Spain has proven to be tougher than feared and inflicted the first casualties of war early on day 2. After a hostile opening spell from some steep hills outside San Sebastian the team had 20 miles on the board when disaster struck.
On a downhill section Pemberton lost control and skidded into the middle of the road. Gimson, following behind, had no time to react and rode straight into the wreckage of hugh´s bike, catapulting him off and into the road as well. Whilst Hugh managed to survive with only cuts and bruises, Nat was clearly in a lot of pain. After a helpful spanish cyclist stopped and called an ambulance Nat was rushed back to san sebastian where x rays confirmed a broken collar bone and the end of his innings. Despite the spanish doctors refusing to adminsiter painkillers nat dealt with the pain pretty heroically and is flying home this morning... the team are obviously gutted to have lost a member, and mood is low but determined. This afternoon we press on as a 5, more determined to make Casablanca than ever... We hope Nat has a good journey and a swift recovery, and that anyone in Cambridge tries to entertain him over the next few weeks whilst we are away.
We´ll give more details as soon as we can, but for now we have to arrange for Nat´s bike to be shipped home and get ready for this afternoon´s cycling (Ed need´s breakfast).
GD
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
SPain
Just a very quick note to say we are in Spain. It is hot and hilly but the bikes are fixed, 60 miles yesterday 84 planned today....
Monday, 26 July 2010
Days 5-9 - Adventures in South West France
Hi everyone, just to echo Rory below, very sorry that the blog has not been updated for so long, but internet has been scarce...
We're currently on day 9, a rest day in Hossinger, a trendy surfers town near Biaritzz where we are being exceptionally looked after by rory's godfather Chris and his family. The day has been spent tending to our bikes and getting some rest (read playing cricket) before we venture on to Spain tomorrow.
Mood in the camp is high, and confidence up after some excellent cycling over the last few days. Being over a week in and into southern france there is a real feeling that progress has been made...There is however also a slight feeling of trepidation amongst the troops, akin to an army who know that so all they've done so far is march to the battle, the real fighting begins when we encounter the fierce heat and mountains of Spain. This is our Hastings...
The last few days cyling havce been very good, covering 79 on day 5, 89 on day 6, exactly 100 on day 7 and 93 on day 8. Before you are too impressed I should mention that the terrain has been somewhat flat, and by soemwhat flat i mean the last 200 miles has made the slight gradient from Marshall's out of Cambridge seem like a Himalayan foothill, and the rolling hills of Brittany seem like Everest itself. It's also been somewhat mild, which has gone down in different ways with different members of the team. Those commited tanners amongst us (Messrs. Dean & Gimson) it has been somewhat of a travesty, but it has almost certainly saved Doble £20 on another pot of sunclay to plaster his delicate skin from the rays.
Other than the Boulangerie's of western France, which as Rory has stated have increased revenue by 10% on the journey, the quality of the road also deserves a mention. Quite simply they are flat and quick, this is like batting at the WACA on a hot day witht he ball coming quickly onto the bat and any touch enough to send the ball flying to the boundary. Despite these conditions we've managed to get ourselves in the odd spot of bother... Doble's over-active pompus gland has shown no sign of delfating despite the constant medical attention of the rest of the team, and despite eating enough to feed most continetns for a week Ed has suffered one dizzying sugar low which forced the team into accepting an early lunch whilst he replenished his stocks, we've alos had a couple of falls, mostly due to being clipped into pedals, and once in my case due to cornering too quickly... the other main focus of the last few days has been an attempt from myself to make the team more 'efficient' in taking stops... but despite my best attempts it seems none of us can multi-task and we are consigned to never leaving until half an hour after someone says lets get on our bikes... at least i can say I tried.
Finally I should also mention that our morning puffy eyes are on the decrease and the team are starting to sleep well in the tents kindly provided by Marshall's, and the bikes from Ben Hayward are also standing up well to the test, if occaisonly in need of a bit of tlc from their riders.
Anyway, I must go to grease my bike and go to the bakers, but thanks for reading and we'll try to update soon - thanks for all the texts and everything from home, it's great to hear from you when faced with another 60 miles of the day...
GD
We're currently on day 9, a rest day in Hossinger, a trendy surfers town near Biaritzz where we are being exceptionally looked after by rory's godfather Chris and his family. The day has been spent tending to our bikes and getting some rest (read playing cricket) before we venture on to Spain tomorrow.
Mood in the camp is high, and confidence up after some excellent cycling over the last few days. Being over a week in and into southern france there is a real feeling that progress has been made...There is however also a slight feeling of trepidation amongst the troops, akin to an army who know that so all they've done so far is march to the battle, the real fighting begins when we encounter the fierce heat and mountains of Spain. This is our Hastings...
