD88_hq-WtnKmazCu/s1600/IMG_0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6CQxWQ0U5eVbSiR_tI-3a4u6AW93Gv3RSKAFjO9MQM5tDLQoECr7zsOqwCnSi4FxOCYYpYbGHlH69lCP2RCuuzbNGphFSXulEShYBDsOn4Wme-K6LiSi8og5aA_rD88_hq-WtnKmazCu/s1600/IMG_0200.JPG" height="328" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bet this guy doesn't do two loaves for £1.30 a la Tesco.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHD8llSUBqOYK2HpCPxDU6DmZ00_syZswl3DlfnECzvEmfn-tnTqf3Wz48lc15FaQ70fVJpHuPVLBo3nsP2L493mqRCwArAYAtyl-W20JQkxxmh-OXsuGorQ7tY0MyNxeXTwJtGWwQTeRQ/s1600/IMG_0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHD8llSUBqOYK2HpCPxDU6DmZ00_syZswl3DlfnECzvEmfn-tnTqf3Wz48lc15FaQ70fVJpHuPVLBo3nsP2L493mqRCwArAYAtyl-W20JQkxxmh-OXsuGorQ7tY0MyNxeXTwJtGWwQTeRQ/s1600/IMG_0202.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Would I want to swap places with the pickers? Nah...</td></tr>
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As much as there is ever a plan, the idea today was to ride for 90 minutes max., then break. Rinse & repeat. Plan worked fine although the time was drifting away almost as fast as the water that I was going through. Once I saw 36c, I started wishing for the equivalent of 100f, hah-hah! We never quite got there...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCs8pyCjU1d8gyLM6H0yMxQ6WieeQkgV1WEFEuzPhUJxRUpUoZbs5sEd-xDmwU8LZwoq5gq1-vG4mbGkwnKWC4Pc8pj_ae7cCWhOwT3VZhy9wjcJ_Qy08_nge9KwDbaHqhfJPEPn_OaZWv/s1600/IMG_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCs8pyCjU1d8gyLM6H0yMxQ6WieeQkgV1WEFEuzPhUJxRUpUoZbs5sEd-xDmwU8LZwoq5gq1-vG4mbGkwnKWC4Pc8pj_ae7cCWhOwT3VZhy9wjcJ_Qy08_nge9KwDbaHqhfJPEPn_OaZWv/s1600/IMG_0203.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Must. Go. Straight. On.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TMs1VMHiZ3liRAacgD1vYhUtrkbKB63iKVMr8tUEPT1oJEa1Lh0xdvNBWm1rQWEKtcMzgogLpmH-WH3nslzohCyU7ueh27UoUqxiCvKBepGh-0Umqod4BCgI3TD8iGOUXsOnhmwu-g-o/s1600/IMG_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TMs1VMHiZ3liRAacgD1vYhUtrkbKB63iKVMr8tUEPT1oJEa1Lh0xdvNBWm1rQWEKtcMzgogLpmH-WH3nslzohCyU7ueh27UoUqxiCvKBepGh-0Umqod4BCgI3TD8iGOUXsOnhmwu-g-o/s1600/IMG_0204.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If they're made by Selex then you've little risk of being apprehended. Office gag...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAO8Tgv-H5yt8Q_0QEY2e3nLku_DdilanADTDub7szdDcH9wyb-esWeQu2Vyj_LOKyiB7GFawicR2XerzWJDMG2PYCXU_N42kNMxPDMPRC21Qmti9kS4W4skLe9fbSahlz1Pstcvm1WXtN/s1600/IMG_0210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAO8Tgv-H5yt8Q_0QEY2e3nLku_DdilanADTDub7szdDcH9wyb-esWeQu2Vyj_LOKyiB7GFawicR2XerzWJDMG2PYCXU_N42kNMxPDMPRC21Qmti9kS4W4skLe9fbSahlz1Pstcvm1WXtN/s1600/IMG_0210.JPG" height="252" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I set the art back a few years, hah-hah!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUtGCUCbZiGRf5xwyaLHgFH4IzGFuBqEYwuMugaLQ88ncH9QZXhidzL6QCPi_XgKjMtlB1RPYAuNpCiTmwyx0WFMaV2-DndeKhMtLhgyygvT6MTsbR6r7WWbRYXetBzA7HoE2ZPJ1sGAL/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUtGCUCbZiGRf5xwyaLHgFH4IzGFuBqEYwuMugaLQ88ncH9QZXhidzL6QCPi_XgKjMtlB1RPYAuNpCiTmwyx0WFMaV2-DndeKhMtLhgyygvT6MTsbR6r7WWbRYXetBzA7HoE2ZPJ1sGAL/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water was lashing out of me...temp read 34.7c. Still had a couple to go...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6of15DryL8PCacPvLU8s7PIEGqGAT7MWrOben5xLJjb59_aIAkN0v6PLcsZWXloGd7_LHeEC8Fewah9zc9dkls8ZPCgaRu2wreoTmxqjdWyPY-cUCS-UtCSCExFnFuFGc0WQf04GXbmTN/s1600/IMG_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6of15DryL8PCacPvLU8s7PIEGqGAT7MWrOben5xLJjb59_aIAkN0v6PLcsZWXloGd7_LHeEC8Fewah9zc9dkls8ZPCgaRu2wreoTmxqjdWyPY-cUCS-UtCSCExFnFuFGc0WQf04GXbmTN/s1600/IMG_0213.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Must. Go. Straight. On. (pt. 2)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-WyFzJe4eowomWpnHDLhMJcbAiGDDxJOFhXIJbeTBx1y-lLhhJCv_iiraCXqKp7yatNhwCaEGMrUb6MHPJDrKdwfBdbgk0Gy3poXWw8d6IVmWlnvfPvfa9So0LQqO7JnwDAfNZhLXsLr/s1600/IMG_0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-WyFzJe4eowomWpnHDLhMJcbAiGDDxJOFhXIJbeTBx1y-lLhhJCv_iiraCXqKp7yatNhwCaEGMrUb6MHPJDrKdwfBdbgk0Gy3poXWw8d6IVmWlnvfPvfa9So0LQqO7JnwDAfNZhLXsLr/s1600/IMG_0215.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just wanted to do a Moon and drive straight in, hah-hah!</td></tr>
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As the day drifted away from me I did seriously wonder if the smart thing would be to get to Lyon and then stop. This would mean no rest day on Saturday (albeit a shortish leg) but I decided to press on, not least because I'd be able to claim my longest (both in time and distance) day on a bike. Not really smart reasoning and I was also aware that I didn't need to banjax myself and put the rest of the ride in any sort of jeopardy either.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsMC5tMGzil8V_nFBvg9KQ_XuJXk2cvmWvjVkhXViPAqeiaTznt6NOz9CVIo4zXF-cSEOOSsvSMi_e4gzBVVDf8Yz31UTED4yi94iKTv8Ef_dv_3-pTurOPleTnc20CTO6zaWqchNilDp/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsMC5tMGzil8V_nFBvg9KQ_XuJXk2cvmWvjVkhXViPAqeiaTznt6NOz9CVIo4zXF-cSEOOSsvSMi_e4gzBVVDf8Yz31UTED4yi94iKTv8Ef_dv_3-pTurOPleTnc20CTO6zaWqchNilDp/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG" height="273" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This made my day! The TdF chaps were dismantling stuff and I got in on the act. Excellent!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgMAAc3hsI_mZ1C-UGPHbdmY9ljoMDU1Pl-iGggnaabcVrHQjUtKSlHE0Wt3XJK0x-7M_NU_7KmDTnPOGg7tuodt-5GVD8mSeOTivsY_rjlLcUQUFjuoaYC4NWNct7WtYvGrrHs5yuuml/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgMAAc3hsI_mZ1C-UGPHbdmY9ljoMDU1Pl-iGggnaabcVrHQjUtKSlHE0Wt3XJK0x-7M_NU_7KmDTnPOGg7tuodt-5GVD8mSeOTivsY_rjlLcUQUFjuoaYC4NWNct7WtYvGrrHs5yuuml/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflowers. Loving your slow-time work! Much like myself.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX2yooQc72OZuCFKDdVrWwvd1UgpJEyca769RPtw9kDzumy6AnIDxalArLBhLpuGSn-wILrBCjPNm8uv-uPH_OvJJdALTQlwROsFHEFfNgrs1qGlEEpizXzMh1-Q6OzzSnODOp9VDjoe6/s1600/IMG_0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX2yooQc72OZuCFKDdVrWwvd1UgpJEyca769RPtw9kDzumy6AnIDxalArLBhLpuGSn-wILrBCjPNm8uv-uPH_OvJJdALTQlwROsFHEFfNgrs1qGlEEpizXzMh1-Q6OzzSnODOp9VDjoe6/s1600/IMG_0220.JPG" height="330" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Usually it would be a Sprite, but when in France...</td></tr>
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Things were still fine until Lyon: what possessed me to think that it would be a good idea to cut through it on a Thursday evening, though? It was a nightmare and the continual stop-start pretty much did for me, engine-wise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6B0BfbqCegRWCeHmxK1Ahega56rxBVKmYNpXADHdxBzk_MQWYtcDh8nJeOS5nyhAj-1L82gd-KNFh9amor3ZgMkvPKUqJ6TrWL9YTduaFVh9Dom7jHf1rS29Sa_0F0dEyYGGj5ORzQvSc/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6B0BfbqCegRWCeHmxK1Ahega56rxBVKmYNpXADHdxBzk_MQWYtcDh8nJeOS5nyhAj-1L82gd-KNFh9amor3ZgMkvPKUqJ6TrWL9YTduaFVh9Dom7jHf1rS29Sa_0F0dEyYGGj5ORzQvSc/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyon. Big mistake to try to go through. How sad. Never mind.</td></tr>
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Still, you live and (rarely) learn so it was then just the 15 or so hollow miles to the hotel. Which is where? More stop-start, more time lost, blah-blah-blah...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6EE8gkhPukCZ1NGBMrg2f7eyzNnGM5MkFDAJRd0xBi7SGBcXXO1xloadzxTuHJgpGbP2IQo5Fc1xSCGcKijetmLbPtpzYtj4GYDh2M-s_-gZhBOgOUw3LXagD6yeIE4N_upT5pwtL2rh/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6EE8gkhPukCZ1NGBMrg2f7eyzNnGM5MkFDAJRd0xBi7SGBcXXO1xloadzxTuHJgpGbP2IQo5Fc1xSCGcKijetmLbPtpzYtj4GYDh2M-s_-gZhBOgOUw3LXagD6yeIE4N_upT5pwtL2rh/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-Lyon and the plug has been pulled. #toast</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATQM2oUu_KXsLuVKsUdBClQCTIyBb4aZTzxBwAw34BEF_XkNjy2626eL_JmKNlLFcDqefR_VOdUHvGkFgpGNIrqKMk8LQ_BrgCIK2AVathkiP9yCd54Yh558Fi8vr9lUQou-wiIw0M9RM/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATQM2oUu_KXsLuVKsUdBClQCTIyBb4aZTzxBwAw34BEF_XkNjy2626eL_JmKNlLFcDqefR_VOdUHvGkFgpGNIrqKMk8LQ_BrgCIK2AVathkiP9yCd54Yh558Fi8vr9lUQou-wiIw0M9RM/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One more fantastic descent prior to trying to find the f**king hotel, hah-hah!</td></tr>
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When I do find the establishment, the receptionist has cleared-off for the evening: it's very DIY and please yourself. The massive bonus was that the nice hotel around the corner had their welcoming restaurant ready for my use. It now lies in ruins, hah-hah!<br />
An insane day but let's see what happens tomorrow...it isn't a gimme. Speaking of which, what's happened in The Open?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/543658403" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR ALL KINDS OF NUMERICAL NONSENSE!</a></div>
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While we're here, and I know that I say this quite a bit, but a massive thank you to you generous types who have donated to these causes. Good on you. You know that I'm busting my balls out there at times, so it's really appreciated.</div>
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<b>I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-90546776494847630022014-07-16T23:12:00.001+01:002014-07-30T20:14:12.087+01:00Burning Down The House...Stage 6: Saint-Dizier to Dijon.If you're not loving this one just thank you're lucky stars that I didn't choose SurTom & The Cardigans' effort. Crumbs of comfort, hah-hah!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xNnAvTTaJjM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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As is always the way, the longer these journeys last, the later you feel able/inclined to start in the morning. The knock-on effect is that you'll finish that day's stage later and then have less time to recover and get your yourself in a position to tackle the next day's nonsense.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRtMPgnhmgev47EKH_b9n6WaSGuc0oA9jpCx5qbximhubUveMkw2p72-T2MTUldyVzqHJGVDLPGwRmdiz88Nci7MOmla4OEEwhJGieloFmWuFPXdR7JSlrTBXdKT6H4HfFpEnBNiA4ek2/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRtMPgnhmgev47EKH_b9n6WaSGuc0oA9jpCx5qbximhubUveMkw2p72-T2MTUldyVzqHJGVDLPGwRmdiz88Nci7MOmla4OEEwhJGieloFmWuFPXdR7JSlrTBXdKT6H4HfFpEnBNiA4ek2/s1600/6.JPG" height="388" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anyway, at 0910 wagons roll and it's a constant source of fascination to me just how my Garmin GPS and my Michelin road map conspire during the night to concoct some half-ass routes...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyFn-0EtW4J68wyjB0OFolbHPwczlHrUa06CyYIYOzxbkRJMmpLkFZDf_a5DwDFiFiN0lY8wYIFQ6ApfPVcHP2OzJsr7Tt8sVMOOWOkmEHriofS60gqF9TphWyzsqAQ0WkIOSDusEYjAf/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyFn-0EtW4J68wyjB0OFolbHPwczlHrUa06CyYIYOzxbkRJMmpLkFZDf_a5DwDFiFiN0lY8wYIFQ6ApfPVcHP2OzJsr7Tt8sVMOOWOkmEHriofS60gqF9TphWyzsqAQ0WkIOSDusEYjAf/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really? Good one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlnKvqE-Sq0aWjR4E4Uw3d8jX_ZGU-JVzBCEB4eBjkDH4QoweNqT5-3wG-Y2sOri9RTrqheZrC1nl3QPTYhBKXQ-8Dx07rG9wSeVwCyqAARxjKYYx2M6wDyiNmk9EDiL05pUk_vyHFGY-/s1600/IMG_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlnKvqE-Sq0aWjR4E4Uw3d8jX_ZGU-JVzBCEB4eBjkDH4QoweNqT5-3wG-Y2sOri9RTrqheZrC1nl3QPTYhBKXQ-8Dx07rG9wSeVwCyqAARxjKYYx2M6wDyiNmk9EDiL05pUk_vyHFGY-/s1600/IMG_0168.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're having a laugh, right?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNttQ9xFTk_OYsxsGIZpIUeVcagluC8X8QCKhID5Zohi4qQYgxFDmKgOxmUvavp35BkwC8_4VNUnMN9LmlI5ewC62UYI2AXAiCdbKsM3wHMoy5364EwsZqnfmio8teQs1VVMUPu4o_5L8R/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNttQ9xFTk_OYsxsGIZpIUeVcagluC8X8QCKhID5Zohi4qQYgxFDmKgOxmUvavp35BkwC8_4VNUnMN9LmlI5ewC62UYI2AXAiCdbKsM3wHMoy5364EwsZqnfmio8teQs1VVMUPu4o_5L8R/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right, eBay for you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That said, I was soon going through some top-notch countryside...no thanks to the machines. Hope they didn't hear that, les digital numbnuts/Daft Punk.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_4DqUXcsnmupeMTT2bVVFRq6y0Xq0PgljeFNjJi2wbD3ZMs-QY1m7qhFR108gQ804-BBv0Qq2TiN5-xdFj1cdbv0dWjCutpxSz-wWvA2sMXd9EavZHjwseyd6VhdrSSgUtn9ZZ8hSMHy/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_4DqUXcsnmupeMTT2bVVFRq6y0Xq0PgljeFNjJi2wbD3ZMs-QY1m7qhFR108gQ804-BBv0Qq2TiN5-xdFj1cdbv0dWjCutpxSz-wWvA2sMXd9EavZHjwseyd6VhdrSSgUtn9ZZ8hSMHy/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG" height="257" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regulstion TdF leftover...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdheoO0m_j5Y-reLhXPbYtCRjHZXZM4ilAz-2bdki4_4Or9BgRpr-pf_2j_XhRS7iSOR3Io7-KHLseeai3sbU5utNdr3BrIzggXGT77rb0tIfa3btMrcM7qF0mE2LmuIqGi10ef5kmYgJ0/s1600/IMG_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdheoO0m_j5Y-reLhXPbYtCRjHZXZM4ilAz-2bdki4_4Or9BgRpr-pf_2j_XhRS7iSOR3Io7-KHLseeai3sbU5utNdr3BrIzggXGT77rb0tIfa3btMrcM7qF0mE2LmuIqGi10ef5kmYgJ0/s1600/IMG_0171.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S'alright I guess.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8k2j2iOF8A8HIzWdWpm_nsTrVlQxqSaTSl-xPLBMK1bZM-KZAbzO70Je2j0ebugkCe2_UCRRUllDEWHaJC7KCvhlq6g-fMy3Zc_TuWpqt84pqP2ocTrC50Jv9CRUJltjVroDyewR43eN8/s1600/IMG_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8k2j2iOF8A8HIzWdWpm_nsTrVlQxqSaTSl-xPLBMK1bZM-KZAbzO70Je2j0ebugkCe2_UCRRUllDEWHaJC7KCvhlq6g-fMy3Zc_TuWpqt84pqP2ocTrC50Jv9CRUJltjVroDyewR43eN8/s1600/IMG_0176.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely, lovely villages!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8EAdf_rcMne1RmltbYGHRwgQYgIOPzWYP5fTu5WKpBw39jWrIQTpfipjaI2UqSSgVOnQuZMHy2u3QtMrlKtgPE1MbhXlS0pMorWkxWC1cCxFZnS_zzD6yv02dBfBqmyFtGfn6PV8DPmS/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8EAdf_rcMne1RmltbYGHRwgQYgIOPzWYP5fTu5WKpBw39jWrIQTpfipjaI2UqSSgVOnQuZMHy2u3QtMrlKtgPE1MbhXlS0pMorWkxWC1cCxFZnS_zzD6yv02dBfBqmyFtGfn6PV8DPmS/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to stop for an "Allo, Allo" tribute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was mindful of the high temperatures (i.e. you have to eat and drink, no messing) so it was great to see a small marche open. I made my purchases and the lady asked where I was going: her expression was the same of the owner of my Calais hotel: "Oh really?".<br />
