Our week as the support team started on Friday 23rd August. On arrival at 140 Divinity Road we were met by ¾ of the team in excited mood, awaiting the arrival of Laurie in the Peugeot Expert Tepee – yet to be christened “The Battle Bus”. There was paraphernalia everywhere so we decided to adjourn to the pub & leave the boys to their final preparations. A couple of beverages later we summoned up the courage to return to 140. The chaos seemed slightly more organised and once the van appeared we trooped off to the local Italian. Great pizza & plenty of wine helped calm the nerves & the team tried to grab a decent night’s kip.
We awoke to slight drizzle but it didn’t dampen the sense of anticipation. By some miracle all the gear fitted into the van & we were off. The cyclists disappeared down the hill without a care in the world! We had our instructions to visit Fred’s Emporium on Cowley Road to pick up bungees & straps & euros from the MoneyShop. Fred let us down but a quick detour to a local motor factor & we were suitably bungeed.
Now it was just a case of catching up the peloton in time for the lunchtime rendezvous. The Peugeot satnav route took us through Reading & it was festival time – the streets were full of hoards of zombified youngsters clearly feeling the effects of the night before! Despite this delay we found the arranged meeting point & thankfully we were there before the boys. Then a good run down to Portsmouth via Halfords & Tescos in Winchester to pick up more supplies – this A2A debit card is awesome!
Once aboard the ferry we left the boys in the kids karaoke bar and took refuge in the tranquility of the Piano Bar. A decent platter of cheese & biscuits washed down with a bucket of Merlot and it was time for our beds in the bowels of the ship.
After a reasonable night’s sleep it was a quick croissant and then the call to disembark which became more and more frantic. We sat in the Battle Bus waiting for our unhurried cyclists. Thankfully the Irish trucker we were holding up was more patient than us! Once off the ferry the bikes were unloaded & reassembled; the boys were supplied with Haribos, flapjacks & chocolate & off they went, heading south.
Basically the next 6 days for us followed the same routine:-
Get the peloton on the road
Set off in the Battle Bus, pick up a lunch which generaly consisted of bread, paté, salami, cooked chicken, salads, fruit & plenty of water & milk.
Mad dash to find a decent lunchtime picnic site - erect table & chairs
Feed & water the peloton whilst listening to the morning’s exploits
Get them on thier way with suitable words of encouragement
Pack up the van & head for the afternoon meeting place
More food & provisions
Head for evening campsite & unload van.
Pitch tent
Get supper on the go - pasta or BBQ
Now some downtime with a glass of vino & storytelling
Fall into sleeping bag
Sleep
6am alarm
Kettle on, porridge on, scrambled eggs, beans & fried bread
Dish up to 4 sleepy but hungry lads.
General cajoling & encouragement to dismantle tents & pack up kit bags - very slow starters these cyclists!
Wave them off with words of encouragement.
Re-pack van which is an art form in itself
Good to go
Neither Jane or I had any conception of the work involved supporting the ride (& we were only driving!). The books & assorted travel games we had optimistically taken remained untouched. There were no leisurely lunches although we did manage a couple of fab coffee & croissant stops.
We were both slightly fearful of the camping aspect having not camped in years. We need not have been - it was brilliant & it won’t be the last holiday under canvas for us.
The whole experience was great fun; we had a lot of laughs & thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The boys are a good bunch who, although they need a bit of guidance here & there, are a very capable lot. This trip is a wonderful opportunity & they certainly appear to be thriving on it. The physical aspect along with the meticulous organisation required is a great test for them & one which, after week 1, they have passed with flying colours.
Well done lads. It was a pleasure to be part of your adventure & we were sorry to fly home - it would have been fantastic to do the whole trip. Good luck for the rest of your challenge - we’re very jealous!
Rob & Jane
PS: We are available for your next one!!
- @Access2a
- www.access2africa.co.uk
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