Well still no aching or soreness but I wasn’t really up for traipsing around Paris – so a boat trip on the Seine it was. And then ready to go home. Goodbyes to Mum & Dad who still had a day of their long weekend in Paris to go – and off the Gare Du Nord. Unfortunately there was a fire on the track just outside the station so we were late leaving, and so the domino effect starts. The late start meant that we missed our train from Kings Cross to York. But the man on the Eurostar said not to worry he would validate our tickets so we could catch a later train. But he didn’t count on the man at the info desk at King’s Cross. To say he was unhelpful would be an understatement. We were booked on a Grand Central train and the next train out was a National Express train and never the two shall meet! Fortunately Steve found another member of staff who did National Express proud and told us that it would be OK for us to use our tickets on the later train. So we ran down the platform, got the bike into the guard’s van and with five minutes to go sat down ready for the journey. It was at that point that I realised I didn’t have the document wallet containing not just our tickets, but our passports too – I’d left it at the information desk. So I jumped off the train and spoke to the guard. He told me that if I went back to the concourse to get it I would miss the train (whilst I was hoping beyond hope that they would hold the train I realise that was totally unrealistic). So back on the train. I said to Steve I’d get off, pick up the wallet and get the next train. Steve insisted he’d do it and within 30 seconds had jumped off the train. So rather than travelling back together we were now on two separate trains – and furthermore I had a bike and two wheelie bags. Now a bike and one wheelie bag I could manage, but I don’t have enough arms for two. Fortunately I was travelling with someone I’d done the bike ride with and he offered to help me at York. So I spent the journey nattering to Dave about our bike ride and Steve spent his watching DVDs of the West Wing.

So a rather eventful journey home – but nothing could detract from the fantastic experience I’d just had.

So now for the important bits, well not only have I got a whole lot fitter and had a fantastic experience I’ve also raised plenty of money for the Prostate Cancer charity. As I write I’ve had £3125 pledged on my Justgiving website, there’s an additional £715 in gift aid and I have about £100 to collect from my sponsorship form, so that’s over £4000!

And so to the people to thank – Steve for getting me into this in the first place; Steve, my Mum and Dad for coming all the way out to Paris to see me arrive – that was really great. Jason for giving me space on the blog and helping me to boost my sponsorship. Catherine for persuading me that Steve was right and I should get a new bike. Everybody who sponsored me and all the messages of support I got on Facebook. They made me laugh along the way.

Lesley’s photos are on the internet at Truprint and on her Facebook account (whatever that is) Thanks for letting us know how you got on! :- Jason