In fact I think that I saw her lift the phone to speak to her sister as I left her store, hah-hah!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC08k64jsKNnobJRzmdfC7_md3tAekU1zoPNT78QtGCP0LoHbHoY8tAmDciBKB_UbpPqjp-9BnMa8uEbXPQzp9fnWQsvARHde2w4s9_9ByocNCPqP82HydmoiYZkbU3HLb67tQgE9al7K/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC08k64jsKNnobJRzmdfC7_md3tAekU1zoPNT78QtGCP0LoHbHoY8tAmDciBKB_UbpPqjp-9BnMa8uEbXPQzp9fnWQsvARHde2w4s9_9ByocNCPqP82HydmoiYZkbU3HLb67tQgE9al7K/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" height="251" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afternoon tea is served. Orangina: the acceptable face of Fanta.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-STvH_U4AskInTBukMZlhDDcCYRiI6Kj0e94KiU6nmWSRShk7vUHfsdjSQyD1kqmmWUwb-SdOPCttRQB4b4YGLSHsZ3jPRtylgvcC1HQaokm5RGFme4Wolx4-v87la5KlXt6AeJQ0Bd8K/s1600/IMG_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-STvH_U4AskInTBukMZlhDDcCYRiI6Kj0e94KiU6nmWSRShk7vUHfsdjSQyD1kqmmWUwb-SdOPCttRQB4b4YGLSHsZ3jPRtylgvcC1HQaokm5RGFme4Wolx4-v87la5KlXt6AeJQ0Bd8K/s1600/IMG_0181.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys were looning around for a while.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8hwQ-VGuElxi7CWtf-hj6WXoJDLeVOpA7lZH9Q192wjYO9DhycfO3osVa06np9Kf6Pk4cwAFUmiXukXIxXR5ofmNkO__knudK5NUjPQA1PMe-WPNWwtcJzZGgGqC-Zq57gJORhtLlzpb/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8hwQ-VGuElxi7CWtf-hj6WXoJDLeVOpA7lZH9Q192wjYO9DhycfO3osVa06np9Kf6Pk4cwAFUmiXukXIxXR5ofmNkO__knudK5NUjPQA1PMe-WPNWwtcJzZGgGqC-Zq57gJORhtLlzpb/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Er, some old buildings. Keep climbing...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On bridges, the road narrows a touch, so not to hold-up the traffic any more than necessary I will nip onto the footpath if that is a go-er. This was a long section (about 800m) and all was fine until near the end when...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qJLxtNGhyof3paPUYJY5w9-0X7iXA7gtbccTs3Uw3BwrvR-OUPzzvXZv1viGDthef2eP3Uwg4vlr2m-QBmVhyphenhyphenc1IOr4F5pXuA5Kc1obu0oFY7ENS6A4zxeC2hrGGcecXFa20jBXKl1gB/s1600/IMG_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qJLxtNGhyof3paPUYJY5w9-0X7iXA7gtbccTs3Uw3BwrvR-OUPzzvXZv1viGDthef2eP3Uwg4vlr2m-QBmVhyphenhyphenc1IOr4F5pXuA5Kc1obu0oFY7ENS6A4zxeC2hrGGcecXFa20jBXKl1gB/s1600/IMG_0183.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need chevrons. And a pannier removed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTP2Gl5phvsf0kKDu3yuDXA3MZHfBj0p2qyDBL0lYMyTP-7cWZPgym2vtSSkcB4ONyr4ieQd83shFO4L-s2QSAMWigH3ogdSpFr1ilhApbjQ0PwtBwnqK64Oe-8_rTmg8YuNCrAvG-L-s/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTP2Gl5phvsf0kKDu3yuDXA3MZHfBj0p2qyDBL0lYMyTP-7cWZPgym2vtSSkcB4ONyr4ieQd83shFO4L-s2QSAMWigH3ogdSpFr1ilhApbjQ0PwtBwnqK64Oe-8_rTmg8YuNCrAvG-L-s/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No clue.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIOAnGGJa-1jOGTodNq87C17hWPAnlMyRPtvL0oJHd-_L-TX7Oa6IYKfBdLKWstR0cWjy4_0VacjkD2P0tyqiWNgqTuXMLjZu1neVLl9EnVdnPnKO9YhgwgnQgxvydn2Ign-do0reRqmT/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIOAnGGJa-1jOGTodNq87C17hWPAnlMyRPtvL0oJHd-_L-TX7Oa6IYKfBdLKWstR0cWjy4_0VacjkD2P0tyqiWNgqTuXMLjZu1neVLl9EnVdnPnKO9YhgwgnQgxvydn2Ign-do0reRqmT/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflowers, oil rapeseed...loadsa colour!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ERx9vAJA_lt9DrmsJ0HwGrHYeSnYmg4mxioHpQrX8FwVThNbQr4TXCMKqf1IxSv4HtprAQr0tjZjbVMLsIGiKGvcmimdTytVPAtSO6uxWiqRU58M8nUHcsZCdEhL4J3pv_Hsns6KvuLX/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ERx9vAJA_lt9DrmsJ0HwGrHYeSnYmg4mxioHpQrX8FwVThNbQr4TXCMKqf1IxSv4HtprAQr0tjZjbVMLsIGiKGvcmimdTytVPAtSO6uxWiqRU58M8nUHcsZCdEhL4J3pv_Hsns6KvuLX/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm really tired, I can't do this. You can!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFcFWKQpHij1lkQ_8HKfDBgXxa_R8LkOJRcuQ_VbFc180KNc6V2bBn2KLolAXum6s0OdRPecAWU3It_T-vOflUymNfncH_eh9ED21r32TePh0aooqwU4dEobcVsYtES800CDVFMkLGzoM/s1600/IMG_0192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFcFWKQpHij1lkQ_8HKfDBgXxa_R8LkOJRcuQ_VbFc180KNc6V2bBn2KLolAXum6s0OdRPecAWU3It_T-vOflUymNfncH_eh9ED21r32TePh0aooqwU4dEobcVsYtES800CDVFMkLGzoM/s1600/IMG_0192.JPG" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They even named an ice-cream after it?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There will be similar temperatures over the next days so I'll spare you my whining: that said, there is a perverse satisfaction in having given it almost everything. I say "almost" because you have to ride with one eye fixed on tomorrow. Defensive cobblers but true...<br />
<br />
That said, I think a couple of motorists thought that I was attempting the world's longest track-stand on a long drag into Dijon...I think the plug had been pulled, well and truly, hah-hah!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65yQ77ZHuWLA_S0R9p3KzKdBJs6wok1Co5WC2xh1-7i6oQ3kA4kw43yHSJxX0dlzAO7s43Tl99G0o1aQMbaRO68jicafpuoDXpKqSsAGUkvuvCY1K1QQEGE-lA3VknMv9jGIHJb6vsy6P/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65yQ77ZHuWLA_S0R9p3KzKdBJs6wok1Co5WC2xh1-7i6oQ3kA4kw43yHSJxX0dlzAO7s43Tl99G0o1aQMbaRO68jicafpuoDXpKqSsAGUkvuvCY1K1QQEGE-lA3VknMv9jGIHJb6vsy6P/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dijon trams avec le grass.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl0pENgh9VNvJHPPDnmuNJwQmC0PjF4peuTlBkqNswnkql263R5sW5cXZ_meXHnXOK8CVxZR6ZhfDmqjF7j3rjM_WjAVPovZt1PdnX-EygqP4a-LVTUy9bkk2Gm41ZYmKzqMlwoZ8asqg/s1600/IMG_0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl0pENgh9VNvJHPPDnmuNJwQmC0PjF4peuTlBkqNswnkql263R5sW5cXZ_meXHnXOK8CVxZR6ZhfDmqjF7j3rjM_WjAVPovZt1PdnX-EygqP4a-LVTUy9bkk2Gm41ZYmKzqMlwoZ8asqg/s1600/IMG_0196.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A reminder of their liberation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wk3uMIZrnVgR_uX19m2IaL_eVrxookZdpeHqLoTvrN6IvifJeqQe4KwIthu9U1O0WRCuFpWlKiiIyInWhHEq7OMAKE8_gztS4-i86-CIQV7kUZ0YqoRh6jHyQuo52diFA79hAqJ8u7bO/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wk3uMIZrnVgR_uX19m2IaL_eVrxookZdpeHqLoTvrN6IvifJeqQe4KwIthu9U1O0WRCuFpWlKiiIyInWhHEq7OMAKE8_gztS4-i86-CIQV7kUZ0YqoRh6jHyQuo52diFA79hAqJ8u7bO/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" height="400" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dijon cathedral. Looking right actha'!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfBPeNBBh-wQBJUHqF8dtRxElauok1jTaChguikFdljAa2aqWce5CIMrbJgXprciNIRnD_h-Jqghy9mvVZovKIls6L5hE9SYruG3UQqlh3ypGCh0DGBsKYHfdKOv8i-3gHGV3F2F-BEBe/s1600/IMG_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfBPeNBBh-wQBJUHqF8dtRxElauok1jTaChguikFdljAa2aqWce5CIMrbJgXprciNIRnD_h-Jqghy9mvVZovKIls6L5hE9SYruG3UQqlh3ypGCh0DGBsKYHfdKOv8i-3gHGV3F2F-BEBe/s1600/IMG_0199.JPG" height="273" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And so begins the long, slow rehydration process. Goodnight!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/542835758" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR HOT MAPS & STATS!</a></div>
<br />
While we're here, and I know that I say this quite a bit, but a massive thank you to you generous types who have donated to these causes. Good on you. You know that I'm busting my balls out there at times, so it's really appreciated.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
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To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-87222356974420181312014-07-15T21:35:00.000+01:002014-07-30T20:12:05.857+01:00Dizzy, Miss Lizzy...Stage 5: Saint-Quentin to Saint-Dizier.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes you just can't get a tune out of your head...step forward the Pre-Fab Four with their cover of...</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JDTeGOyMXF4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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'Help', did someone say? Could've done with some oomph for the first half of today's wander...it was a trudge with some indifferent road surfaces, although still Le Gallic courtesy extended to wheezing cyclists is a source of wonder. Does their highway code say that they should/must give two-wheeled loons a 1.5m birth or something?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmAP-l-Q_Kum5tSlg26JBt7rc6tVka32tsQNKbJn1SsSJKXZQKxyWydWn7tF1Zh2sUCrKVVq7umiHWYNLS7qFy0PNHwkd5IJSOTYfGlsT1GT7tzrdunENs8fNyb4qISWIU7gPqtKFjWPz/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmAP-l-Q_Kum5tSlg26JBt7rc6tVka32tsQNKbJn1SsSJKXZQKxyWydWn7tF1Zh2sUCrKVVq7umiHWYNLS7qFy0PNHwkd5IJSOTYfGlsT1GT7tzrdunENs8fNyb4qISWIU7gPqtKFjWPz/s1600/5.JPG" height="396" width="640" /></a></div>
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Whatever the case, on at least two occasions today I saw the guy overtaking me go so wide that he woke up the poor sod in the oncoming lane!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH81rMy5q-1ppbdd1ICQ5N3LtM0qpFhiS2XNO1LqEnwYOHXHx1iYTmpImlIZ4f85hjTxhr-SijOzeGJFlI-T7M6Pcul2ZZpjh22ZHhmoJJtXZKRJglL9zRGQW7lnB-ifrisIjMLQU-iSgJ/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH81rMy5q-1ppbdd1ICQ5N3LtM0qpFhiS2XNO1LqEnwYOHXHx1iYTmpImlIZ4f85hjTxhr-SijOzeGJFlI-T7M6Pcul2ZZpjh22ZHhmoJJtXZKRJglL9zRGQW7lnB-ifrisIjMLQU-iSgJ/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two clicks too close for me. Move away...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNte6RAcP66_I0elx_V0xZZPfUFqd_S7HKo3thTNl0GOOHDIVE106aIDGlAUxbkjKXn06FGUK48jitubP8vOrEKnUWVpCaq6-8grwGYSd1J02-oFvKXnqQLMwexeI0Q8lrRGVDcdzkYKHU/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNte6RAcP66_I0elx_V0xZZPfUFqd_S7HKo3thTNl0GOOHDIVE106aIDGlAUxbkjKXn06FGUK48jitubP8vOrEKnUWVpCaq6-8grwGYSd1J02-oFvKXnqQLMwexeI0Q8lrRGVDcdzkYKHU/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great to see Dave at The Winchester getting his dues.</td></tr>
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I saw further reminders of The Great War, including a huge French graveyard. Brings you up short.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp293ZT5s0fzpi8faFNVq-t5DoqfoIZAqiGvV0lhAaggaGR8bQTDaRhqO9RGzlU_sjjpyJAgE6mmyhGgdzgGlz8jBVcYIgJCVlSNJCTj0wY0_v6-7bmrvKJZKunr2HxJjVBIgKiEwamEd/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp293ZT5s0fzpi8faFNVq-t5DoqfoIZAqiGvV0lhAaggaGR8bQTDaRhqO9RGzlU_sjjpyJAgE6mmyhGgdzgGlz8jBVcYIgJCVlSNJCTj0wY0_v6-7bmrvKJZKunr2HxJjVBIgKiEwamEd/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG" height="160" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw a couple of more memorials along the way.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHwrF6M5AxUE0eR72CpVFogr2l-TAVshrp5YaSdG_MeTkLg4WqBw305RaTUM0wmahyphenhyphen9p1_Ei2_IAlPqKQH4tNT-6PKSfwmyviKg0lmAQtzpWauLnSE6HI7hWwIEzGXx8P3RCZmJZF3g7j/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHwrF6M5AxUE0eR72CpVFogr2l-TAVshrp5YaSdG_MeTkLg4WqBw305RaTUM0wmahyphenhyphen9p1_Ei2_IAlPqKQH4tNT-6PKSfwmyviKg0lmAQtzpWauLnSE6HI7hWwIEzGXx8P3RCZmJZF3g7j/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one marks French 'fallen'.</td></tr>
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I went through Reims about lunchtime: looks like an interesting town and not just because it is the world hq of shampoo.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTiA1HqynUYxIWh37y6H5P2S7RBseAicP9vUvOYsV1V8AUggfi6N-21XitT8C3wuo0s8eUCccBcg1wCLlD74LUtSByaiuL-MeStXidhDpidKKZL0alDy1YCHNGbkPzGsr1M6b0lQZ0EjW/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTiA1HqynUYxIWh37y6H5P2S7RBseAicP9vUvOYsV1V8AUggfi6N-21XitT8C3wuo0s8eUCccBcg1wCLlD74LUtSByaiuL-MeStXidhDpidKKZL0alDy1YCHNGbkPzGsr1M6b0lQZ0EjW/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reims cathedral...good work!</td></tr>
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Of course the countryside around Reims was full of fantastic looking vineyards and loads of producers trying to tempt you in...keep moving son, there's nothing for you here.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0hhcSzJ_BK8DLl4I49EMOqRBZtsW9GfczbwqRE60-dYtDxBOrCgh4Qs4ybqDP5XXojYWbNObm_nmXwtrOvYeU-vwUnk-0Y7PqTxDJp6kybSOrzbVLRsjhZ63WkxZY1Mrnru-MJXEs3Aq/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0hhcSzJ_BK8DLl4I49EMOqRBZtsW9GfczbwqRE60-dYtDxBOrCgh4Qs4ybqDP5XXojYWbNObm_nmXwtrOvYeU-vwUnk-0Y7PqTxDJp6kybSOrzbVLRsjhZ63WkxZY1Mrnru-MJXEs3Aq/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" height="288" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apt. Bouzy on the Champagne trail?</td></tr>
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I was very pleased to eventually see a village bar open: it was like a ghost town pretty much every where that I rode through...great for zero traffic but not great when you need water. Another note: say 'bidons', not 'bottles'. He was a cyclist so he was onside, hah-hah!</div>
