Cycle Europe 2008

Day 69: 26th August. Rest Day - Geneva 0 miles cycled

Day 70: 27th August. Geneva   - Lausanne 40 miles

Day 71: 28th August. Lausanne - Neuchatel 46 miles

Hello from France (again!) I hope there are still a few of you following this recently rather irregular blog. Marco & I both feel that we are in the last part of the ride which has its positives and negatives. It has been so difficult not to wind down mentally as we keep having to remind ourselves that there are still up to 700 miles to go. For the last few days we have been frustratingly looking at the map and seeing London get no closer as the route takes us north east towards Basel from where we intend to cut through the mountains and head north west towards Dieppe. Switzerland has been wonderful but we are both ready to get back now and with my injury recovering we hope to make good time in the coming days. Enjoy the blog, Cheers, Jon

Day 69: 26th August:. Rest Day - Geneva

Morning gave Chloe, my dad and I the chance to have breakfast together in Geneva city centre. I now understand why Switzerland has such a good economy and infrastructure as everyone seemed to have eaten and headed to work by 8am. Nowhere had any croissants left as the office types had already devoured them and scuttled to work ready to build the world’s best watches or whatever it is that they do. As the sun shone and my dad talked about family stuff, home and generally the UK I felt so far removed from it all. Suddenly, it dawned on me that the rather monotonous, repetitive and boring schedule of riding, sleeping and eating that Marco and I had had over the last 10 weeks had shielded me from most of the news and current affairs. Yes I’d heard Britain had done well in the Olympics but that was about it and I’d actually enjoyed the media isolation. On return to The InterContinental I’d gone to Steve and Marco’s room only to see BBC Breakfast news on TV and wish I hadn’t. It reminded me that as much as I had hurt and had cursed, especially in the last few days since my accident, I’d in fact coped much better with the absence of some things that we often unconsciously tap into which create the daily structure of our lives and it was going to be a shame to return to it all soon.

Tonight was the penultimate official event of the trip with one of the key sponsors - MCI - welcoming us to their staff summer drinks reception on the shore of Lake Geneva. In preparation for this Chloe and I met with Vanessa, Charlotte and David from the MCI Geneva office who kindly took us for lunch as we discussed details of the nights event. MCI is committed to a policy of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) throughout its global network and their willingness not only to sponsor Cycle Europe 2008 but also to move their gathering to fit into our time table was greatly appreciated.

Later in the afternoon we welcomed 4 friends from Slovenia who attended our event in Ljubljana and who had driven the several hundred km from Slovenia to attend. Jernej joined Steve, Marco and I on our bikes outside the hotel early in the evening in preparation to ride down to the event just a few km away. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but a big banner welcomed us to Geneva and we enjoyed a lovely evening with Sebastian Tondeur and about 50 MCI employees. Everyone was so welcoming but I must give a special mention to Rebekah whose husband Bobby suffered a stroke just a few months after Steve’s. It was great to see Bobby there and although he insisted his doctor told him he only has 60% of his previous physical abilities to me he was exactly as funny and entertaining as he was when I shared a jeep with him and Rebekah wadi bashing in Dubai 26 months ago. Congratulations!

The only concern heading home was the fact that Steve temporarily forgot he was in Switzerland and as we pulled into the road on the bikes to my horror he headed to the left hand side of the junction ready to ride into the oncoming traffic. In typical Steve fashion with a grin and a skillful swerve he was back with us as we made our way up dimply lit streets. We resembled a snake with Christmas lights on as we headed back to the hotel with our lights fore and aft blinking silently in the fast cooling night.

Day 70: 27th August. Geneva - Lausanne 40 miles

The ride had up to now been the story of the two heads of state and this morning we made it three. To add to US President George Bush who swept by the morning we left London and the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa who we met in Ljubljana today, just as we finished photos in front of the hotel, the President of Uruguay swept in with a police escort.

With John heading back to London to prepare for representing GB in Triathlon next week Marco, Steve and I headed back down to the site of last night’s do before turning left and following the northern edge of the Lake Geneva towards Lausanne.

