Martin ready for the off!!
and he made it to the top.....well done
Scary roads
I am sure everyone will join me in saying "well done" to Martin for completing his latest cycle ride up the side of a mountain, and for raising a lot of money for two worthy causes.
Dear Friends
Le Col du Tourmalet - highest paved road over the Pyrenees, summit at just under 7,000 feet above sea level - sponsored cycle ride.
Tuesday morning, 16 June 2009, in low cloud, I cycled the 8 km. from the Hotel Les Sorbiers, Bareges down to the start line at Luz Saint Sauveur, with my riding partner David Lawson. As we climb at different speeds, David set off at 9.20 am and I followed at 9.45. I caught and passed David at about 3 km. and could see a group of riders ahead, but could not make progress on them. I caught them when they were slowed down at some road works and asked could I join them to the top for company. They were five members of the Saint Julien Cycle Club. I passed my hotel at Bareges at 10.30 am and shortly came out of the low cloud into bright sunshine. Linda passed me in the car, found a place to stop, took some photographs, took my empty bottle of high-energy drink and handed me another. Four of the cycle team had pulled away and I continued with the one that cycled at my rhythm. I had one small mishap, trying to take a drink going up a particularly steep section, not looking where I was going I nearly hit the back wheel of my French friend. Fearing I would touch his wheel, I veered away and took a tumble. He stopped and helped me up and I told him to carry-on. My wrist, knee and elbow were a little sore and I had grazed my thigh. I put the chain back on and set off again, catching my colleague after about 300 metres. We continued to about 3 km. from the top where I managed to stop his jacket from falling into his rear wheel. He stopped to re-tie it, so I turned round, went back 50 metres and then we continued again together. Linda had been back down the mountain to pick-up Julia who had been attending to David. She handed me another drink and the camera as cars were still not allowed up to the top. I reached the summit in 1 hour 59 minutes 23 seconds. I had cycled 19 km. and climbed 4,500 feet. I joined the French cycling team, we shook hands and sat and had a well earned drink together. After taking some photographs, I commenced the descent, meeting Linda and Julia at about 6 km. from the summit. I put the bike on the rack and joined the support team looking after David. The road was now open and we were at the top when David arrived.
To date I have raised 971 Euros to be shared between the Addenbrooke Hospital and Break Through Breast Cancer UK, hopefully with more to come. Many thanks to Linda and Julia, my excellent and attentive support team and to all of my kind sponsors. Also, well done to David. If you would like to make a donation, please send sterling cheques, made out to one of the charities or myself, to Pourramond, 82220, Auty, France.
We were made very welcome by Rachel and Rob Williamson at Les Sorbiers, 65120 Bareges, France and can highly recommend a stay at their lovely, family run hotel if you fancy a visit to this beautiful part of the Pyrenees. Their website is http://www.lessorbiers.co.uk/
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