The last few days cyling havce been very good, covering 79 on day 5, 89 on day 6, exactly 100 on day 7 and 93 on day 8. Before you are too impressed I should mention that the terrain has been somewhat flat, and by soemwhat flat i mean the last 200 miles has made the slight gradient from Marshall's out of Cambridge seem like a Himalayan foothill, and the rolling hills of Brittany seem like Everest itself. It's also been somewhat mild, which has gone down in different ways with different members of the team. Those commited tanners amongst us (Messrs. Dean & Gimson) it has been somewhat of a travesty, but it has almost certainly saved Doble £20 on another pot of sunclay to plaster his delicate skin from the rays.
Other than the Boulangerie's of western France, which as Rory has stated have increased revenue by 10% on the journey, the quality of the road also deserves a mention. Quite simply they are flat and quick, this is like batting at the WACA on a hot day witht he ball coming quickly onto the bat and any touch enough to send the ball flying to the boundary. Despite these conditions we've managed to get ourselves in the odd spot of bother... Doble's over-active pompus gland has shown no sign of delfating despite the constant medical attention of the rest of the team, and despite eating enough to feed most continetns for a week Ed has suffered one dizzying sugar low which forced the team into accepting an early lunch whilst he replenished his stocks, we've alos had a couple of falls, mostly due to being clipped into pedals, and once in my case due to cornering too quickly... the other main focus of the last few days has been an attempt from myself to make the team more 'efficient' in taking stops... but despite my best attempts it seems none of us can multi-task and we are consigned to never leaving until half an hour after someone says lets get on our bikes... at least i can say I tried.
Finally I should also mention that our morning puffy eyes are on the decrease and the team are starting to sleep well in the tents kindly provided by Marshall's, and the bikes from Ben Hayward are also standing up well to the test, if occaisonly in need of a bit of tlc from their riders.
Anyway, I must go to grease my bike and go to the bakers, but thanks for reading and we'll try to update soon - thanks for all the texts and everything from home, it's great to hear from you when faced with another 60 miles of the day...
GD
Days 2-4 : Fulham to Guemene-Penfao
Dear readers - I apologise that we have not been able to update the blog since day one. Internet has been pretty hard to come by - in some towns we've struggled to even find open restaurants, let alone wifi and internet cafes.
Day 2: Fulham to Portsmouth
Team Member Doble decided he'd already had enough of cycling, and instead went to a job interview in London. The rest of the team had the hardest day's cycling of their lives, through both the north and south Downs. The ferry from Portsmouth was almost missed, but in the end we snuck on, meeting Doble at the port (who had taken the train). After some cricket out on deck, the team bedded down, preparing for their first day cycling on the continent.
Day 3: St. Malo to Dinan
Disaster struck - only 20 miles inland from the French coast, Pemberton's knee gave way, and a rest day was called. Hugh was inconsolable, but a decent day was had - a particular highlight was a visit to the public swimming pool, which enforced speedo-wearing, catching Pemberton out, who was forced to buy a pair from a vending machine.
Day 4: Dinan to Guemene-Penfao
After passing a fitness test in the morning, Hugh decided he was OK to cycle, but the team decided to take it easy and do a shorter day, so we did 60 miles to Guemene-Penfao, our intended campsite for the night before. Hugh, unfortunately, came down with a serious stomach bug, and ate only lettuce for supper, spending most of his time going to and from the loo. The team was kept up late by the Breton Under-11 Karaoke Open.
Daily Routine so far:
0700 reveille - Grandmaster Dean and his Lieutenant E. G. Pearson sound the wake up call. Dean, Gimson, and Pemberton suffer from 'fat eye' thanks to sleeping outdoors, and no-one is able to take them seriously for at least an hour. The team, sleeping in pairs on a 'squad-rotation' basis, get out of their tents, wash, pack away the camping stuff, and try their best not to rile the leader, Dean, who is particularly vicious before his morning coffee.
0800 depart to nearest boulangerie - A croissant is taken before proceeding 20 miles to breakfast.
1000 breakfast - Coffee is taken in a small French town bar. Dean becomes slightly less grumpy. Huge amounts of carbohydrates are bought and consumed
1400 - Lunch - Consists of bread, more bread, and some brie. Navigator Pearson moans about not having had enough to eat.
1700 - Pearson calls another food break
1930 - Arrive campsite. Set up tents, wash (paying particular attention to parts in direct contact with the saddle), wash clothes
2030 - Find a small, cheap restaurant, and eat everything they have. And then order a round of croque-monsieurs for pudding.