You expect France to be warm in July- it was a reminder of how the wall of heat from the tarmac just warms the cockles sometimes. Fair enough.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05KSK-tJg3IcCK6yUv4gbYIrTmBFnUyJRHPuDtnqLalFZWCJHZsd4HaWoUTCz129WQMGvXm2Ihn7wrEBPKJXp7A2HMVb2-5SLsNDDWIwu0MI3owSOuhJelUQe6qay5KkAKAYCThD8pNfB/s1600/IMG_0153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05KSK-tJg3IcCK6yUv4gbYIrTmBFnUyJRHPuDtnqLalFZWCJHZsd4HaWoUTCz129WQMGvXm2Ihn7wrEBPKJXp7A2HMVb2-5SLsNDDWIwu0MI3owSOuhJelUQe6qay5KkAKAYCThD8pNfB/s1600/IMG_0153.JPG" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cannondale's 2015 Sagan model released to the public. He probably still could wheelie it. Uphill. No hands.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uQqpo3xhAVOyaoptGvdU2BcfrIZLgCmPvDWCJIgXHdvzjUXowA8U45CDnoEqnnIhlUfCTcjU9TWJfmjZ4bMzDxp5byViKVwBP_t8WR8oCF1w087B9grLFc7_J0zZRSHVoQ5NuTsuc7Vu/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uQqpo3xhAVOyaoptGvdU2BcfrIZLgCmPvDWCJIgXHdvzjUXowA8U45CDnoEqnnIhlUfCTcjU9TWJfmjZ4bMzDxp5byViKVwBP_t8WR8oCF1w087B9grLFc7_J0zZRSHVoQ5NuTsuc7Vu/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't worry, hundreds of wee bast**d flies were harmed during this photo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMEQRRkXOIUfYxM9qfK4Hh53cLow4kq_Ur8D5sxcvD4S8edmxqGA_KGydpBhlFo-3EwjPjf8HQ9J9GWRTHwHa0rAA-55mqt5gvEnDaOGPW3ppjtk1AtM1nLnw8dINlLZCkx-HxptompoF/s1600/IMG_0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMEQRRkXOIUfYxM9qfK4Hh53cLow4kq_Ur8D5sxcvD4S8edmxqGA_KGydpBhlFo-3EwjPjf8HQ9J9GWRTHwHa0rAA-55mqt5gvEnDaOGPW3ppjtk1AtM1nLnw8dINlLZCkx-HxptompoF/s1600/IMG_0165.JPG" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took some finding but it was a tres pleasant final few miles to Saint-Dizier.</td></tr>
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Tonight's acco is cheap and colourful. Let's leave it there. Early departure? We head south tomorrow, beginning the three hardest days...keep your fingers crossed. Cheers!<br />
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/542188706" target="_blank">STAGE CINQ MAPS & STATS!</a></div>
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While we're here, and I know that I say this quite a bit, but a massive thank you to you generous types who have donated to these causes. Good on you. You know that I'm busting my balls out there at times, so it's really appreciated.</div>
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<b>I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
<br />
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To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-14956874166796078652014-07-14T21:45:00.000+01:002014-07-30T20:10:11.771+01:00A Boy Named Sue....Stage 4: Calais to Saint-Quentin.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know that it is Bastille Day but with the destination in mind, there's only one artist who's featuring here tonight!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tGeLwq7j2pw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Although my acco in Calais appeared er, rustic, it was the best night's sleep in ages. Their wi-fi worked and the room's telly showed Allemagne netting me £90 courtesy of the work's sweepstake. Suckers, haw-haw!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxljVH-YH0KqMWmPwqI4r_XhkBQOilJUCUPox6cZi6y_zhVxwZfqMQh_aMdGQ9IGRZI-WsHDC-jpFASKs5FOfnOuP79GaV0ygzDpLDyCudnuA_VR5T7UgUWPIQPc17TFqvQnEbqmedpR5/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxljVH-YH0KqMWmPwqI4r_XhkBQOilJUCUPox6cZi6y_zhVxwZfqMQh_aMdGQ9IGRZI-WsHDC-jpFASKs5FOfnOuP79GaV0ygzDpLDyCudnuA_VR5T7UgUWPIQPc17TFqvQnEbqmedpR5/s1600/IMG_0074.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast served to your room: bacon & eggs must be hiding.</td></tr>
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On departure, the proprietor asked me where I was headed: the eyes always give it away. Her phrase was "...but that's many kilometres?" but she was really saying, "give it up- you've no chance. Btw, can you lend me £90?".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo3xm59uOHlklxKQ6byee3921G5nNAfbV-XLegdH41_-bRowOUySXcyVKVBPt5fpYbiW-M1SRah5rwi8Z7LLVex2H5AhG5lQmUXu6cWC2iUMJ9FsrICJUkVOw5xMbFwdJveSSI9RnYjDx/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo3xm59uOHlklxKQ6byee3921G5nNAfbV-XLegdH41_-bRowOUySXcyVKVBPt5fpYbiW-M1SRah5rwi8Z7LLVex2H5AhG5lQmUXu6cWC2iUMJ9FsrICJUkVOw5xMbFwdJveSSI9RnYjDx/s1600/4.JPG" height="386" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's my own Le Tricolour to celebrate Bastille Day: factor 30 has been applied. Retrospectively.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDbL5VNKFHdoF5V4HfKORGV7EId9pPOGl74pA8EpYDb0GuK5spfR9kumBz5TblPV9OhA1g6PJNfZ6BF7s_FfXdE3IF7lmYcuR-K5RDocPCsgZ2GgNl8VF68Jw0Sfivy9Ik7dFdhQmEBNs/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDbL5VNKFHdoF5V4HfKORGV7EId9pPOGl74pA8EpYDb0GuK5spfR9kumBz5TblPV9OhA1g6PJNfZ6BF7s_FfXdE3IF7lmYcuR-K5RDocPCsgZ2GgNl8VF68Jw0Sfivy9Ik7dFdhQmEBNs/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG" height="205" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Clean) socks are so last season.</td></tr>
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Suffered the by-now anticipated nav-pfaff: getting sent down paths more suited to MTBs etc...saw this fantastic looking tower while I swore at Calais & Garmin & my own inepitude...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKq_c3uA-oxLyei2kEEfO0ZMPSK65dCtsfTxpXL-IvzWPX5ULpOImQLp2oDXOGSPEEIdb1PMxDAtamNVUPXquF0il9urI2jrkBY981YrKemiQPditCL0AXGkUTL29xA36acON1fp00EZ9/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKq_c3uA-oxLyei2kEEfO0ZMPSK65dCtsfTxpXL-IvzWPX5ULpOImQLp2oDXOGSPEEIdb1PMxDAtamNVUPXquF0il9urI2jrkBY981YrKemiQPditCL0AXGkUTL29xA36acON1fp00EZ9/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" height="320" width="125" /></a></div>
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Eventually I got away on what looked like a decent track: the worst I had all day was a crosswind, so that is massive!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyruOz4kOqtT8vqagtGbOeZKJEs73JGcqdoo0eL7tz36BnPoIuCqjA5SEaAv8GCAYULsxZDrNOxv4YWPI9Sd0_BhiXEfTsieiG1d_hkQUQHzMzQx7wwH1ik1cXmKZ-yMeZPr0uLJvx_83w/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyruOz4kOqtT8vqagtGbOeZKJEs73JGcqdoo0eL7tz36BnPoIuCqjA5SEaAv8GCAYULsxZDrNOxv4YWPI9Sd0_BhiXEfTsieiG1d_hkQUQHzMzQx7wwH1ik1cXmKZ-yMeZPr0uLJvx_83w/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This'll do nicely.</td></tr>
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I didn't realise that it was Bastille Day until I happened across this band: they had a few veterans amongst their audience too. Funny how things dovetail sometimes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJHuHBNZnPdpuspPzowv_D7gRYkvJAAU8PTRuBEwLjNkUEX9F7eo8QLnnlsvNFUPLcCB-tIp3N2-aSse_am9_Duke4thl9Vm6nUgoNI_mNcuw8UMCTsbq108yX3rOrd7T9XHuFyIGh_qU/s1600/IMG_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJHuHBNZnPdpuspPzowv_D7gRYkvJAAU8PTRuBEwLjNkUEX9F7eo8QLnnlsvNFUPLcCB-tIp3N2-aSse_am9_Duke4thl9Vm6nUgoNI_mNcuw8UMCTsbq108yX3rOrd7T9XHuFyIGh_qU/s1600/IMG_0086.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Routemasters shouldn't have this indignity forced upon them!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmYs_kM8RKQvxCQLRC9F-cj8KOjFaiOJ3lStv-XT-ORX1APa2D-0UwrOcSkSvXKaC1nsb4wCz7AnJJ0jvnm12s4kXdaPoOqqKA-LUwv8mKs5PmG-lV4A4hQTuSW8HM0lV3EvI0mn9vgEx/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmYs_kM8RKQvxCQLRC9F-cj8KOjFaiOJ3lStv-XT-ORX1APa2D-0UwrOcSkSvXKaC1nsb4wCz7AnJJ0jvnm12s4kXdaPoOqqKA-LUwv8mKs5PmG-lV4A4hQTuSW8HM0lV3EvI0mn9vgEx/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yesterday you told me left, now it's right. Make up your mind!</td></tr>
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This fellow was having a ball: he was cycling away, talking loudly, "Oh, aren't you being a good boy? You're so quiet back there!" to all and sundry.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xUnDchGRU39PlCPKiiKZT-5HeaghlEYyRXHyITmmcRYUNqxfolQLJ6aMucNp2yadMUI0GDPMJQMuNvVxCz2jT-seC7kmFbI3VZYQkY1oueE5vSpl_rRFMLY5PBhyJ-ZPHepuHXUDKs8o/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xUnDchGRU39PlCPKiiKZT-5HeaghlEYyRXHyITmmcRYUNqxfolQLJ6aMucNp2yadMUI0GDPMJQMuNvVxCz2jT-seC7kmFbI3VZYQkY1oueE5vSpl_rRFMLY5PBhyJ-ZPHepuHXUDKs8o/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" height="271" width="400" /></a></div>
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This was a rolling terrain: I effing hate it...either give us a big climb or not, but make your effing mind up, hah-hah! I went for a re-route which would shave 10 miles off the distance but add 1000' to the climbing. Regardless, I was mightily chuffed when a proper cyclist coming the opposite direction downhill shouted at me, "Courage! Courage!". It's the little things that give you a gee-up, isn't it?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFB2wxdKqA2jVs3WKSZJ1esWaDr95sjtbBwv0CePjphPHmuGk3KIidg2FCa-iv7cVsAQuCKuwYQrHcWDFHoOaG_NQLsCwwwvR_VVK8FKZoZgPlH1dzVoi9jb-Ez28z_K1BlnwDYl_MxN4/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFB2wxdKqA2jVs3WKSZJ1esWaDr95sjtbBwv0CePjphPHmuGk3KIidg2FCa-iv7cVsAQuCKuwYQrHcWDFHoOaG_NQLsCwwwvR_VVK8FKZoZgPlH1dzVoi9jb-Ez28z_K1BlnwDYl_MxN4/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funky water tower.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJXcrDwjvgsJsnYYV3V3wzX0-JTJLAAl3OyfhsOHUszeM7oerFRZbsNyZUEw-Q85N1qnroI2RRC5evtFYi_GGaqC4v1bNuJuMcoCJCkDNGTD6-gAtR0hDNpmfkRDrkz8QJggV3gvrdvUs/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJXcrDwjvgsJsnYYV3V3wzX0-JTJLAAl3OyfhsOHUszeM7oerFRZbsNyZUEw-Q85N1qnroI2RRC5evtFYi_GGaqC4v1bNuJuMcoCJCkDNGTD6-gAtR0hDNpmfkRDrkz8QJggV3gvrdvUs/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" height="276" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need to have a word with my PR people. This isn't working!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemmTDqK5c8-9Y0wBAhzVP7WeIrkPNh991azLIjChoiYYZVAYzCwiZRnbuY0TVExq-0Ef8sIMqAICa2_btTv7ff_xzgrQiP4TlxpjOfaiiTUiwLugfd3SEjrLSr52e9rIUT5RNUbUTUEjq/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemmTDqK5c8-9Y0wBAhzVP7WeIrkPNh991azLIjChoiYYZVAYzCwiZRnbuY0TVExq-0Ef8sIMqAICa2_btTv7ff_xzgrQiP4TlxpjOfaiiTUiwLugfd3SEjrLSr52e9rIUT5RNUbUTUEjq/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" height="342" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheer class. And ferme!</td></tr>
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You couldn't fail to be aware that this was the ground where so many people were killed and injured in the Great War that began 100 years ago. As I made progress through Arras and beyond, it was a bit chilling to look at the corn and wheat fields and imagine the horrors that went before.</div>
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The French haven't forgotten either: far from it and I saw a few Union Flags flown alongside Le Tricolour. I even got a little applause and a few shouts thanks to the RBL cycling jersey as I rolled on through a couple of villages.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2UrH1lWtgDLNjjwdUx6VeITdQ9x8ocOPy6XL5w3yXPG0T8Am-o7KOsCIvGZoPfowPCySNtOFYBg23e0KBEdvNOAnvsce85-7ANuzkSs72zidOSz26038wkO_l9CkBSQJOP4Lmf21Tne9/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2UrH1lWtgDLNjjwdUx6VeITdQ9x8ocOPy6XL5w3yXPG0T8Am-o7KOsCIvGZoPfowPCySNtOFYBg23e0KBEdvNOAnvsce85-7ANuzkSs72zidOSz26038wkO_l9CkBSQJOP4Lmf21Tne9/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It still means something around these parts.</td></tr>
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It wasn't until I stopped at one of the memorials that you begin to have an idea of the scale: there were churches along the route with military graveyards. All in immaculate order. </div>
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Back on the road again and an amazed to see more lunatic 'Town Twining'...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEDAcVomHO47vMpx3y88bMuIJVAlDxZxWnNvGJAWiohC32Se0qVudD8f-eDcy_Yck9Pms2zmC051mF_BL75yMIzPmC6wwDYzt4S5PiDMAWdLGr8vWvR-HeYYUQrIqkn_sOC-YSLFQB32b/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEDAcVomHO47vMpx3y88bMuIJVAlDxZxWnNvGJAWiohC32Se0qVudD8f-eDcy_Yck9Pms2zmC051mF_BL75yMIzPmC6wwDYzt4S5PiDMAWdLGr8vWvR-HeYYUQrIqkn_sOC-YSLFQB32b/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" height="276" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peronne = Ewood Park?<br />
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Followed by more memorials to Canadian and Australian forces, plus the occasional road-reminder:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClgug0FcB9MGZkheqOPxojvGuHEO1aC0XLBWPDVvSOr4L6jYIEFZ9b8LQkj39HW0wbs0ET-G43_aoUozeDee1BCvb057mHa63ASPWtRRNvrvSB8Ko1ISDcQMNEUck1YoB5PnE_f9Toh1O/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClgug0FcB9MGZkheqOPxojvGuHEO1aC0XLBWPDVvSOr4L6jYIEFZ9b8LQkj39HW0wbs0ET-G43_aoUozeDee1BCvb057mHa63ASPWtRRNvrvSB8Ko1ISDcQMNEUck1YoB5PnE_f9Toh1O/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" height="201" width="400" /></a></div>
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The final 10 miles were a blast through ridiculously lovely roads...prior to wasting 20 minures looking for the flamin' Ibis!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VtCFXoNfau0S_y1r8gKBrctPybRC94XEWwnwMmCD9krXEH6IKrMSOo10yAmxbLs1gRbLChCT_YzFPmgG-siWqR8TdiRH8uwKKXvPlUhyphenhyphenI2P0JS8wCtdzTCITblA1u0scHVdu3XdTshyphenhyphenn/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VtCFXoNfau0S_y1r8gKBrctPybRC94XEWwnwMmCD9krXEH6IKrMSOo10yAmxbLs1gRbLChCT_YzFPmgG-siWqR8TdiRH8uwKKXvPlUhyphenhyphenI2P0JS8wCtdzTCITblA1u0scHVdu3XdTshyphenhyphenn/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" height="400" width="341" /></a></div>