As trains shot by to our left I couldn’t help but imagine what I’ll see when I return. I am due to get the train from Geneva to Montreux in December and made a mental note to get a seat on the right hand side so I could see our route and the surrounding landscape 2 seasons on. Would the trees still be as majestic? The waters of the lake so still? The wind as light? The sun a powerful? Of course I know the answers but it occurred to me that by exploring much of Europe in the summer I may have only seen one small aspect of it. Suddenly I had vision of us in December leaving London to complete the same 3000 mile route through the sleet of southern England and the grey, windswept, flat landscape of Holland and Belgium. I stopped there - summer was the time to cycle 3000 miles; if I want to see Europe in another season either I’ll drive or just go skiing.

Again the Swiss drivers paid the trio of slow cyclists the utmost respect with one HGV driver hooting his support as we neared the top of one particularly steep hill. However, Steve’s injury got the better of him as with just 5 miles to go he decided not to ruin his chances of riding tomorrow and opted to get a lift to Lausanne with my dad. Steve has nothing to prove to anyone and I think his decision shows this. Many people in his situation would feel that they had failed unless they completed every mile but Steve has already amazed so many people and in fact, contrary to the generous comments left by friends to me following my relatively small accident, Steve is in fact the hero - he’d be back tomorrow fitter than ever.

Day 71: 28th August. Lausanne - Neuchatel 46 miles

Breakfast was punctuated by a good friend Marisa dropping in to wish us all the best. Marisa and I first met 9 years ago and she helped hugely with the route design. In fact, let’s be honest, she basically told me what the route should be from Italy to Dieppe! Having been busy in Zurich for a few days it was great to see her and we discussed further route alterations as Marco and I were beginning to wonder whether, with my improving physical state (and my worsening mental one :|), we could cut north before Basel and trade a shorter route for higher mountain climbs….

Today’s ride took Marco and I back to the cycle paths of Germany that cut a sway through crop fields. Soon we found the elusive route 22 and we rode with Steve 3 abreast through sun drenched fields, deserted villages and dense forest. It is worth mentioning the crops: having started in June we have seen the various varieties steadily grow and change through the countries. The most obvious to change in the corn which was less that 0.5m tall when we first spotted it in Germany. As headed south and the weeks went by, it grew stronger although I am unsure as to whether this was due to geography or simply the passing of time. The crops in Italy seemed stronger still, the stems thicker and by the time we started to head north a couple of weeks ago from Marseille huge corns had appeared on the 2m high crops. The crops have been a constant companion indicating the passing of time rather like an organic hour glass as well as acting as an small but reassuring constant in the never ending days of change. Today the corn was at its best, as strong and as tall as it will reach and as yet unweathered by the scalding sun. This contrasts with the sun flowers that have never quite seemed to have reached their best as the relatively poor European summer has curtailed their potential magnificence and they now bowed as one as if already surrendered to their awaiting fate.

My friend Simon and his girlfriend Sandi had flown out to be with us but unfortunately Sandi didn’t get to ride today. Simon met us at lunch today as we enjoyed pasta in the quaint cobbled square of Yverdon -des-Bains having ridden around Lac de Neuchatel and had already covered 48 miles. He had however, rather carelessly in my opinion, lost Sandi. Having no phone with her he had hoped she would find a public box but as we continued after lunch he opted to stay put in-case she appeared. Some time later when he caught Marco, Steve and I up he had yet to hear from her and it was nearly 7 pm, (some 8 hours after having last seen her), that she appeared having suffered a puncture and had walked the 30 miles back.

I’ve talked about the good and bad times and tonight was especially difficult for me and I only mention it in an attempt to convey how the constant riding has finally got to me. Brewing discontent with various people - and frustration with myself as much as anyone -got the better of me and at one point I decided that I couldn’t even face going out. Seeing that a) it was my dad’s birthday b) he, Chloe and Steve would be heading home tomorrow c) Simon and Sandi had invited us out, it shows the extent of my feelings. I’ve not had enough time alone and as a person who craves private time I began to think that the trip was a month too long. In the end I went and I am glad I did but I couldn’t hide the mounting frustrations with life in the saddle and having given dad his present and tried (unsuccessfully) to be sociable, the hour alone next to the lake that I had on my return amongst the most relaxing of the trip. Suddenly I was as keen to get back as ever.