2300 - Pass out in a tiny tent, listening to our Great Leader Dean's Funny Stories/Campsite Linedancing and Karaoke/Hugh's Gastro-Intestinal Fireworks
Day 2: Fulham to Portsmouth
Team Member Doble decided he'd already had enough of cycling, and instead went to a job interview in London. The rest of the team had the hardest day's cycling of their lives, through both the north and south Downs. The ferry from Portsmouth was almost missed, but in the end we snuck on, meeting Doble at the port (who had taken the train). After some cricket out on deck, the team bedded down, preparing for their first day cycling on the continent.
Day 3: St. Malo to Dinan
Disaster struck - only 20 miles inland from the French coast, Pemberton's knee gave way, and a rest day was called. Hugh was inconsolable, but a decent day was had - a particular highlight was a visit to the public swimming pool, which enforced speedo-wearing, catching Pemberton out, who was forced to buy a pair from a vending machine.
Day 4: Dinan to Guemene-Penfao
After passing a fitness test in the morning, Hugh decided he was OK to cycle, but the team decided to take it easy and do a shorter day, so we did 60 miles to Guemene-Penfao, our intended campsite for the night before. Hugh, unfortunately, came down with a serious stomach bug, and ate only lettuce for supper, spending most of his time going to and from the loo. The team was kept up late by the Breton Under-11 Karaoke Open.
Daily Routine so far:
0700 reveille - Grandmaster Dean and his Lieutenant E. G. Pearson sound the wake up call. Dean, Gimson, and Pemberton suffer from 'fat eye' thanks to sleeping outdoors, and no-one is able to take them seriously for at least an hour. The team, sleeping in pairs on a 'squad-rotation' basis, get out of their tents, wash, pack away the camping stuff, and try their best not to rile the leader, Dean, who is particularly vicious before his morning coffee.
0800 depart to nearest boulangerie - A croissant is taken before proceeding 20 miles to breakfast.
1000 breakfast - Coffee is taken in a small French town bar. Dean becomes slightly less grumpy. Huge amounts of carbohydrates are bought and consumed
1400 - Lunch - Consists of bread, more bread, and some brie. Navigator Pearson moans about not having had enough to eat.
1700 - Pearson calls another food break
1930 - Arrive campsite. Set up tents, wash (paying particular attention to parts in direct contact with the saddle), wash clothes
2030 - Find a small, cheap restaurant, and eat everything they have. And then order a round of croque-monsieurs for pudding.
2300 - Pass out in a tiny tent, listening to our Great Leader Dean's Funny Stories/Campsite Linedancing and Karaoke/Hugh's Gastro-Intestinal Fireworks
Monday, 19 July 2010
Day One
Under a grey, foreboding sky, the Marshalls flag fluttered a stiff south-westerly breeze, as one by one six nervous yet excited cyclists arrived, to finally embark on their journey to Casablanca...
Firstly, we all have to say a huge thank you to everyone who turned up to see us off and wish us well. It was great to see so many family and friends, and a real boost to receive a further generous donation to the SCT from Francis Laud and Jonathan Barker of Marshalls.
It was a day where on the whole the miles didn’t come easy. The initial anticipation quickly turned to contemplation of the challenge ahead in the face of a strong headwind, the excited chatter dissolving into concentrated silence, punctuated by an ominous rusty-weather-vane creak emanating from the bowels of George’s bike.
After a quick lunch by the river it became increasingly clear that Deano had stymied his bike in about six places. This can only be put down to his riding style, akin to a very large ape on artificial stimulants, riding a little pink Barbie bike down a steep hill. Eyebrows furrowed – in itself a huge effort of will, they weigh a tonne – George bravely struggled on, until we ran into a game-changing stroke of luck in the form of Steve, a Metallica t-shirt wearing, cycle-mending legend who has become the first of many heroes we’ll need to bail us out along the way. Swiftly diagnosing and fixing the problem long-after his shop had supposedly closed, and charging us only for parts, Steve quickly realised the problem – Dean had broken his entire bike. Despite this, we were only delayed for an hour, just long enough for Eddy to make friends with a snake. No, I’m not kidding, in a scene we weren’t expecting until the souks of Morocco, a random lady pitched up with a bright red corn snake. I thought we were hallucinating, but pictures will be forthcoming, I promise.
The afternoon passed largely uneventfully, though cycling through London was an irritating and at times slightly terrifying experience. Notable moments included George – apparently on a self-destructive mission today – almost disappearing under a bus attempting to signal ‘fifty up’ (mileage) with the bat, and Nat going down like a shot walrus in a catastrophic spd-pedal cock up. Seriously, it was like someone had chopped down a wobbly redwood in the middle of Enfield, classic.
