Back in the saddle: London-Paris Cycle 2015

Our heroic leader Mr Daniel Barr and ‘number one son’, Alex, are joining a team of slightly mad local people on a brand new mass participation cycle event; London-Paris Cycle 2015, which has 100 St Elizabeth Hospice supporters pedal together to Paris.

During the five day challenge Hospice Team 100 will spend 300 miles in the saddle across two countries, as they raise a total of £100,000 for the Hospice.

Each cyclist pays a £99 deposit, and pledges to raise a minimum of £1,850 in sponsorship – enough to fund a Hospice nurse for two months. Please support our brave boys by donating here

Itinerary

Day One - Ipswich to London

The team will meet at St Elizabeth Hospice for a fond farewell before boarding a coach to London where we spend the evening at our overnight hostel. Enjoy our evening meal and get some rest before a bright and early start the next day.

Day Two - London to Calais

The ride begins from Crystal Palace, heading south en route to the coast. The long journey will take the team through rural Kent, the garden of England. The path winds through traditional British countryside, along the North Downs Way before reaching the white cliffs of Dover. The ferry will take the team across to Calais and the first night’s resting place.

Day Three – Calais to Abbeville

La belle France! The team will boldly cycle through Desvres, a market town known for its ceramics and continue with the windy roads along the valley of the Canche River. The Artois region is amazing with the Spanish influenced town of Hesdin and its tremendous architecture and close proximity to the battle of Agincourt. They will spend the night in Abbeville, a town steeped in history from the war. Despite being almost destroyed in just one night, it has managed to retain its beautiful gothic church.

Day Four – Abbeville to Beauvais

The route this morning follows the Somme out of Abbeville. After lunch they will cycle through the countryside, with fewer undulations than previous days. The day finishes in Beauvais where the market square, Place de l’Hotel de Ville, is a true highlight. Several of the houses close to the Cathedral date back from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries.

Day Five – Beauvais to Paris

The final day of cycling and the big push to Paris!

After lunch the team will near the outskirts of Paris and start to spot the familiar sights of the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine. The team will rendezvous in a park just north of Paris before joining together to cycle the last miles along some of the famous boulevards. The finish point can be seen for miles above the Paris skyline and on arrival the celebration can begin!