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...however, nothing beats the taste of this number! An outrageously excellent brew, and thoroughly deserved. Well, a bit... </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fz_hG81aPOXIWpwPA0TdukklMlxh8RaOYmAH4p2g13RJ3Do5Za3sk_MBJPHC0xG0uPzyExgxlXhN8UTloO-V6JRlgb0XMD5AIUMsi24NqpgAoo9i6Vun59_BvdQizlWj96XWNayvS783/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fz_hG81aPOXIWpwPA0TdukklMlxh8RaOYmAH4p2g13RJ3Do5Za3sk_MBJPHC0xG0uPzyExgxlXhN8UTloO-V6JRlgb0XMD5AIUMsi24NqpgAoo9i6Vun59_BvdQizlWj96XWNayvS783/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" height="325" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably the best cider in the world. Certainly felt like it, hah-hah!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/541470230" target="_blank">Click here for BASTILLE DAY NOMBRES!</a></div>
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While we're here, and I know that I say this quite a bit, but a massive thank you to you generous types who have donated to these causes. Good on you.</div>
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<b>I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
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To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-22289885047561642052014-07-13T22:40:00.001+01:002014-08-07T19:53:50.119+01:00Exodus...Stage 3: R.A.H to Dover.Struggled to think of anything more apt for today's mission to allez to Calais! Actually, stuff apt...it's a great tune anytime!<br />
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Must admit that I could have slept on a bit this morning but the lure of an Imperial College metrically-measured out Full English (Full? You're having a laugh!) was simply too great to resist...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrnGZXKGJAPA0GWBLEXoVGpoLcgT4ZQ7a3aR6a2z1baVxcVR7vaAWBZS6u7Jc9AX_KwWL3ETjwHvPNrfpIedyA-k62Wf-KeflrtCHXCY-d2SOpYzgsSV1bhDqs3-cTSKmMSd9262Sq315/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrnGZXKGJAPA0GWBLEXoVGpoLcgT4ZQ7a3aR6a2z1baVxcVR7vaAWBZS6u7Jc9AX_KwWL3ETjwHvPNrfpIedyA-k62Wf-KeflrtCHXCY-d2SOpYzgsSV1bhDqs3-cTSKmMSd9262Sq315/s1600/3.JPG" height="396" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No sign of Liz.</td></tr>
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Mind you, today was a rest day really, and I am on holiday so bollocks to it...a-sauntering it will be! Actually it was a struggle getting set on the right course out of London, seeing as how a load of charity do-gooder types were generally disrupting the traffic. They make my blood boil...<br />
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I did get to ride down The Mall which is something that I have wanted to do for ever. Must admit that that is a bit sad really, although I almost managed to wing a couple of tourists too...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhjs6x4AUTwdhRlAdTI_uhHk7Y8kilaRk734T1UrsgpsmqZWZDGEBJDE7gl3wHI0MHKufQz4sAya8a5xlk8L-h3V5X28IG8QWSrxy9VfDyOF5xpOCvHtDXWoIofst8cmzXkE61i4xqfec/s1600/IMG_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhjs6x4AUTwdhRlAdTI_uhHk7Y8kilaRk734T1UrsgpsmqZWZDGEBJDE7gl3wHI0MHKufQz4sAya8a5xlk8L-h3V5X28IG8QWSrxy9VfDyOF5xpOCvHtDXWoIofst8cmzXkE61i4xqfec/s1600/IMG_0044.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine. All mine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIj9DItXFVZ2a2qpF79EpnWbhAOzCixs57-_MpiZe2TcGERdVOlHHJRiKeOdg1BBZ5mgaBSiEyGx_I29zLhyphenhyphenks5uzF2_eVei5Zsf5Vg2IA5bz__rqMG7FyhkBHN2c7NWC2fI3H6uoJJvRn/s1600/IMG_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIj9DItXFVZ2a2qpF79EpnWbhAOzCixs57-_MpiZe2TcGERdVOlHHJRiKeOdg1BBZ5mgaBSiEyGx_I29zLhyphenhyphenks5uzF2_eVei5Zsf5Vg2IA5bz__rqMG7FyhkBHN2c7NWC2fI3H6uoJJvRn/s1600/IMG_0050.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just missing Alan Beresford B'Stard MP.</td></tr>
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I was the only cyclist on the A2 for the whole day, at least until about 5 miles from Dover. Like yesterday, Gawd bless The Romans: no muss, no fuss...let's go!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1YgmQshVWxPpOPFjNShfWKqjJ_nK9RquBX7rww5XuZTpAumm4_TDBb8CUQi8-T1JuLLLJMJWlhaFP06cVAsQd5FHX9_xSZDqccTs6MpTfUC452ydIHbxUowYApKmB15eYgeWoHc_5T7p/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1YgmQshVWxPpOPFjNShfWKqjJ_nK9RquBX7rww5XuZTpAumm4_TDBb8CUQi8-T1JuLLLJMJWlhaFP06cVAsQd5FHX9_xSZDqccTs6MpTfUC452ydIHbxUowYApKmB15eYgeWoHc_5T7p/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden? You sure? To be fair I did see a Dobbies later on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16R5bJ_6IiIRSxJ2onB8Yhi7p0O29XF7XFDYmvuVzZb3NDHLXcxheTnPlVbIVWWtZH0EVghbRdaO_XxQZV_Ar7wZLcCdPCT_kkKUn9L1sbeR_aEEzm_UhyIr2sbkOwoCWUP0j7tlthqkA/s1600/IMG_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16R5bJ_6IiIRSxJ2onB8Yhi7p0O29XF7XFDYmvuVzZb3NDHLXcxheTnPlVbIVWWtZH0EVghbRdaO_XxQZV_Ar7wZLcCdPCT_kkKUn9L1sbeR_aEEzm_UhyIr2sbkOwoCWUP0j7tlthqkA/s1600/IMG_0052.JPG" height="400" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No. Me neither.</td></tr>
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The holiday theme continued when I met up with my sister and her entourage just outside Canterbury (a big thank you to Sue for a superbly generous donation!) for a pub lunch. This is what cycling should be like, hah-hah!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4el3-rx5tUidD-4KKr7kkwc6mCDQPON6mw7WEuwmlFELx2KHw3MR0m0gTHd11waiP_iJPGlf9Jtxa5jYcvHvgK4Iq0UoMMFzbuXZVoseylNO5tKlr7iDN1jjpHukRyQI8W9x9DSKQW5cK/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4el3-rx5tUidD-4KKr7kkwc6mCDQPON6mw7WEuwmlFELx2KHw3MR0m0gTHd11waiP_iJPGlf9Jtxa5jYcvHvgK4Iq0UoMMFzbuXZVoseylNO5tKlr7iDN1jjpHukRyQI8W9x9DSKQW5cK/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" height="287" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A big old thank you to Claire for Sunday lunch. I could've stayed a while longer!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eRNbOOi8MmdF2DaUH3VT4kBmADk3GS8lo_LRzxzbEt20dgDzmRyq1eIkK2QoDx0hUbYIh1WfmC2_pRbZEZ4PUGunlk5ZZeLo0nSa1AVI1A3qv-kv4gmPmhlh8GHFP4ZQ_vPelC_ikcr4/s1600/IMG_0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eRNbOOi8MmdF2DaUH3VT4kBmADk3GS8lo_LRzxzbEt20dgDzmRyq1eIkK2QoDx0hUbYIh1WfmC2_pRbZEZ4PUGunlk5ZZeLo0nSa1AVI1A3qv-kv4gmPmhlh8GHFP4ZQ_vPelC_ikcr4/s1600/IMG_0057.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Timed it right: a biblical David Gower ,followed by the water evaporating.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0VYpHArgj1C-YCxRyn6oQGW38REZdyhFCaw5XFF7mXNN61U978BprwEQeN0iGmzcBiVBe721AE7sn2Crqim37Y9WZfyAOqyBc4AdQNtv7SstafGCfMxSJs5jjTOyOkE0vXQCOhQgGx9W/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0VYpHArgj1C-YCxRyn6oQGW38REZdyhFCaw5XFF7mXNN61U978BprwEQeN0iGmzcBiVBe721AE7sn2Crqim37Y9WZfyAOqyBc4AdQNtv7SstafGCfMxSJs5jjTOyOkE0vXQCOhQgGx9W/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hang on, we're leaving the country now: a bit late in the day to be telling me?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdg1KfBUTpH_XoZNgWSHNlcCYofs61vl3sY856Qnee_9W3-cM2Z4EPXLumvqJDoJ6p3Nd5izagIosdy56vRCr1sdIor8AGlUtiOeMEmIgrvurDSkKsr5czR3XsvXrQaoFwLVK3mxxZ04X/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdg1KfBUTpH_XoZNgWSHNlcCYofs61vl3sY856Qnee_9W3-cM2Z4EPXLumvqJDoJ6p3Nd5izagIosdy56vRCr1sdIor8AGlUtiOeMEmIgrvurDSkKsr5czR3XsvXrQaoFwLVK3mxxZ04X/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG" height="203" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only cyclist that I saw all day. Keep rolling, brother...</td></tr>
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This left only 20 miles to Dover and those famous white cliffs. It never ceases to amaze just how many people (nevermind freight) to and fro between the UK and Yerup. Good to see.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVN8c5XBAOm39xKMsTmYRK2nRcXpz0vFG3QS0LmtXJig0MqmJb0T_in46CuDQAWOMd7pVwVuOLitt3RUihHF3f5F8dsKeLF9dd7eYXSA89-djzAC4V6DNhW9mY2QvzKFDR8hNotKS_-uE/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVN8c5XBAOm39xKMsTmYRK2nRcXpz0vFG3QS0LmtXJig0MqmJb0T_in46CuDQAWOMd7pVwVuOLitt3RUihHF3f5F8dsKeLF9dd7eYXSA89-djzAC4V6DNhW9mY2QvzKFDR8hNotKS_-uE/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is nothing not to like in this photo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE9XHTN7basfadq5DkUTMvxZavW1vzRDnaqlQsM9lfJmrn0yfWstchouHREuMorVkeqvD2mfxUj9BQNJn1fziM2H2VjIPNlt5JcdrB3BXE6bz76Fbqz2o14IGbb3LIjTrwRoh_tBlj-AR/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE9XHTN7basfadq5DkUTMvxZavW1vzRDnaqlQsM9lfJmrn0yfWstchouHREuMorVkeqvD2mfxUj9BQNJn1fziM2H2VjIPNlt5JcdrB3BXE6bz76Fbqz2o14IGbb3LIjTrwRoh_tBlj-AR/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My arse.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbl6_bgAS3cp1iyFDpCra4Dg3w1xAEH53Fnp0gJN3gCbxI3cUR8k5yt6kvb3Ldy_2tBJhDFkI4WmpKPa-10F5g50-8SBI1PWLHV6bgRU9dya1V4LyuWVb6ZRKOGjvrSdFuFr1kZ98AMDY/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbl6_bgAS3cp1iyFDpCra4Dg3w1xAEH53Fnp0gJN3gCbxI3cUR8k5yt6kvb3Ldy_2tBJhDFkI4WmpKPa-10F5g50-8SBI1PWLHV6bgRU9dya1V4LyuWVb6ZRKOGjvrSdFuFr1kZ98AMDY/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"They'll be bluebirds over the P&O terminal..."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GI0W7dN8iJbCatPmx_-7stKVpcvKulZjNHoaBQUl45y-xzo_QJubtz-TrxilF9wxr0nIeEy2QLCNXuAra1hr3oSsNdLn3_hRSzxqpiW248wrrLLofCkPqKEf5cz0kU1Mn_gAoLJgt6eU/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GI0W7dN8iJbCatPmx_-7stKVpcvKulZjNHoaBQUl45y-xzo_QJubtz-TrxilF9wxr0nIeEy2QLCNXuAra1hr3oSsNdLn3_hRSzxqpiW248wrrLLofCkPqKEf5cz0kU1Mn_gAoLJgt6eU/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belgique headbangers/chartered surveyors.</td></tr>
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So here ends a lazy Sunday, watching the WC final with commentary en francais. Still miles better than Townsend & Tyldesley, hah-hah!. Malarkey awaits tomorrow...see you then!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQuplnX5nXa4mE9Xp9vaLQf4OtxZ86cGHpcZti_hgXzf0FHMhyQA8z4doRukkqXCUfEF0FETK7M-eYA6ddI0INOiN7QdTnjiicxxI5kIeDi1t8E_hyht5x7qYcg8R4AXwk-1kBspWfgVR/s1600/IMG_0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQuplnX5nXa4mE9Xp9vaLQf4OtxZ86cGHpcZti_hgXzf0FHMhyQA8z4doRukkqXCUfEF0FETK7M-eYA6ddI0INOiN7QdTnjiicxxI5kIeDi1t8E_hyht5x7qYcg8R4AXwk-1kBspWfgVR/s1600/IMG_0070.JPG" height="400" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta say, top grub onboard P & O's finest. Cheers!</td></tr>
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While we're here, and I know that I say this quite a bit, but a massive thank you to you generous types who have donated to these causes. Good on you!</div>
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/540914879" target="_blank">LAZY SUNDAY STATS...CLICK HERE!</a></div>
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<b>I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-33162540229300469182014-07-12T23:31:00.001+01:002014-07-30T20:05:24.886+01:00What have The Romans ever done for us? Stage 2: Rugeley to the R.A.H.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Here at last! Blogness ahoy...</div>
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Still quality. I salud their arrow-straight roads...that's what! On with the tale of the day...<br />
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A welcome full English and wagons roll for day 2...weather is already fantastic! I don't think that I'll be cycling on roads like this for too much longer...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorta wakes you up when some loon comes steaming down the track.</td></tr>
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Call it a coincidence or serendipity or blind ignorance, but I had no clue that the RBL's National Memorial Arboretum was close at hand. Unfortunately I had zero time to spare to visit it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some other time, I hope.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, it is the 12th day of July.</td></tr>
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The initial plan (yeah, I'm as surprised as you that the merest semblance of any planning might have gone into this) was to be met by Andy and also Martin, who would've been coming up from the south coast to RV. In the event neither of these shirkers weighed-in. Disgrace. Nah, child care/family cobblers ranks slightly above being given a shoeing on the A5! I don't have kids but even I was trying to think of an excuse myself...</div>
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I elected to ride the A5 because it would shave 10 miles off the day: I knew that it is a fast road but I had no problems from either HGVs or civilians.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always a welcome sign when your destination is under a ton to go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep moving. There's nothing to see here.</td></tr>
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It was certainly a tad warm at times: between 75-85F...Evian & Volvic did a steady trade, as did Yahoo chocolate milk. That's living alright!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HGV.</td></tr>
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A slight navigational pfaff let me see this nonsnese in a village called Crick. No, really.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzXns5__FTgmjHofwQyWTyqZFTI1tMiGpPK5OImznnJOnDhECgnP6iVBtMYk4sx2VkpoOEShQ0O1kRKKUZhBaRAFhLKbU8z4-yEf4TMLRMHznUk3yo1MUJn67J9DuvNgoETJNlBAzefyC/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzXns5__FTgmjHofwQyWTyqZFTI1tMiGpPK5OImznnJOnDhECgnP6iVBtMYk4sx2VkpoOEShQ0O1kRKKUZhBaRAFhLKbU8z4-yEf4TMLRMHznUk3yo1MUJn67J9DuvNgoETJNlBAzefyC/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And to think that I used to watch that cobblers...<br />
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From the A5 it was onto the Watling Road and then the interminable rumble/crawl through London to tonight's cosmopolitan acco in Imperial College. Pretty close to one of my favourite venues too...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A unique venue. Just don't get thirsty!</td></tr>
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I wish that I had the energy to go to Hyde Park to see Neil Young but it just ain't a go-er. With any luck I may be able to hear the old curmudgeon! Sleep well...I know that I will. Cheers!</div>
