Hello everyone….I think we’ve probably all done our facebook entries, so you know we did it and have seen the photos as evidence! It all feels very surreal…were we really cycling around Paris for 9 hours on Saturday night? There were so many brilliant moments leading up to Saturday’s Nightrider… Frank parking the van literally across the road from le tour Eiffel..and arriving to find everyone having a cup of tea with twinkly lights behind them…. The ride itself… Our group leader got lost at least 3 times in the first half hour, which would have been really funny if we hadn’t glad 9 hours cycling to go…then he tripped over a pavement on his bike and finally careered into Annabel’s bike and damaged her spokes! She breathed deeply and even managed a desperate smile! Then we changed leaders and directions were suddenly much clearer..then there was our group guide at the back of our group who had a huge beat box (rubbish music too!) There were some really moving stories and we were all really sad when one guy, in a kind of go kart bike that he worked with his arms had an accident and he and his friend had to pull out.. All through the night different episodes and different people living Paris at night… sunrise seemed to come all of a sudden… And the last few hours, as Paris woke up, were extraordinary…. Cycling through Pigalle as people left the clubs…people going to work from about 5… All of us we in yellow reflector vests and back lights flashing red..so it was special to feel part of this group of people cycling for all kinds of reasons through the night! The end came all of a sudden…and we were on the left bank of the Seine…where people were waiting with medals and porridge! Back to Lille for a rest and a shower and some food, then to Zeebruges… A drink or two in the bar, then us 4 girls into our bunk beds and next thing we knew it was morning and we were in Hull… So we’re talking now of Coast to Coast or Paris to Budapest perhaps…we feel well and relaxed….Reka went back into chemo today and I reflected on why we do these rides and felt very strongly that it’s so important to keep cycling… it takes a lot of effort, a lot of patience from partners, children…. These rides aren’t convenient we know…but they’re not a luxury or just a bit of fun… For Reka and I, we think they are helping to keep us well… But it would be even harder to do them without the company and support of friends and family….we appreciate all that more than you can imagine…. We believe that more people with cancer can have more fun during treatment, that our bodies can manage adventures that are physically challenging. Our favourite comment in our exhibition comments book was ‘having seen your ride, I’m going home from treatment to get my bike out.’ That’s what it’s about x x x x
Sep24