Serving and ex serving members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines took part in a charity cycle ride in September which they all completed, the Pedal to Paris ride in aid of the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal was in its 16^th year and it was also the 90^th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion.

 Picture courtesy of Dave Hayward

     There were about 300 riders taking part in this year’s event. 

All the riders set off behind the escort motorcycle riders of the NEG GB(www.neggb.org.uk) from Greenwich towards the A20 and Brands hatch for the first major hill of the event, brunch was had at the Legion village at Aylsford followed by Lunch about 2 hours later at a village hall in Selindge a little massage of the calf muscles and they were off again arriving in Dover after 80 miles in a time of 4 hours 55 mins the sting in the tail was the hill at 70 miles of Capel le Ferne  it was all down hill into Dover. 

Onto the ferry and off to France and the first hotel of the event, on arrival at Calais we were met by the MSO which were the French equivalent of the NEG and were escorted to the local fire station in Calais where the bikes were left overnight, off to the selected hotels a hot meal and a beer then off to bed for a good nights sleep 

Day 2:     We all met at the fire station and retrieved our bikes then to the local war memorial for a short service, we were then split into our groups fast, medium and social, most of the navy participants were   in the medium group which was to average 16mph we left at different times following a pace car with about 5 outriders per group. Today’s ride was to consist of a ride of 79 miles through the French countryside from Calais to Abbeville and whoever said that northern France was flat needs to get on a pushbike and try cycling it . The riding in France is a lot safer as the car drivers are more tolerant than over here, after about 20 to 25 miles each day we would stop for a break where food and drink would be laid on and at lunch the massage tables would be out for those who wished a massage all three groups then met up just outside Abbeville and we cycled in on mass to leave our bikes in the local gym and pick up our bags that had been left there, onto the hotel for the night, This ride took us 5 hours 45 mins 

Day 3:    Today’s ride was from Abbeville to Beauvais a route that would consist of 70 miles and would take us 4 hours and 55 mins, although there were hills today they were nothing compared to yesterdays again the weather was glorious the scenery was great and just a great way to see a country. The day started again with a memorial service and at the lunch stop another memorial service followed at the end of the ride by another and these are attended by local dignitaries as well as standard bearers of different French regiments.  

Day 4:    The final day the push to Paris the weather was the worst of the four days we had a torrential downpour just before Paris but as we arrived on the outskirts the sun came out for our arrival at the Arc . Today we would ride 60 miles in 4 hours 25 mins and all stop at vaux sur seine for lunch to regroup to ride into Paris together 300 cyclists for 23 miles and apparently there are only two times that the roundabout around the Arc de Triomphe is closed that is for the Tour de France and for this ride. On arrival a bottle of beer, photo’s and a medal to say we had done it then to the big memorial ceremony in the middle of the Arc de Triomphe  

A team photo was taken by the photographer that came with us on the trip Dave Hayward the team in the photo consists of a royal marine injured in afghan and now retrained as a medic who was the medic for the trip , a navy doctor two senior royal navy officers one senior royal marine officer two retired senior rates and a retired bandy. 

After that we loaded the bikes onto the lorry for there trip back to St Pancreas where we would pick them up the following day. That evening a gala dinner was had by all. Again a well organized event for a great cause anyone wishing to have a go at next years event look at the legion’s website for details