Charity Challenge - Paris to Geneva
An adventurous group of Girlguiding UK members are celebrating
the Centenary by cycling from Paris to Geneva to raise money for
the Girlguiding UK Centenary
Fund.
Day One
After meeting at St Pancras International station we caught the
Eurostar to Paris and arrived safetly at the hotel after a short
walk from Paris Gare du Nord. We spent the afternoon visiting
famous sites in Paris including the Sacre Couer, the Louvre and the
Arc de Triomphe. After a filling meal at a local restaurant we
headed back to our rooms for an early(ish) night.
Day Two
We had breakfast at 5:45am before getting the bikes in order and
were on the road an hour later. A slightly hairy cycle to our
official starting point at the Eiffel Tower was made up for by the
sun rising up as we set off. After cycling out of Paris and its
suburbs we were into the countryside following the River Seine with
some stunning countryside and pretty villages along the
way. We all arrived safely at the hotel after 95miles
(including the hotel to the eiffel!) feeling tired but pleased
with our progress.
Day Three
We all left our hotel in high spirits looking forward to the
challenge of the road ahead. We soon found it to be windy and a
little undulating (!!). A few people struggled but all made it up
the first BIG climb of the challenge and completed the day. We all
had some aching muscles so a quick dip in the cold pool was very
necessary - apparently this is therapeutic and good for you?! We
enjoyed a nice dinner and off to bed.
Day Four
Another early morning as we leave the hotel by 7am. Today the
terrain was hillier and more wooded. The weather which was sunny
for the previous two days was overcast for most of the morning as
we go up and over more undulations with another big climb just
before lunch in Beaune. The afternoon is relatively flat but the
rain soon comes and several of us get soaked cycling the last
section to the hotel. It was a long 100 mile day so an early night
was in order to prepare for the final day.
Day Five
Within the first mile of leaving the hotel we hit the first
climb of the day. It is still pretty dark and with cold legs
several of us struggle. The day is cold and the hills are big! The
first drinks stop in the morning is a welcome site. More hills
during the day including a more serious mountain pass from St
Claude up to the lunch stop. The sun slowly breaks through the
clouds at our lunch stop in a pretty little valley with a 30ft
wooden bicycle at the edge of the village Lajoux. We lunch by the
front wheel before heading on. Beyond the village we descend
several hundred meters before beginning the climb we have all been
anticipating. The Col de la Faucille is classed as a Category Four
Tour de France mountain climb and spread out over several miles we
all reach the top. After a celebratory drink we gather together and
remake our promise at an altitude of 1323m. A true mountain top
moment. An 11km descent with fantastic views of Lake Geneva is well
worth the climb. As we cycle into Geneva we encounter the first
serious traffic since Paris but are excited to reach the Swiss
city. We are pleased to finish on the lakeside with the fountain
behind us. We are all very excited and proud of our achievement. We
head back to our hotel for a quick shower and change before going
for our celebration meal. A few beers and a good meal and we say
farewell to our support crew before heading back to the hotel for a
good rest and a lie in!