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/539990779" target="_blank">DAY TWO'S ROMAN NUMERALS!</a></div>
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<b>I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-68453378980902551562014-07-11T22:47:00.000+01:002014-07-30T20:02:21.810+01:00Werewolves Of London...Stage 1: Warton to Rugeley.Yeah, yeah...title song doesn't have today's destination but if you have ever seen 'An American Werewolf In London' then it might click...either way, this is a belter! I can't recommend Zevon highly enough.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iDpYBT0XyvA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Wagons roll at 1100...a very early departure made possible by the kettle-phobic Tony Eason, who was kind enough to come in early to cover for me. Greatly appreciated, mate. Mind you, he probably left early too, ahem...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi2lsaQF2oK9HFK6jPpRIrV6WKY2J08GuUdlCLg-eObOvCg_puHRtXJZjlwrBnRRJi6u1eAmDgPa1-B2RlN5Y_TG3JvJfiB6usHVVFnBx0VzGSWSFWiXJFh4lpr4b_ncz8IfAME941ClL/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi2lsaQF2oK9HFK6jPpRIrV6WKY2J08GuUdlCLg-eObOvCg_puHRtXJZjlwrBnRRJi6u1eAmDgPa1-B2RlN5Y_TG3JvJfiB6usHVVFnBx0VzGSWSFWiXJFh4lpr4b_ncz8IfAME941ClL/s1600/1.JPG" height="385" width="640" /></a></div>
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Usual nause of trying to work your way down through sunny Lancashire (no, really it was super weather) against dodgy surfaces, traffic lights and death-wish pedestrians. Mind you, if you lived in Wigan...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2fNQnhfAnU_8wajDjPDezb6-ytCYI3eRzXip5IBpQ7EEuzUrC-s_BDzTYU-EkZ2ARoOslm07ysN_iwsJSdmT3uPdUdCpQ9oAEqkQKUMrl37Nr-aB7SqEL7Lb97m6DOuz8NbaVtLKvp6j/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2fNQnhfAnU_8wajDjPDezb6-ytCYI3eRzXip5IBpQ7EEuzUrC-s_BDzTYU-EkZ2ARoOslm07ysN_iwsJSdmT3uPdUdCpQ9oAEqkQKUMrl37Nr-aB7SqEL7Lb97m6DOuz8NbaVtLKvp6j/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" height="261" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry George, I'm sticking with the Pre-Fab Four </td></tr>
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The perennial Curse Of Wigan struck again with a puncture just south of the place: hope that it's my last one for a while. Just before that my sunglasses pretty much fell in half. Mind you, we weren't talking Oakleys here, hah-hah!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEfXgM_Xf0G_OFj1IlXx5i0Yzf8avNwHWfthkNHN8BwvlNZ4j71dT5rZK-c4Asc8NtSLWthB-VRmSgT13InXn2YTnbNqA5LW41njGSALNwxLY8lyFpNw6vmsr4Q-A7O4us369rx6krbch/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEfXgM_Xf0G_OFj1IlXx5i0Yzf8avNwHWfthkNHN8BwvlNZ4j71dT5rZK-c4Asc8NtSLWthB-VRmSgT13InXn2YTnbNqA5LW41njGSALNwxLY8lyFpNw6vmsr4Q-A7O4us369rx6krbch/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" height="262" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It ain't really some poor sod's driveway. Honest.</td></tr>
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All ok after that if a little slow but that's alright in Friday rush-hour traffic. Gotta love the ingenuity of this Heath Robinson toll:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGis0SvaRHYiwpBfCXirx8sPr2rEm0CP4ofmiCPiovYftR1klKWWirtxBnBqzwqeHlA-KATphPWzcCrgeqEouLWYPczibRon3B53nAY9kEaniewRD1ATSEM2W0HzVk3nLMPXr_KwPrQPjv/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGis0SvaRHYiwpBfCXirx8sPr2rEm0CP4ofmiCPiovYftR1klKWWirtxBnBqzwqeHlA-KATphPWzcCrgeqEouLWYPczibRon3B53nAY9kEaniewRD1ATSEM2W0HzVk3nLMPXr_KwPrQPjv/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plus I didn't have to cough up. Result!</td></tr>
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Stoke was another highlight as ever: although it did provide a worthwhile inspiration to get a wiggle on and get to tonight's acco!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once traffic died down it was pretty nice on the run in to Rugeley...</td></tr>
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To be fair, I was ready to climb off the bike when 'The Shoulder' was in sight...it really is a locals' number, hence a couple of double-takes when this lycra monstrosity strode in. Maybe it was that unique and indescribable aroma too, hah-hah!<br />
Actually a very hospitable number with good grub and ale so no dramas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrUq9fahPfq0QuRLqO8w6nQSDFnGMHg1Gk2WXuxKN90hiEAQvvBZySew_Cf52mX3nHWrJ0EqLOS-4y_JKt1IzBhyiRpVA-JszoASM3Z82u1d-w3Zj6kWkS31bSxxIUpRPgaOPSVlev8gM/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrUq9fahPfq0QuRLqO8w6nQSDFnGMHg1Gk2WXuxKN90hiEAQvvBZySew_Cf52mX3nHWrJ0EqLOS-4y_JKt1IzBhyiRpVA-JszoASM3Z82u1d-w3Zj6kWkS31bSxxIUpRPgaOPSVlev8gM/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To be fair, there aren't any moors around here to keep clear of!</td></tr>
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Alright then, that's it for stage one...safely does it. Big, bad day tomorrow but all being well, I'll waste some band-width posting more nonsense. Bet on it...cheers!<br />
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/539243014" target="_blank">TODAY'S STATS BROUGHT TO YOU BY CAPT. SLOW!</a></div>
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<b>I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-16253478809543936472014-07-10T18:00:00.001+01:002014-07-10T22:27:24.459+01:00Yorkshire! Yorkshire!Last weekend saw a small bike race begin in Leeds- you probably won't have heard very much about it, if anything at all. To say that the crowd numbers and atmosphere exceeded pretty much everyone's expectations would be under-selling the event!<br />
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I was perched on top of Buttertubs Pass along with 10,000 other fans, and the parade of Tour promotional vehicles eventually signalled that things were happening. These fantastically gaudy contraptions will throw out freebies/tat occasionally and I was lucky enough(?) to have one of these fetching caps chucked in my direction.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAtrJ678SmVptqKsd_fowtm9Wd1HgwF2QXL4aaUrH0nOO-dbx38JPzcDc-FE4o5XxTzT7WDf75sNbp6Mny_563a5o7o6oxxNKQqkBL7GKQPVw6gG9R9phiN876CD98xXKMFVuUlcWyQCv/s1600/IMG_0326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAtrJ678SmVptqKsd_fowtm9Wd1HgwF2QXL4aaUrH0nOO-dbx38JPzcDc-FE4o5XxTzT7WDf75sNbp6Mny_563a5o7o6oxxNKQqkBL7GKQPVw6gG9R9phiN876CD98xXKMFVuUlcWyQCv/s1600/IMG_0326.JPG" height="262" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red polka dots are worn by the King Of The Mountain. Oh dear.</td></tr>
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My day was made when the first rider hoved into view...it was only Mr Jens Voight whose mantra of 'Shut Up Legs' was nicked for the title of this blog, and is the oldest rider in the Tour de France this year. It is also his farewell TdF so he took great delight in making himself suffer alone in one of his trademark breakaways and he got a terrific reception and encouragement all along the route...at least until the bunch caught him. Le Tour will miss him, for sure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHHYcBvxwLV0S7Z3gvfHtrJU8_UnDAt0qlLjhwQhyphenhyphenc1D31eCF1U0WIUW3J_11Wj8kTqiNzrAxCFXosiotleD7sQvvamwlYoMsfe0r9oFiRh09Zet2KwkCOtoY9GpWZha4dANGaJQ_ByL-/s1600/IMG_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHHYcBvxwLV0S7Z3gvfHtrJU8_UnDAt0qlLjhwQhyphenhyphenc1D31eCF1U0WIUW3J_11Wj8kTqiNzrAxCFXosiotleD7sQvvamwlYoMsfe0r9oFiRh09Zet2KwkCOtoY9GpWZha4dANGaJQ_ByL-/s1600/IMG_1462.JPG" height="296" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jens Voight. I assume that he has already instructed his legs to suffer in silence.</td></tr>
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Not all that far behind came the main bunch which contained all the usual suspects (except one Sir Brad Wiggins...) including the Manx Missile, Mark Cavendish.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuISuEnJnWBd8M36ycbDB95mDzJs3PdUr3KgkYONrNYnCEMA7FSEwpTb0Iy_Wrd4D8zyS_QoN2Njt7Dan1JQzPuM5Q-892nDV2MsgKU1XJyrniVIjUut-82UpHJ4y3nsV1XHj4CXG_JkR/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuISuEnJnWBd8M36ycbDB95mDzJs3PdUr3KgkYONrNYnCEMA7FSEwpTb0Iy_Wrd4D8zyS_QoN2Njt7Dan1JQzPuM5Q-892nDV2MsgKU1XJyrniVIjUut-82UpHJ4y3nsV1XHj4CXG_JkR/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" height="400" width="381" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cav looks like he enjoys hills almost as much as I do.</td></tr>
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The day ended badly for Cav as we know. The following morning at York racecourse saw the riders saddle up again for a fairly horrible stage which would end in Sheffield. At the time, this fella looked fairly relaxed and content with his lot...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsSI-N7uYbTFezIsYw5fzQ7z2nfvkJf8AX9A8jalPzKyEoSLP6ETf2uX7KSu6ctWX5e_9SHO_ejARB2CA71p_zGeHmAGd0DeAZNAf8mFe1UfFFzRDONN8MXCPRV2h_9ULUqV6f-o9OO4W/s1600/IMG_1664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsSI-N7uYbTFezIsYw5fzQ7z2nfvkJf8AX9A8jalPzKyEoSLP6ETf2uX7KSu6ctWX5e_9SHO_ejARB2CA71p_zGeHmAGd0DeAZNAf8mFe1UfFFzRDONN8MXCPRV2h_9ULUqV6f-o9OO4W/s1600/IMG_1664.JPG" height="400" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tour favourite, Chris Froome in happier moments at York...</td></tr>
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I was able to catch another view of the race up above Rochdale: it's a lot of hanging around for something that passes so quickly, but it's definitely worth the effort. These guys do not hang around!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Lu-l7wqHejtkrPrllSFkyVxT-0Boxoc8KJuGG_bHM4Jifadsybneba4N1cZM1WNTyb1mj2hm19asUn2k0thn_rkUEbh0wxGal8GjA8kUK6mZg2T7tjWI2J9kXmTbXHgJMEjeEWMpepNT/s1600/IMG_1758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Lu-l7wqHejtkrPrllSFkyVxT-0Boxoc8KJuGG_bHM4Jifadsybneba4N1cZM1WNTyb1mj2hm19asUn2k0thn_rkUEbh0wxGal8GjA8kUK6mZg2T7tjWI2J9kXmTbXHgJMEjeEWMpepNT/s1600/IMG_1758.JPG" height="350" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No matter where you went, the support was incredible. Wow!</td></tr>
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As we now know, Chris Froome's TdF has also ended badly. You have to feel for anyone who has put so much effort into preparation to defend his title only to have it ended so abruptly. Mark Cavendish could empathise...<br />
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Speaking of preparation, and on the basis that "it's never too late", I cycled over to Leeds for an overnight stop to see Pearl Jam play what turned-out to be a 3 1/2 hour show!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuA6Xx1ypGyfYapqLMZLrcrMDxJdOTO-F5cHh2tWP9zXmGqswtWnPnUF53u3hz1sesXvwQmue9goSovOB1RVuXtcTOvFUuNNlJIUMM8sV5R05lFRQ2L1z0k2E7tCEzgRy52splC4aqUVV/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuA6Xx1ypGyfYapqLMZLrcrMDxJdOTO-F5cHh2tWP9zXmGqswtWnPnUF53u3hz1sesXvwQmue9goSovOB1RVuXtcTOvFUuNNlJIUMM8sV5R05lFRQ2L1z0k2E7tCEzgRy52splC4aqUVV/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monsoon season in Nelson.</td></tr>
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Their front-man is a pretty big Who fan too so it wasn't a complete surprise when the band played a cover...but then ended-up playing three songs by The Bush's finest. Excellent! Plus Eddie Vedder went on his backside during the clip below, hah-hah!<br />
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My forays into social media continue: this week, The Pub Landlord aka Al Murray eventually caved in to my relentless pestering and re-tweeted my appeal on his Twitter account.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWC8P7D0w7pkW0ttfsFiXdsg48ryJ1XLyoRxKZKNLvcYwiBRjfgiJNKxzdSRB73A0rNNND_H8gy0Ypol_6fJaHFOiGCPP_wnenWBKH0zJkGo-Xehl2ex_80h-SC6gpcIXRO6CVLnOEHeAB/s1600/Al.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWC8P7D0w7pkW0ttfsFiXdsg48ryJ1XLyoRxKZKNLvcYwiBRjfgiJNKxzdSRB73A0rNNND_H8gy0Ypol_6fJaHFOiGCPP_wnenWBKH0zJkGo-Xehl2ex_80h-SC6gpcIXRO6CVLnOEHeAB/s1600/Al.JPG" height="195" width="320" /></a></div>
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As you can just make out, almost 30,000 people read this RT. The bad news is that only 9 people read either the blog or had a look at my JustGiving site. And precisely zero donations were made as a result. Arse!<br />
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In other news, one of the alumnus from last year's 'The Italian Job' bike ride was minded to tackle three ascents of Mont Ventoux (not Venotux, ahem...) a fortnight back. John's super effort was captured by his (much) better half Sue...take a look at clip that was filmed near to the summit on one of his climbs:<br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/s_vi/nLvG1sbxpz4/default.jpg?sqp=CMzK-Z0F&rs=AOn4CLAHnj3mCcQd_ECXCs7PFqB3v5NHeA" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/nLvG1sbxpz4?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/nLvG1sbxpz4?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Hmmm, a tad breezy might just about cover it! Fair to say that this is no cake-walk...</span></div>
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There have been a ton of very generous donations to both causes and I am very, very grateful to everyone who has taken the time and trouble to do so. There is one donation that I will highlight here: today I was given a cheque for £500 from the Heritage Centre at BAE Systems in Warton.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3BHHftwmVDgWpBIjmBeKBbM4SMyNcG_-PeANPpiLu_9o8i7aC86h39XlA8vpI71ul6Ki4fgbLAbB9r-4UYuXCWTMvhvwWeO-06v1909n2LhiRMCGba6uwQlgyx_L-q863_Q50QtpJS-q/s1600/IMG_0337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3BHHftwmVDgWpBIjmBeKBbM4SMyNcG_-PeANPpiLu_9o8i7aC86h39XlA8vpI71ul6Ki4fgbLAbB9r-4UYuXCWTMvhvwWeO-06v1909n2LhiRMCGba6uwQlgyx_L-q863_Q50QtpJS-q/s1600/IMG_0337.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How good is that? Cheque's great too.</td></tr>