Despite this, we eventually made the 71 miles to Katie’s house in Fulham. For those of you that don’t know, Katie Matthews is the long-suffering girlfriend of Our Glorious Leader, and general First Lady of C2C. Katie and her parents Rhoda and Peter put on an amazing spread, and one last night in a proper bed left us feeling refreshed in a way we’re not likely to experience again any time soon. We also got to pop into the Hurlingham club, where Eddy got pretty excited over some well-mown tennis courts and a pretty cricket pitch. Which is nice.
All in all, a predictably eventful but generally successful first day, but only because of the great people who have supported us, from loved ones to complete strangers. So thanks again family and friends, Marshalls, Steve from Cycledealia, the snake lady and of course the amazing Matthews family, we couldn’t have done it without you.
Next stop Portsmouth and the Continent!
Over and out.
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Final line up announced
Following a comprehensive victory in the final warm up game against the East Anglia Invitational XI the Cambridge to Casablanca team are pleased to announce an unchanged line up for the upcoming tour of Europe and N. Africa. Vice Captain Ed Pearson was pleased to confirm that any doubts over the fitness of Tom Doble had been cleared by a strong showing against East Anglia; "I have every faith in Tom, certain newspaper reports had suggested that he was carrying some extra pounds and might not be up to the rigours of full first class game, but he bowled his fill allocation last week and bowled some pretty fiery spells in the nets this week".
The team will be looking to bat first on the flat wickets of the south of England, with opening batsmen Rory Davidson and Ed Pearson looking to make quick runs to get the side off on the front foot, the only concern could be a stiff breeze that could knock them off their game. Behind the stumps Gimson has also been in good form, though the bowling, if Doble's fitness does fail, could be exposed. The team will be relying heavily on Pemberton to bowl the hard overs uphill and into the wind later in the series, particularly against Spain, however rumours continue to dog the man with a a party reputation. Even this week stories circulated that Pemberton was seen falling out of a nightclub in the early hours of Thursday morning, he has since been unavailable for comment.
Despite these distractions however the team seem in buoyant mood. This journalist personally has doubts about the capabilities of the side to cope with searing heat and steep hills in foreign lands, which they are simply not prepared for. Though they did what was asked against a weak East Anglian side that is no test of what is to come, I predict a close fought series". Dean however share's no doubts, "I'm completely confident that we'll arrive in 28 days times. It is a tough challenge but the team is in good shape and I'm sure we'll win".
The final team is as follows:
T. B. Doble
E.G. Pearson
H. Pemberton
R. W. Davidson
G. E. J. Dean
N. H. S. Gimson
Jonathan Agnew writing for the BBC in Cambridge.
The team will be looking to bat first on the flat wickets of the south of England, with opening batsmen Rory Davidson and Ed Pearson looking to make quick runs to get the side off on the front foot, the only concern could be a stiff breeze that could knock them off their game. Behind the stumps Gimson has also been in good form, though the bowling, if Doble's fitness does fail, could be exposed. The team will be relying heavily on Pemberton to bowl the hard overs uphill and into the wind later in the series, particularly against Spain, however rumours continue to dog the man with a a party reputation. Even this week stories circulated that Pemberton was seen falling out of a nightclub in the early hours of Thursday morning, he has since been unavailable for comment.
Despite these distractions however the team seem in buoyant mood. This journalist personally has doubts about the capabilities of the side to cope with searing heat and steep hills in foreign lands, which they are simply not prepared for. Though they did what was asked against a weak East Anglian side that is no test of what is to come, I predict a close fought series". Dean however share's no doubts, "I'm completely confident that we'll arrive in 28 days times. It is a tough challenge but the team is in good shape and I'm sure we'll win".
The final team is as follows:
T. B. Doble
E.G. Pearson
H. Pemberton
R. W. Davidson
G. E. J. Dean
N. H. S. Gimson
Jonathan Agnew writing for the BBC in Cambridge.
New Sponsors Announced
It is with great pleasure that the Cambridge to Casablanca squad can announce two new sponsors.
Joining Marshall's, Orwell Truck and Van, Ben Hayward Cycles and NYK logistics are Pemberton-Greenish Solicitors (http://www.pglaw.co.uk/) and Anspear, a division of Pearson Publishing (http://www.pearsonpublishing.co.uk/education/).
Sponsorship officer Nat Gimson commented "we're delighted that Anspear and Pemberton-Greenish have got on board, without the support of such companies this trip would simply not be possible".
Joining Marshall's, Orwell Truck and Van, Ben Hayward Cycles and NYK logistics are Pemberton-Greenish Solicitors (http://www.pglaw.co.uk/) and Anspear, a division of Pearson Publishing (http://www.pearsonpublishing.co.uk/education/).
Sponsorship officer Nat Gimson commented "we're delighted that Anspear and Pemberton-Greenish have got on board, without the support of such companies this trip would simply not be possible".
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