TEAM PRICE BLOG

We write this as we sit on a verandah by the sea in Gibraltar and reflect on the whirlwind week of experiences that we have been privileged to be a part of.

We fully endorse both previous  team's 1 and 2's words of wisdom and summaries of characters.

DAY 14

Our trip commenced with a stopover in Geneva to visit family, namely, Uncle Paul who would soon become team member 5 of the Thunder train.

We were greeted at the very impressive Madrid airport by 2 tired and hungry boys, Rob and Laurie, who had had to hang around awaiting a late arrival. The boys were suffering hunger pangs and still slightly delicate after a session in Madrdid the night before which I think concluded as dawn broke!

It was a race back to camp to feed their bodies with calories which automatically lead to increased smiles, chatter and improved brain function. Fred and Marcus were snoozing in the tent but soon appeared bright and breezy to give us the team rundown for the third and final time. We felt lucky that we were stepping into tried and tested methods of organisation and high set standards.

The camp was welcoming  and well established with gazebo up and 3 cosy tents.

The boys had planned ahead for a barbecue that evening, following a sightseeing trip of Madrid. This was our first night of building relationships and getting to know each other, as the 4 had had to adjust to different support styles from parents throughout the trip.

DAY 15

Was a lie in day as plans had changed in the fact that we were to drive 2 of the boys To Toledo and set up camp whilst Marcus and Rob headed for the train to Toledo with their bikes.

This was to avoid the very dangerous roads around Madrid as cycling here was not to be recommended.

We were just learning the logistics involved of locating and setting up a site for a whirlwind one night stopover, when the call came from M and R still stranded in Madrid due to the inflexible policy of carrying bikes on trains. F and L kindly offered to do the 2 hour round trip whilst we established a home.

The campsite was very smart and a swimming pool beckoned the lads as they returned to base. this was followed by a boules tornament and tea. That evening we headed into Toledo, an ancient walled town with deserted,cobbled, narrow streets and managed to find the only bar open.

We had a very gentle settling in period which lead to a false conclusion that all was very relaxing with plenty of downtime.

DAY 16

After a broken nights sleep, firstly Toledo's answer to Britains Got Talent, a rave along the river that Marcus wanted to gate crash and a refuse truck collecting campsite rubbish at 3.15 am, we were knocked up at 6 am in the pitch black to start our first real support day for the A2A team.

Whilst Deb packed the car in a most meticulous and organised fashion, Julian cooked porridge on the stove.

This turned out to be a thick, burnt offering of gruel but the boys managed to disguise it's taste with various additions of sauces and jams and were extremely good humoured and polite. This, however, became one of the many subjects of banter providing entertainment and laughs.

We were very struck by the comaraderie and good spirits always displayed by these 4 very close friends. They seemed to understand each other intimately to the degree of checking each others butts for sores and even helping apply the cream!

 We always underestimated their speed and distance covered from waving them off to when we passed them in the battle bus. Each corner we turned we expected to glimpse 4 bright Lycra clothed bodies pushing themselves to physical extremes but oh no, they were nearly at the next stop! So we were always playing catch up! no time for stopping off at the inviting tavernas.

The boys reached their 1000km mark, an absolute incredible achievement marking a dream being lived out with a third of it to go.

We arrived at final destination of the day, Ciudad Real, a large unattractive city. We already knew there weren't any campsites in this region, a pattern that seemed to dominate the rest of the trip as we moved out of tourist Spain.

Rob, our negotiator, clenched a deal for 6 of us to stay in a 1* hostel! Deb was grateful for sleeping tablets and alcohol to get her through this ordeal!

DAY 17

We waved the boys off in darkness with a sense of anticipation for a long, challenging day ahead and the fact that Uncle Paul would be joining this tightly knitted group in the evening, having traced the trail of the boys and due to arrive 4 hours later. This day would see them pass through flat, open savannahs interrupted by mountainous terrain culminating in a 900 metre summit for a memorable lunch stop in National Park territory, with eagles circling overhead. One of our favourite stops of the week. The ever thoughtful pack decided it would be a motivating gesture to leave a little parcel of water and treats from the love box for PV, at the top of the summit.