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This came about following the sad passing-on of one the volunteers who ran the centre, Mr Keith Spong. This gent was a champion of two charities, the North West Air Ambulance and also the Royal British Legion and there was a considerable sum of money raised in honour of Keith's memory. </div>
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Word about my bike ride reached the Heritage staff and as a result I was presented with a lovely big cheque earlier today and this has been paid into the RBL appeal which means we now stand at around £1300 for both causes!</div>
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Anyway, I set-off tomorrow so if you would like to sponsor me please, please follow the links below. You know it makes sense!</div>
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<b>I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span></div>
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-14250328569443369022014-06-28T19:08:00.003+01:002014-07-01T15:21:41.367+01:00"Chain...get us up the mountain! (over and over)"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I know that Apple products won't play YouTube stuff right off the bat, which means all you see is a blank canvas below and miss out on a tune that you'll know pretty well anyway...you'll have the same effect if you can hum Mac's 'The Chain' to yourself while you speed-read this nonsense.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">With 12 (that's twelve, repeat twelve) days to go and counting, it's about time to dot the i's and cross the t's admin-wise. That includes replacing any suspect parts on the bike (excepting me) so as a result it now has a new chainset, chain and brake blocks. It is also about a pound lighter since it was washed, hah-hah!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of weight, at last some has left me...4 kgs, which is good news but I still want the scales to tell me that another 3 kgs has departed, albeit on a short-term deal. (Note to the proprietors of The Ashiana and the Wesham Chippy: I know that you've had to issue a profits warning for Q2 and lay staff off but trust me...things are gonna pick-up big time in August!)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd1TtPZ03Pj-k4a3nL96X64T6rPx9_CyBS2vXxk5wg3pdXx8Pq0N6w5mPDVbXQa2WAIzurixBw7RUVLnAZIGEr3LrXeRIMTI0EQEsKifXUb-7BD6vzpe-DjT2Ax5C8cnjyDWeW7fvtss1/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd1TtPZ03Pj-k4a3nL96X64T6rPx9_CyBS2vXxk5wg3pdXx8Pq0N6w5mPDVbXQa2WAIzurixBw7RUVLnAZIGEr3LrXeRIMTI0EQEsKifXUb-7BD6vzpe-DjT2Ax5C8cnjyDWeW7fvtss1/s1600/IMG_0069.JPG" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoping that this new chain & chainset are up to it. At least more so than me!</td></tr>
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Another important part of the admin arrived from the organisers of the 'Club Des Cingles Du Mont-Ventoux': the bit of card that you carry with you during the challenge and get stamped at the bottom and top of the mountain so that you have some proof that you were actually stupid enough to attempt it! They even include a little plate that you attach to your bike just to mark you out as an imbecile, just in case it wasn't already obvious. Very thoughtful, those French...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwysRsC1udd86jWpgqvnzLm0Eloo7bdBxboy4zj5bpgJ_PPk9AQCxJM5SJTm0BzXDzzSZvpMmcViRyKGuSK1AD4NhcALIOsBjuP89hcC-TKDXtEg-w6xSCGoSM1MRrMQnq3f_lJoLlqKRg/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwysRsC1udd86jWpgqvnzLm0Eloo7bdBxboy4zj5bpgJ_PPk9AQCxJM5SJTm0BzXDzzSZvpMmcViRyKGuSK1AD4NhcALIOsBjuP89hcC-TKDXtEg-w6xSCGoSM1MRrMQnq3f_lJoLlqKRg/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" height="336" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wanna end up with a fully stamped card!</td></tr>
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In previous years there has usually been a team or event cycling jersey but since this challenge has a more 'select' demographic (read 'stupid'), I've gone down the budget route and had a couple of commemorative t-shirts knocked up, bit like wot that Stella McCartney sort would. This year's theme was 'basic & functional'. And 'cheap'.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvaATXPIIqHsPqMf4MoEDS-iXKWe_Gg_GOjKPWOIK9JGx3oACRaT3xBr7tr9RyimCDFy5uv_zvXxBIAt_UqkHbmcgm0xW4h-aQRwkWytYupPKxXaIVlYvKuL5OFgbnkws5MtCmAcV7GzG/s1600/t+shirt+front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvaATXPIIqHsPqMf4MoEDS-iXKWe_Gg_GOjKPWOIK9JGx3oACRaT3xBr7tr9RyimCDFy5uv_zvXxBIAt_UqkHbmcgm0xW4h-aQRwkWytYupPKxXaIVlYvKuL5OFgbnkws5MtCmAcV7GzG/s1600/t+shirt+front.JPG" height="400" width="383" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Ronseal' t-shirts. No muss, no fuss. And no style.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoMFOXNiYO6a7gQySOd8DeA4gfh1Ak-xaRi89uNe5opzk01kmsM86uciJxMcoS9Q9aK0SNqd-ZKw5CYqWi1sdTEIVOf0eh3XoQptVwsjwb6xfIGPnFt2MqqBiHA1A8XdvF1rD13s7HiLu/s1600/t+shirt+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoMFOXNiYO6a7gQySOd8DeA4gfh1Ak-xaRi89uNe5opzk01kmsM86uciJxMcoS9Q9aK0SNqd-ZKw5CYqWi1sdTEIVOf0eh3XoQptVwsjwb6xfIGPnFt2MqqBiHA1A8XdvF1rD13s7HiLu/s1600/t+shirt+back.JPG" height="400" width="385" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rapha will be having sleepless nights once they see this fab gear.</td></tr>
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Having said that, I did weaken and buy a cycling jersey from the Royal British Legion after seeing Suzanne Dando (one for the over 40s) model one: well, seemed a bit rude not to...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggDGujEUEuDNbFHRTu7msGnkcoIH2wtSuow4yRIUgt7ko-1_wMw3u0G-UYssOBAHPlBbvPmvEMcspjzWL93sePOj_WniQiEpntH0XU1eDbWgKm3tfBXJBFU5hfY3uYkacaIJps3YNHx6-/s1600/suzanne-dando-bikeride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggDGujEUEuDNbFHRTu7msGnkcoIH2wtSuow4yRIUgt7ko-1_wMw3u0G-UYssOBAHPlBbvPmvEMcspjzWL93sePOj_WniQiEpntH0XU1eDbWgKm3tfBXJBFU5hfY3uYkacaIJps3YNHx6-/s1600/suzanne-dando-bikeride.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possibly it'll look slightly more flattering on Ms D... </td></tr>
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Further adventures with social media continue in the vain hope of maybe getting some more donations in: this week the splendidly funny Omid Djalili was good enough to 'RT' or re-post my challenge to his 200,000 followers on Twitter. He also wished me luck, which was nice...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UEMiiWh1Ag1jG2yG9twowkk-lB_6jzEJStNBpEJquql8Z68_t8cvsa9MG1dth5KlGlL1mgQD49HR7wj_5jve5oihyMlgohJzyBHFMo2uVhaMroh7EQtNS-9Rt7hT8hXe3oIlZlv5SRZu/s1600/Capture.JPG2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UEMiiWh1Ag1jG2yG9twowkk-lB_6jzEJStNBpEJquql8Z68_t8cvsa9MG1dth5KlGlL1mgQD49HR7wj_5jve5oihyMlgohJzyBHFMo2uVhaMroh7EQtNS-9Rt7hT8hXe3oIlZlv5SRZu/s1600/Capture.JPG2.JPG" height="226" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was merciless about Lytham, hah-hah! Great live turn.</td></tr>
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As with last week's promotion by cycling legend Jens Voight, this RT netted absolutely sod-all in the way of sponsorship. However, thanks to my work's internet site there were a few more donations from complete strangers which was tremendous to see, as well as some very generous wallet-openings from those who have given before. Massive thanks to everyone...the total for CRUK is £800 with the RBL at £450. Wow! I know there is more to come...</div>
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Here are a few photos of the speed-bump as taken by Andy back in 2011 when he completed three ascents of Ventoux in one day. He reckoned that was a Big Day...so let's double it!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mFXD6NTr04-BR1KDC_Jh4_EKn7QYDOEdWcg15dEwGOf-gN6K7rwEv8N2vQ8TTH-VzYU81lj58KfeF6KtDJiVMnjhJG1LbsgWwiNMRUpGrNj5AlQF4vZQlyZFW3x3IMon6DFyMGq5dI1l/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mFXD6NTr04-BR1KDC_Jh4_EKn7QYDOEdWcg15dEwGOf-gN6K7rwEv8N2vQ8TTH-VzYU81lj58KfeF6KtDJiVMnjhJG1LbsgWwiNMRUpGrNj5AlQF4vZQlyZFW3x3IMon6DFyMGq5dI1l/s1600/003.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're looking at 85 miles at anything between 7-10%.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifV4fC19UVUGz93d4c8cVO9i538nLpni976GsaBzs82QcWobgfMOYoIoyqeU-95nth1U9ELN4epra4cz57vdeloeijmHBI97zfiwItX_7mwWBNdMRmdCofOPRdmZwDm4_eTzSdZFrucDV_/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifV4fC19UVUGz93d4c8cVO9i538nLpni976GsaBzs82QcWobgfMOYoIoyqeU-95nth1U9ELN4epra4cz57vdeloeijmHBI97zfiwItX_7mwWBNdMRmdCofOPRdmZwDm4_eTzSdZFrucDV_/s1600/006.JPG" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That all?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwxNeDaIPKJtP7ARRInaavBgoGPZej9CdriUaQsCzVufFKHfCLPHVE6Ahi__6Dgu8GLlC7PNYepwqYBoIr2Qd6CnbuNZUY2TsysBIkO39Ks1m9WL1SWrgwv_xO7eNCNcLn2csGeaos0TK/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwxNeDaIPKJtP7ARRInaavBgoGPZej9CdriUaQsCzVufFKHfCLPHVE6Ahi__6Dgu8GLlC7PNYepwqYBoIr2Qd6CnbuNZUY2TsysBIkO39Ks1m9WL1SWrgwv_xO7eNCNcLn2csGeaos0TK/s1600/008.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The long & winding, yeah yeah...you get the idea.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROilKg7pfbm9mWhY2V-XSZKjDfl4qU2z_VVq34snf1__2qRhPxcFjpKunSkGId9whHRKpyltZJmmkc7DjLKS_1sTjAukguBp_Jqhtw3TUD0Krc1DzccDlsOZC-BFrWuZT3bAYmhfFh06R/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROilKg7pfbm9mWhY2V-XSZKjDfl4qU2z_VVq34snf1__2qRhPxcFjpKunSkGId9whHRKpyltZJmmkc7DjLKS_1sTjAukguBp_Jqhtw3TUD0Krc1DzccDlsOZC-BFrWuZT3bAYmhfFh06R/s1600/015.JPG" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could be blowing a hooley on the way up.</td></tr>
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But before any of that joy can be sampled, I have the small matter of getting there to deal with!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDBwLTTqH3jD8PVkpgoWztNzYSb-rYOOnxMo7oqyRYLdIaWLMC3s6ORfFQGNucErswK3qDY-4IxAocRqXTQKt6hBljabfBnO8YuqYZrGT-sej14eutbmCphkQXJ24VKvrUHpJPtDlG9gu/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDBwLTTqH3jD8PVkpgoWztNzYSb-rYOOnxMo7oqyRYLdIaWLMC3s6ORfFQGNucErswK3qDY-4IxAocRqXTQKt6hBljabfBnO8YuqYZrGT-sej14eutbmCphkQXJ24VKvrUHpJPtDlG9gu/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" height="320" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This'll be me all too soon enough. Oh dear.</td></tr>
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So why all this nause? As if you didn't know, hah-hah-hah! Trying to raise funds for two brilliant causes, one of which is Cancer Research UK...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same deal for ALL of the UK.</td></tr>
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...and the other is the Royal British Legion. Coincidentally, today is Armed Forces Day 2014 which is a timely reminder of the debt that we owe to others who have given again and again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwVDF0KEFHcB1rbP6_woQ7_F6qss5Nw4-z4ppd3Yes2vh1CglTDjaquhufe_jbCbYlHvd-UE0eKHUE5k_T65VvEdaTayQ3OWAhxZIzDA0J-vuW4ivxGmDUOgIwcVbchprMrrsImpYQ9uE/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwVDF0KEFHcB1rbP6_woQ7_F6qss5Nw4-z4ppd3Yes2vh1CglTDjaquhufe_jbCbYlHvd-UE0eKHUE5k_T65VvEdaTayQ3OWAhxZIzDA0J-vuW4ivxGmDUOgIwcVbchprMrrsImpYQ9uE/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1JmKB2xRf02dTBUj0_DgCkH51Dp-IknhQDSf9qaGxQuo-8etqnzqH-6EJo3gJnaYhOK4kE-MeYGdHKD9-tvkPCxOoQk3Mk6MBW7Fl-626pvGiwqoYvBiydQynXyqFYIK3jQsml7O5dNj/s1600/Capture3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1JmKB2xRf02dTBUj0_DgCkH51Dp-IknhQDSf9qaGxQuo-8etqnzqH-6EJo3gJnaYhOK4kE-MeYGdHKD9-tvkPCxOoQk3Mk6MBW7Fl-626pvGiwqoYvBiydQynXyqFYIK3jQsml7O5dNj/s1600/Capture3.JPG" height="412" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some famous types who have given their backing to Armed Forces Day 2014. Oh look, there's Vinny!</td></tr>
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The links are just below and<b> I will give £10 for every £50 that you do</b>. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies.</div>
Cheers!<br />
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To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a></div>
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To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-54754095757975994512014-06-19T18:08:00.000+01:002014-06-21T10:06:55.917+01:00Bracket & Tubby!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another week, another blog post with only the faintest whiff of contractural obligation around it, hah-hah! No really...it's all filler, no killer! Or something like that...</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/X3Qsjpr1AbI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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So it was <i>Crockett & Tubbs</i>? Whatever...none more 80s.</div>
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With only 3 (yes, three) weeks until wagons roll, training continues and I have been lucky with pretty decent weather which means that I have zero excuses not to get out there and do a bit. It's never too late, right? </div>
