Kilkenny to M ret-sur-Loing and Paris.

Captain Havoc

Hi guys,
I know I discussed something similar in the past and I've just gone ahead and booked it anyway for myself (moment of madness). I'll be cycling from Kilkenny to Môret-sur-Loing (Kilkennys twin town) and on up to Paris afterwards (not too far away). The route is the following:
Stage 1. Kilkenny to Rosslare
Stage 2. Fishguard to Cardiff
Stage 3. Cardiff to Bristol
Stage 4. Bristol to Portsmouth followed by a rest day
Stage 5. Cherbourg to Caen
Stage 6. Caen to Alencon
Stage 7. Alencon to Orléans
Stage 8. Orléans to Môret-sur-Loing via Montargis (to watch the stage 5 sprint finish of the Tour de France).
I'll be heading down to Montargis the following day and back to Môret that evening and then it's up to Paris for a few well earned beers. I leave Kilkenny on the 30th June and getting a flight from Paris on the 11th.

If anyone wants to join me, PM me and I can give you a list of cheap ass budget hotels, they're all F1 and Etap and the average rate is about €35 per room (for twin) and which boats and flight I'm taking. I still need to book hotels in Rosslare, Cardiff, Bristol and Paris (I'm hoping to find a mates couch in Paris). If anyone does come, I'm not expecting anyone to raise money for charity or anything like that, and you'll be totally responsible for yourself.

I'm doing this for a local charity the Susie Long Hospice Fund and I've set up a site via mycharity.ie where you can support my cause. All online donations go directly to the hospice and means less hastle for me. This cycle is not organised through anyone, I just thought that it would be nice to use my summer holiday as an excuse to raise money for charity.

Thank you very much.
Captain Havoc.

Beasty

I thought I'd give this one a bit of a bump for you Captain Havoc, and at the same time, I want to add a bit of flavour, and hopefully encourage a few more boardsies to pledge support to your worthwhile cause.

I look to give the money I save by commuting to work on a bike, as opposed to driving (fuel, depreciation etc) to charity, and the current "arrangements" I have with another charity expires on 31 March (co-incidentally, the day I am due to get the cast off my arm)

Anyway, it seems to make sense to me to do something with a cycling angle, and so I am proposing to donate the money I save between 1 April and 30 June (the day your epic adventure commences) to the Susie Long Hospice Fund, helping you towards your target

I'm not promising to cycle in every day - I need to take it a bit easy when I first get back on the road, and also have my new racing career to think about(:D), but I should still manage 2-3 days most weeks (assuming no further calamities!)

Captain Havoc

Thanks Beasty that means a lot, I haven't forgotten about the maillot jaune either

Captain Havoc

Hi all,
I know reviving zombie threads is unpopular. Any road, you've all seen the photos, the route and the training diary (which hasn't been updated in a while) but I'm only four days away from leaving. I just got off the blower there from the PRO of the hospice and it looks like they're trying to organise a bit of fanfair for me. Launching me will be the mayor of Kilkenny, welcoming me on the other side will be the mayor of Moret sur-Loing. The motorway photos are going to be in this weeks Kilkenny People and the launch photos will be in Fridays Advertiser and the following weeks Kilkenny People (according to plan). I've already appeared in this weeks Kilkenny Reporter (yes I am a media whore). On top of this they want to do a live feed with me on the local radio station, KCLR in the afternoon.
All this has got me thinking: PLEASE DON'T FÜCK THIS UP CAPTAIN HAVOC, AAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! The PRO asked me if I was nervious and how well was I prepared? I said, no, not nervous, it's grand, I'm well prepared, just relaxing and taking it easy now, I feel great (I'm actually in bed with food poisoning)
I'm going to be travelling ultra light, I've the cue sheets printed, accomodation printed, I only need to book a room for the last night. I've my camera and helmet cam to post up here. Spare, tubes, an old tyre, foam, pump, multi-tool, levers, lock, runners, trousers, socks (white of course), clean jocks, spare kit and that's about it.
I am doing this for a good cause (Susie Long Hospice Fund) and I'm making a final plea for a few yoyos which can be donated online or you can just support by joining the facebook page. Of the €1,000 already collected, the boards crew has been the biggest contributors, which I thank sincerely.
Thanks all and if I get into trouble, I'm really happy that boards is a great resource for me.
TTFN
Captain Havoc.

abcdggs

"declan moffit, glenamaddy, the besht of luck"

Captain Havoc

I was just wondering, if the mayor of Moret is talking to me before I arrive and asks if there's anything I need on arrival, should I ask for "un podium avec deux filles"?

Beasty

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I was just wondering, if the mayor of Moret is talking to me before I arrive and asks if there's anything I need on arrival, should I ask for "un podium avec deux filles"?

I am sure the mayor has absolutely no idea what he is letting himself in for.

None of the local filles will be safe when Havoc breaks loose in his quiet French town . One day a book will be written about the Captain's exploits on this epic adventure

Toblerone1978

What time are you leaving on Wedneday and where? If I can get the time off work, I'll come down to make sure you're gone see you off.

Esroh

Go N'eiri an Bothar leat Cap.

Captain Havoc

Esroh wrote: »

Go N'eiri an Bothar leat Cap.

Go raibh maith agat Llapac

Toblerone1978 wrote: »

What time are you leaving on Wedneday and where? If I can get the time off work, I'll come down to make sure you're gone see you off.

I don't know at the minute, the hospice is organising the launch but I'll be informed tomorrow. Seriously, how many other people get media coverage and a launch from the mayor for their holidays?

Limestone1

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Seriously, how many other people get media coverage and a launch from the mayor for their holidays?

Well it is Kilkenny so anything not to do with hurling is bound to be seen as a weird and strange curiosity !!