A coordinated arrival into Montoro found us struggling to locate a pre booked 3* hotel, once again an only option of accomodation. This provided a luxury stop with air conditioning and a swimming pool! Not on the plan and Rob, the finance director, needed a few beers to take away the bitter taste, but the stay was subsidised by team Price to ease his concerns.

PV's arrival was greeted  with excitement and respect to his 70 mile solo achievement.

There were many occasions in the forthcoming days that found us struggling to negotiate steep, narrow, dark, cobbled streets with one way systems and this day was one of them. TOM TOM was becoming, at times, a rather frustrating companion who liked to set us challeges of our own. Obviously a friend of Mr. Garmin!

DAY 18

So, today a 5 person crew thrust their way on 2 wheels South through Spain. It was always an education to listen to the quick witted banter that ran as a commentary throughout the day and general male micky taking that only men can get away with. The planned stop for the end of the day saw a very resourceful team check into another low star hotel on an industrial estate, and then set up a picnic in the Shell garage forecourt to the amusement of everyone. Functional and happy but not salubrious!

DAY 19

Toasted bread spread with liquid tomatoes and olive oil did not provide the lads with enough subsitence for the day but it became apparent that this was the staple diet for the region. Arrival at our only 3rd camping night of the week gave the team another challenge on how to put pegs into rock solid ground, especially in 40 degrees heat. PV refused all offers of help as he set to to create a wooden rail system of anchoring guy ropes, whilst L and M, with their hateful tent that had a pole that was too long and saw the fly sheet raised 2 feet off the ground, were as laid back as ever and simply used rocks. Then there was F and R who had superior nail pegs that would pierce a granite rock. A'shopping' expedition was swiftly suggested and all the cyclists disappeared for a couple of hours returning with stories of a 300 beer variety bar.

We found ourselves fully included in a competive game of water polo/ rugby which enabled any leftover energy, of which there seemed to be plenty, to be expelled.

DAY 20

Breakfast in the dark as routine, Julian's porridge making was carefully overseen by Laurie to allow him to redeem his porridge making prowess.

The longest, hardest day was to be underway as a revised schedule meant they had to cover  a 90 mile course to Gibraltar.What was noticeable was the move towards these sorts of distances no longer producing shock but an eagerness and a normal everyday mileage.Amazing.

The last leg started as a quiet affair with some lacking that vital energy and weariness starting to set in, clues that psychologically they were winding down. However, spirits lifted as the day went on and adrenalin flowed. The scenery became spectacular with long, winding descents and climbs to keep them fully focused and remind them of what they are able to achieve. This undoubtedly became, for us, one of the most enjoyable days, seeing the determination and high spirits despite the physical endurance.

Gibraltar rock loomed on the landscape and marked their finishing post for cycling! We were privileged to be included in that night's celebrations, which ended in a raucous 3 am karoke and high jinx. We then said our goodbyes leaving the 4 athletes to the casino.

What a trip, what a highlight of our lives, what a fantastic, successful 4 man ( Plus guests) team,

Thank you.

Some notable remarks:

-Amount of water drunk averaged 20 litres per day, shopped for at any stop we could find.

-We still don't know who Jason is!

-"Fred have you checked your tent for your wallet?" ....." Yes, it isn't in there".

- Rob is now the official bottom inspector, an expert in signs, symptoms and treatment of saddle sore syndrome.

-Laurie the sun worshipper who under his parent's constant watch was not allowed to catch the rays without protection factor 100.

-Markie never scorched his fingers in the cookie jar, preferring sardines and bananas.

-Paul for being a really good Uncle to them all.

-Mr Garmin is boss no matter if arranged to meet support team at another pre determined destination.

We have just flown from Gibraltar to London with tears in our eyes as we fully comprehended the absolute distance and terrain navigated by the A2A team!

An unbelievable achievement.

Xx