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Last Saturday there was a little venture into the hurt locker that is the Forest Of Bowland: I think I escaped with a score draw...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoctTfcABADKpIRYDK6hYGCU1NmJ3F6QCDbpGSlviB3R5cRLw9PFbEUvoy29_kFQSRXYiWn9CMXB1TYwtzXH5i9rEBGfIrZxxYPCE3bG2lYMBpydFb_vFQ1CsnRJIIAO9cXUJt-JNbXlii/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoctTfcABADKpIRYDK6hYGCU1NmJ3F6QCDbpGSlviB3R5cRLw9PFbEUvoy29_kFQSRXYiWn9CMXB1TYwtzXH5i9rEBGfIrZxxYPCE3bG2lYMBpydFb_vFQ1CsnRJIIAO9cXUJt-JNbXlii/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deceptively benign looking. Do not be fooled.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrific views thrown-in, gratis.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And after a shoeing on the fell, you can descend and collapse in Waddington!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two eejits had gotten themselves up there but weren't clear on how to get down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my lame efforts I had displeased the Cycling Gods. Retribution came in the shape of a great big staple!</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Minor mechanical shenanigans occurred this week with the demise of another bottom bracket: I'd like to say that is a result of the Wiggins-like amount of power that I'm generating. Truth would be more like that FSA components are garbage, hah-hah! Anyway, better to get all this nonsense sorted now.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">At the risk of stating the bleedin' obvious, it is in my best interests to carry as little weight up Ventoux as I can, and to this end I have cut-out curries, fish'n'chips and the like, as well as cutting right back on beer and wine. Worst half-hour of my life I tells ya', and just what you want to be doing when there is a fairly important, televised football tournament taking place, hah-hah! Anyway, I go to weigh myself after a week or so and there is no flippin' difference! Just to add insult, I got this guff through my letterbox:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love you too, 'Slimming World'. Now clear off.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">On the plus side, the very bloke whose mantra that I have nicked for the title of this challenge, was good enough to 'RT' my appeal on Twitter. All this means is that potentially the 160,000 people who follow Jens Voight have the opportunity to have a look at this blog and perhaps be minded to donate. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm on the right.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">All well and good and duly the amount of people who did look at the blog sky-rocketed for a day or so. Not one of the cheap b*****ds sponsored me, hah-hah! Tells you all you need to know about the quality of the blog, I suppose. No matter, because the totals are rising and I cannot thank you enough on behalf of the RBL and CRUK.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">In case you ever get to wondering about what good your money does, I can offer you this: I talked to someone the other day who had recently been given an 'all clear' after treatment for a particular strain of cancer. They had been told that they were fortunate not to have gotten the disease a decade ago as the treatment then was a great deal more unpleasant and debilitating. So your money does make a difference. Good on you!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The totals are coming along: on behalf of the RBL & CRUK: thank you!</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Right, time to suffer Chiles, Tyldesley & Townsend and watch England ease Uruguay aside*...cheers!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never mind bottom brackets, *<i>this* </i> is what I should be getting fitted. Nice idea Mark!</td></tr>
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The links are just below and I will give £1 for every £5 that you do. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies. Cheers!<br />
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To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a><br />
<br />
To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span><br />
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(*Result may vary. D'oh!)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-91969606446533229252014-06-09T11:49:00.000+01:002014-06-24T15:07:18.190+01:00Just can't wait to get on the road again*...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At long last I have now booked my high-end accommodation down route: the usual mix of chains like Formule 1 and privately owned hotels which I hope are all relatively cyclist-friendly. Mind you, my requirements aren't exactly demanding: at the sore end of 140 heavy miles all you want is a shower, beer, food, somewhere safe to store the bike and a bed. If they can throw in a pair of new legs'n'lungs and derriere then so much the better!</div>
(*A complete lie, hah-hah!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage 1: Fri July 11th, Warton to Rugeley. 105 miles and 3500'.</td></tr>
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"<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8D%83%E9%87%8C%E4%B9%8B%E8%A1%8C%EF%BC%8C%E5%A7%8B%E6%96%BC%E8%B6%B3%E4%B8%8B#Mandarin" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: SimSun, PMingLiU, Song, Ming, MingLiu, 'Arial Unicode MS', Code2000, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.639999389648438px; text-decoration: none;" title="千里之行,始於足下">千里之行,始於足下</a>", as the great Chinese philosopher Laozi said. Of course you'll recognise his "...every thousand mile journey begins with a small step" quote instantly, right?</div>
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Daft coincidence time: there's almost exactly the same amount of climbing on the way out as there is in the six Ventoux ascents.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage 2: Sat 12th July, Rugeley to London. 145 miles and 4000'.</td></tr>
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Would you believe it? The very night I'm in The Smoke, Mr Neil Young will be deafening 70,000 punters in Hyde Park (not to mention Eminem at Wembley Stadium or Robbie Williams at the O2 Arena). I'm staying about 100 yards from the Royal Albert Hall but the live turn on there is a bit high-brow for me. If I was able, I'd go and see Shakey tear-up the Royal Park...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage 3: Sun 13th July, London to Dover. 90 miles and 4000'.</td></tr>
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Bit of a schoolboy error made when I booked my ferry from Dover to Calais...didn't remember that it is the World Cup final that evening. Will get to see the first half I hope, but I don't expect to be seeing England there either. More chance of them being on the ferry, to be fair. (Memo to P & O: please, please, please show BBC coverage! #noChiles #noTyldesley #noTownsend.)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage 4: Mon 14th July, Calais to Saint-Quentin. 125 miles and 4000'.</td></tr>
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I hope to be able to stop-off at a WW1 monument around Arras. 100 years ago since all that horror began...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQFdGSmb3B8jqb7KfmZLi9ItXLBpuRHDdMl0e6O5FYOaK1F7SySYxUsbsJzth9ON9K7TveW48KZaGOUv1lO7KsMCkTvEpifH4TPK1TrXcKop_6bTP-crRlbhR4a_WVNeYks42Oe00Hopf/s1600/Saint-Quentin+to+Saint-Dizier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQFdGSmb3B8jqb7KfmZLi9ItXLBpuRHDdMl0e6O5FYOaK1F7SySYxUsbsJzth9ON9K7TveW48KZaGOUv1lO7KsMCkTvEpifH4TPK1TrXcKop_6bTP-crRlbhR4a_WVNeYks42Oe00Hopf/s1600/Saint-Quentin+to+Saint-Dizier.JPG" height="288" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage 5: Tues 15th July, Saint-Quentin to Saint-Dizier. 130 miles and 3500'.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCG3_rhGYltqIDKpJXih7Zj_eYeWmwaAj0D03NUcOBJkZz-ATnC5f1vqNjqCpdbrmq_K_jR2l-3N_cHJmAuTye0upekrkmwPnTcA7fA7B-oHQfuFHF0r1G7vdHt4MkpbGzsvOJauTL96tQ/s1600/Saint-Dizier+to+Dijon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCG3_rhGYltqIDKpJXih7Zj_eYeWmwaAj0D03NUcOBJkZz-ATnC5f1vqNjqCpdbrmq_K_jR2l-3N_cHJmAuTye0upekrkmwPnTcA7fA7B-oHQfuFHF0r1G7vdHt4MkpbGzsvOJauTL96tQ/s1600/Saint-Dizier+to+Dijon.JPG" height="320" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage 6: Weds 16th July, Saint-Dizier to Dijon. 120 miles and 3500'.</td></tr>
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Don't ask me why I'm taking this particular routeing: I've placed all my faith in Google to get me pointing in the right direction. Worked alright last year. Apart from the time that I was stopped by the <a href="http://tij2013.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/515.html" target="_blank">German motorway cops...</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmf2dkXzuz9aYPA9shVhQG8_jl6pxSVawHfM3u9eNstaGcKZKScBvvYPv_X8uJEC1xu-A905rU8nMO4MQOcailN9-vRGxirj8yJWbUWFEnCx4HcTYGOYgy13yxnh4EgFwYhC1rMiJBUKm/s1600/Dijon+to+Vienne.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmf2dkXzuz9aYPA9shVhQG8_jl6pxSVawHfM3u9eNstaGcKZKScBvvYPv_X8uJEC1xu-A905rU8nMO4MQOcailN9-vRGxirj8yJWbUWFEnCx4HcTYGOYgy13yxnh4EgFwYhC1rMiJBUKm/s1600/Dijon+to+Vienne.JPG" height="320" width="173" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage 7: Thurs 17th July, Dijon to Vienne. 145 miles and 4000'.</td></tr>
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To be honest, up to now I have fixated only on the ridiculous '24 hours of Ventoux' side of this challenge and have forgotten just how grim the long transit days will be, and I am out of my '120 miles max' comfort zone on most days. You'd have have to be a complete eejit to underestimate or be blase about undertaking this, ahem...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKZM0kIkF_IetJPBemsMmZPe9roJfrZWl6UBrjO_YGFTKC3Lcz1UtxjRgMY2NVsFO1Pox4Jq5yyZFUbZf5y4AQSoOpp6OH8m1IHa_JCj2rVdTSCrtF5uwzo-Thvv_QuN6N6oUNZ_dActj/s1600/Vienne+to+Carpentras.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKZM0kIkF_IetJPBemsMmZPe9roJfrZWl6UBrjO_YGFTKC3Lcz1UtxjRgMY2NVsFO1Pox4Jq5yyZFUbZf5y4AQSoOpp6OH8m1IHa_JCj2rVdTSCrtF5uwzo-Thvv_QuN6N6oUNZ_dActj/s1600/Vienne+to+Carpentras.JPG" height="320" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage 8: Fri 18th July, Vienne to Carpentras. 130 miles and 2500'.</td></tr>
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As you can see there are two long stages to get into Carpentras on the Friday, one week after setting-off on this nonsense. I really hope that the weather is kind...any chance of a stonking tailwind? Oh well, just thought I'd ask. Might get a set of these bad-boys fitted:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpuNqVYvLPyX26RsdkQIBscMOXAiCwmiVWwU-BbU_lI5qDRD1iklC2lVfhfYQs0t4AlP3LRqd9f4SO5NvdErxe803_rMST6lvt1c9jDzj9gbxnGDxSLH-2tFPGq0EK1PC42icOadwlNlM/s1600/10269449_471706576292590_6092563012551597196_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpuNqVYvLPyX26RsdkQIBscMOXAiCwmiVWwU-BbU_lI5qDRD1iklC2lVfhfYQs0t4AlP3LRqd9f4SO5NvdErxe803_rMST6lvt1c9jDzj9gbxnGDxSLH-2tFPGq0EK1PC42icOadwlNlM/s1600/10269449_471706576292590_6092563012551597196_n.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aero-bars can add 2 or 3 mph to your average speed...</td></tr>
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A great, big thank you to you generous people who've donated already. It is a big gee-up to keep on getting out there to train!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZsJFvmPOsClKHTvkhYj63RanSS5IfDMflldJO4oU4s0SRojfhvjMCUO_uaSHi3JLn9tH5BSMTK5L7a05CkMbIv-4P6DEHaJ-TrJTeSB_rPC0wDpG_tZpRxuVgxdvo_joZacDvVPkO-Fw/s1600/10169447_10152432479172920_821581191852918552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZsJFvmPOsClKHTvkhYj63RanSS5IfDMflldJO4oU4s0SRojfhvjMCUO_uaSHi3JLn9tH5BSMTK5L7a05CkMbIv-4P6DEHaJ-TrJTeSB_rPC0wDpG_tZpRxuVgxdvo_joZacDvVPkO-Fw/s1600/10169447_10152432479172920_821581191852918552_n.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sorry after-effects of attempting intervals on Waddington Fell.</td></tr>
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The links are just below and I will give £1 for every £5 that you do. Aside from that, there is one other thing that would help, if you can do it...please share this blog and/or the JG links with your pals/acquaintances/enemies. Cheers!<br />
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To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a><br />
<br />
To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</a></span><br />
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Fairly sure there won't be any sightings of Ms Crow.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-27790953835882027682014-06-06T08:52:00.000+01:002014-06-13T17:10:05.893+01:00Seventy years on.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Quite rightly you can't help but be aware that today is the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings or D-Day as it is widely known. The reason for the larger-than-usual interest in this milestone is not just because the sacrifice of so many lives in the pursuit of stopping Hitler's insanity or because '70' is a nice, round number either necessarily, although both form part of the rationale.</div>
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What makes this year's commemoration so poignant is that there are fewer and fewer veterans from that invasion that are still able to make the trip to Normandy to pay their own respects. To put it bluntly, this weekend's events will be the last time that many of these soldiers will be able to participate in person.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRYyQNqzPf3u2-cV6k1Eidh57lrTgxRu3hH105yy62GV9vtqD11YAs1E-N_aWLQsCmb-c040s1aRHqhU0WTN36W9iAiCAyt2Fut1c2_P64WCOZT97J28saYMv0OM2ogem8QAGMu8owFQs/s1600/BpTK3-kCcAADGz8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRYyQNqzPf3u2-cV6k1Eidh57lrTgxRu3hH105yy62GV9vtqD11YAs1E-N_aWLQsCmb-c040s1aRHqhU0WTN36W9iAiCAyt2Fut1c2_P64WCOZT97J28saYMv0OM2ogem8QAGMu8owFQs/s1600/BpTK3-kCcAADGz8.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This moving poem was left at the Commonwealth Cemetery in Bayeux.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi414mBNwkcbxO4EHDxuXfAwYPU4QRX2V5G52LnsY7ZlV11S-Giza8GxzSYdLHziuha69i5n80Mul74fyG1bbNYrqpkjKEIjtwD-dml38cty3fehc2TZcFQqQ9L95CKuMsE0WXVkSzCTbVA/s1600/BpbeAmKCIAAOCaV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi414mBNwkcbxO4EHDxuXfAwYPU4QRX2V5G52LnsY7ZlV11S-Giza8GxzSYdLHziuha69i5n80Mul74fyG1bbNYrqpkjKEIjtwD-dml38cty3fehc2TZcFQqQ9L95CKuMsE0WXVkSzCTbVA/s1600/BpbeAmKCIAAOCaV.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert Capa's photos give an inkling into the blind terror of these assaults.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqfVYQ_MtX-yJddKNINzdjA_hiW4940pZrY8xUnhs9JMNVh8jlz8wdjXZNinBlMYhXq1r_0RA-1ybLO79KQYZjF_qSdWeBgZyM8Hk02NLyweZDcfbylbvDJtE-vd-IugbspuFKJ-1yUWd/s1600/Normandy-Full-Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqfVYQ_MtX-yJddKNINzdjA_hiW4940pZrY8xUnhs9JMNVh8jlz8wdjXZNinBlMYhXq1r_0RA-1ybLO79KQYZjF_qSdWeBgZyM8Hk02NLyweZDcfbylbvDJtE-vd-IugbspuFKJ-1yUWd/s1600/Normandy-Full-Beach.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The Fallen' is a project to mark the loss of 9000 lives during the landings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUreXPthQPjWPWLpmr-rfP97lnZzHdwpi6YMllg0aPeoBZVevTf1CvsmNjUSsklkb0KFCXfLrsa_w_No4lFbkFFUHyNfO1iUtmXqXe7FC-ZrbuKM9ROZ4Y9_ORd8RSRE4mNNelpjdTzXwU/s1600/BpXYYMxCYAAUZHd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUreXPthQPjWPWLpmr-rfP97lnZzHdwpi6YMllg0aPeoBZVevTf1CvsmNjUSsklkb0KFCXfLrsa_w_No4lFbkFFUHyNfO1iUtmXqXe7FC-ZrbuKM9ROZ4Y9_ORd8RSRE4mNNelpjdTzXwU/s1600/BpXYYMxCYAAUZHd.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He'll never forget and neither should we.</td></tr>
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Those photographs can only give a tiny insight into the sheer scale of sacrifice that was made by so many. For once Hollywood seems to have been realistic in its depiction of the landings if the reactions to the harrowing opening scenes in 'Saving Private Ryan' are anything to go by. I won't post a link here: you know where you can find clips easily.<br />
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As much as we should never forget these landings or the people involved, the British Legion is also about looking forward and trying to help those who served in our Armed Services. Its aims are rehabilitation, transition and trying to give focus to lives that have been irreversibly changed in the line of serving Queen and Country.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaMr6V91HY0xd6gzwd2jd_kZl0FAN_bHouxIJ1a_x5eqoT8GSwKHAXFfD6TwE4ROdqcuuTP5R1LF4BmP_EpD73lTJt4EpZpiIPzI5kwbdIHxQehLiZI0wS06v_up87g3ZE-TZoGceWFKs/s1600/it-only-takes-a-second-to-put-on-a-poppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaMr6V91HY0xd6gzwd2jd_kZl0FAN_bHouxIJ1a_x5eqoT8GSwKHAXFfD6TwE4ROdqcuuTP5R1LF4BmP_EpD73lTJt4EpZpiIPzI5kwbdIHxQehLiZI0wS06v_up87g3ZE-TZoGceWFKs/s1600/it-only-takes-a-second-to-put-on-a-poppy.jpg" height="166" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For these people it's year-round, not just in November...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqGdUFEg1UWWzJFvRvA_VjJrPFc-FAH6Jutn2UZzwHtaEYW4hePCLkwx9cCZnTVBRYOoKjDR2ciPKNoEQdgkuZ46ihEIfWmzJWcLqkaD6ZzNoD2IKfJas87Bzd4p0sPNnsbCDkAtBdddk/s1600/10245270_10152447721726397_699352066225742198_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqGdUFEg1UWWzJFvRvA_VjJrPFc-FAH6Jutn2UZzwHtaEYW4hePCLkwx9cCZnTVBRYOoKjDR2ciPKNoEQdgkuZ46ihEIfWmzJWcLqkaD6ZzNoD2IKfJas87Bzd4p0sPNnsbCDkAtBdddk/s1600/10245270_10152447721726397_699352066225742198_n.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prince Harry is a committed supporter of veterans' charities.</td></tr>
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Of course to do that it relies on the generosity of the British public: the British Legion spends over £1.7M per week in the course of helping these veterans and their families. We owe them too. If you agree then please follow the link to my JustGiving page: I will give £1 for every £5 that you give. Thank you.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" target="_blank">To support our veterans both young & old please click HERE!</a></span></b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-24010610309168589752014-05-28T22:25:00.000+01:002014-06-07T11:42:22.446+01:00Who-ooo are you...Ventoux, Ventoux?Since I announced this nonsense to the world I have people stopping to ask me*,<br />
"What is this Mont Ventoux Challenge of which you speak? Do you have any sponsorship links?". Well, I'll tell you, and I hope you're sitting comfortably:<br />
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- There are three roads up to the summit at 6300 feet and to complete this challenge you need to ride each climb twice in the same calendar day. So that's 6 x 14 miles at an average gradient of 9%...same as cycling from Preston to Carlisle...up a 9% incline. Looks like someone's got an early start, hah-hah-d'oh!<br />
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- The total amount of cycling is 170 miles and the total amount of climbing is 29,500 feet. Mount Everest stands at 29,029 feet. The only good news that I can take from this is that half of those 170 miles are downhill. You can't exactly relax though, especially given that the first descent will be in the dark...I have been warned about various nocturnal animals darting out in front of you. Oh deer.<br />
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- The weather will have a big old say in how kind the climbs will be. The highest recorded wind speed at the summit is 200 mph, although since I gleaned that 'fact' from Wikipedia it may not bear scrutiny, hah-hah!<br />
Scratch that: just checked and unfortunately it does. Also, we can expect it to be a f**king oven once the sun rises, so that will be nice! Must not fixate on Kronenbourg 1664 or similar.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1wxLq8CwldzVuO3ptfY8NpnV4rCVIaNha6sugA_JHYmhkQ3SFSJDpaqT3RRVxuFnDckfHiO7925S8Xm_KlIAJjQO33-pz4gvdlHNK89LA9xiRgcU1SdTtxbVrhhwv2fy9QjVMY7sqOYd/s1600/thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1wxLq8CwldzVuO3ptfY8NpnV4rCVIaNha6sugA_JHYmhkQ3SFSJDpaqT3RRVxuFnDckfHiO7925S8Xm_KlIAJjQO33-pz4gvdlHNK89LA9xiRgcU1SdTtxbVrhhwv2fy9QjVMY7sqOYd/s1600/thumb.jpg" height="236" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above the tree-line there ain't nothing going on. Except the climb...still, looks nice doesn't it?</td></tr>
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- Last year Chris Froome was on his way to winning the Tour de France and finished a stage on top of Ventoux. The lanky so-and-so absolutely stormed the 14 miles and 5000 feet in 59 minutes. Each climb will take me about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Not expecting any calls from Sir Dave Brailsford!<br />
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It is fantastic to see donations for Cancer Research already, so a really big thank you to those who have dug deep.<br />
As per previous years I will donate £1 for every £5 raised: if you can select Gift Aid too on the JustGiving pages then we are on to a winner! The links are over on the right and also just below...cheers!<br />
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(*complete lie.)<br />
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To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a><br />
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To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</span></a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4Wesham, Preston, Lancashire PR4 3DS, UK53.789809299999988 -2.891259100000070253.788636799999985 -2.89378060000007 53.79098179999999 -2.8887376000000704tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7500057865349054839.post-49442886320054475012014-05-25T10:49:00.000+01:002014-06-10T22:37:43.986+01:00Whose bright idea was this?Hello...again...hello!<br />
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Probably not the last you'll hear from Neil Diamond on this blog if I'm honest, so sorry about that. I'll cut right to the chase because time is tight (Booker T...none finer): in fact the wee countdown clock just to the right tells me that I should be out on the bike sweating instead of sitting indoors typing this nonsense!<br />
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This year's challenge is to start pedalling solo from Warton in sunny (and hopefully tail-windy) Lancashire on Friday 11th July and arrive in Carpentras, which is right down in the far end of France. So that's 1000 miles in 7 and a bit days, carrying about 35lbs (16kg for you youngsters) of baggage. That's part one...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OfQrEg9hi_yyehUnP-181FZZu53XACzSU7qY-MCw14pPzE1lBpHH4TKXeobVp6BoY1CFHfHp72cX_7bUY6gMUctV4PoWOXzczICMDRoJR_KcMuetrO9gdoRlN2TlDuCll5sqyW5KI9Be/s1600/1238725_10151790290282920_1039711843_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OfQrEg9hi_yyehUnP-181FZZu53XACzSU7qY-MCw14pPzE1lBpHH4TKXeobVp6BoY1CFHfHp72cX_7bUY6gMUctV4PoWOXzczICMDRoJR_KcMuetrO9gdoRlN2TlDuCll5sqyW5KI9Be/s1600/1238725_10151790290282920_1039711843_n.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HGV needs IPA.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can we not straighten that line a bit?</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">After a day-off I'll be joined by my regular partner in lycra crime, Mr Andy Wickham and then we have a go at </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Ventoux" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Mont Ventoux</a><span style="text-align: justify;">, big time. The idea is to complete as many ascents of the 'Beast Of Provence' as we can in one day. Andy did three ascents in 2011 in a day which qualified him for membership of the </span><a href="http://www.clubcinglesventoux.org/en/rules.html" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">'Club des Cingles du Mont-Ventoux'</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> which translates loosely as 'Club Of Screwballs'.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Giant or Beast of Provence. Merde!</td></tr>
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This time we are aiming at six ascents which equates to cycling uphill for 85 miles (imagine Preston to Carlisle) up a gradient of about 9% average, and climbing just shy of 30,000 feet which is more than the height of Mount Everest. Not quite sure if I have words to describe what that loosely translates into...<br />
Only eight English cyclists have completed this challenge (one of them is a guy who was in our <a href="http://rdmh2012.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/the-persuaders.html" target="_blank">Team Lanterne Rouge</a> from a couple of years back: take a bow, Mozza!) and so far zero cyclists from Norn Iron!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gets a bit blowy up here apparently. Record is about 190 mph.</td></tr>
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Each year these challenges have gotten steadily worse but this marks a new low. Before I get the violins out, the reason for attempting this is to try and persuade you to sponsor me and divert some of your ill gotten/hard earned cash towards two very, very deserving causes: the <a href="http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/" target="_blank">Royal British Legion</a> and <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/" target="_blank">Cancer Research UK</a>.<br />
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By now, the word 'cancer' will have affected your life on more than one occasion I'll bet: maybe a family member or friend or even someone you have never met but who means something to you. <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/" target="_blank">CRUK</a> are constantly working to find out how we can halt the disease in its many forms but this takes a lot of money to fund.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adoring fan stalks Wilko Johnson who fights on and on. Go Wilks!</td></tr>
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2014 marks the centenary of the start of The Great War and also the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings which will spotlight the veterans who gave everything for their country. Unfortunately there are many more people who served in the Armed Forces and have suffered in the numerous conflicts since 1945 and this is where the <a href="http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/" target="_blank">RBL</a> come in. These are people who deserve our thanks and support.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGMgGS_uImfCxJb4hT7DwLVJzmyZFEcR3Er20rbPTtMqT4hpu6VCcxmT3ftUJkefTqjui0R2e-Bcic0FOFWISIECCJr0YwTo8TVQLBu02nJKLMAAdTe79TPkrRnMhXYfPdWHS6G2gAxD4/s1600/poppy-shop2_500x255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGMgGS_uImfCxJb4hT7DwLVJzmyZFEcR3Er20rbPTtMqT4hpu6VCcxmT3ftUJkefTqjui0R2e-Bcic0FOFWISIECCJr0YwTo8TVQLBu02nJKLMAAdTe79TPkrRnMhXYfPdWHS6G2gAxD4/s1600/poppy-shop2_500x255.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The RBL works with other service charities too and needs our help.</td></tr>
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As per previous years I will donate £1 for every £5 raised: if you can select Gift Aid too on the JustGiving pages then we are on to a winner! The links are over on the right and also just below...cheers!<br />
<br />
To support<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulcruk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">CANCER RESEARCH UK please click on this...thanks!</span></a><br />
<br />
To help the<span style="color: #351c75; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/sulrbl" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The ROYAL BRITISH LEGION please click on this!</span></a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0