Anyway , best of luck ...

Beasty

Good luck Captain Havoc, and don't forget to bring back the yellow jersey.

damoz

Bon voyage ! Nice way to spend the hols..

Captain Havoc

Beasty wrote: »

Good luck Captain Havoc, and don't forget to bring back the yellow jersey.

Thank you Beasty and damoz, I'll be wearing my 2008 one, if that's OK with you? I've nothing prepared, I'm in work today, I haven't put the rack on my bike, it may not even fit. I still have to wash my cycling gear, pack my bag and buy a spare tube. I knew I had to go to the LBS in Carlow this morning but owing to 4 hours of slumber I forgot what it was for, I need a new cassette but I'll survive on the one I have. As I mentioned in the Broomwagon, I just bought 11 SD cards, so hoping for plenty of footage and snaps, I already have the soundtrack picked out Each card only has one hour of footage as they're 2gb and the camera won't accept SDHC cards. I need to find the handlebar mount, hopefully there'll be a couple of "fookin' 'ell, that lorry nearly knocked me over, must a bin as close as 20 meters away" moments The cycle routes through Wales and England look promising but haven't a scooby doo about France (I used to live in Paris, which really isn't France). I just need to put a sign on my handlebars says "look left numbnuts".

ashleey

Good luck and be prepared for a long long hill out of Cherbourg

Captain Havoc

I forgot to mention, check out www.kilkennypeople.ie tomorrow, where there's supposed to be an article about my holiday epic journey. The press release from the hospice is here. Also €1276 has been donated to the hospice via the mycharity page which is the most important thing Oh yeah, and the local radio KCLR will be ringing me in the afternoon at some points along the route, I believe it's the afternoon show between 15h00 and 19h00.

So if I cock this up, the whole feckin county will know about it and I'll have to emmigrate far away to somewhere like Louth.

cdaly_

Best of luck lad...

Captain Havoc

UPDATE: Official launch time tomorrow is 15h00 outside the castle with the mayor, photographers and others. Will be on KCLR at around 15h30, ye can listen online.

Peetrik

best of luck!

abcdggs

All i can say is you better win after all this hype if you don;t come out with at least a podium finish you'll be a laughing stock.

The tax man

Best of luck Captain H. Hope you have a safe journey.

Hauk

G'luck dude! Get a bottle of Calvados over there. Gets ya bucked!

Captain Havoc

First day done. 106km in 5h12mins. A whole load of messing about was going on get prepared, the rack only got installed an hor before the official launch and the bag was packed about five minutes before due to family things. Got launched by the mayor of Kilkenny, some people to see me off and photos for the local papers. Did an interview for local radio, first time was too windy so they rang me back and we did a proper one. Once the radio interview was done, I was on my way. The weather was threatening the whole way down but it never got to more than a couple of drops. I also managed to take my first wrong turn and I wasn't even out of my own county, I wasn't paying any attention and was in a world of my own when I passed Jerpoint abbey about 3kms past Thomastown, there I was thinking, "yeah up the road, turn at Ballyhale, wait, why am I going to Ballyhale?" So I turned around and headed back to Thomastown and back on route to Instioge, New Ross, where I grabbed a sambo, Wexford and Rosslare Harbour. Hotel kitchen is closed but there's a dodgey looking chipper beside it so I got a curry chip, to carb up. I feel fine, I'm going to head to bed now. Internet is a bit steep €2 for 16mins. Boat leaves at 9 in the morning, arrives in Fishguard at 12 and I hope to be in Cardiff for about 21h00. I feel grand, not too tired.
As previously mentioned, I don't like water and I hate passionately travelling by boat, despite the fact it is very comfortable.
I probably won't be writting here tomorrow as it'll be late when I arrive in Cardiff.
TTFN

AstraMonti

Best of luck man!

Beasty

So who is the "Lady at the Castle" then Captain?

Captain Havoc

Oh, I forgot to mention at the end of the interview yer one that interviewed me said 'on yer bike'. I couldn't say anything.

Beasty

Beasty wrote: »

Good luck Captain Havoc, and don't forget to bring back the yellow jersey.

Delighted to see the Dan Martin jersey donated by RobFowl is doing well in its auction thread. Unfortunately it would probably be inappropriate for me to bid for that one - much better that it goes to an Irishman.

I know how much that yellow jersey means to you, so I will offer €50 to your charity for it, assuming it has a genuine "Captain Havoc" signature, and clearly after you have delivered on your commitment to wear it in a sportive (ideally the Tour de Kilkenny) alongside me this summer.

Esroh

Beasty wrote: »

Delighted to see the Dan Martin jersey donated by RobFowl is doing well in its auction thread. Unfortunately it would probably be inappropriate for me to bid for that one - much better that it goes to an Irishman.

I know how much that yellow jersey means to you, so I will offer €50 to your charity for it, assuming it has a genuine "Captain Havoc" signature, and clearly after you have delivered on your commitment to wear it in a sportive (ideally the Tour de Kilkenny) alongside me this summer.

Beasty I'll match the 50 euro just to see him wear it in Tour KK

Captain Havoc

Got to Fishguard,it was bucketing down. Took a wrong turn ended up going towards St. avd, realised my mistake and turned back to Fishguard. It just kept coming down, eventually it was so bad I couldn't see more than a few meters. After 4h30m + and 90kms I decided that it would be too dangerous for me to continue on. My club mates will tell you, I'm not one for shying away from a bit of rain but this really was too much. Got train from Carmarthen to Cardiff.

Captain Havoc

In light of yesterdays abandoness, I decided that today should be a bit longer. Marked at 60kms, I decided that I would follow the national cycle route which would add a few kms on. The route took me to Carphilly, Newport, Caldicot, Chepstow and Bristol. The national cycle route is a great idea but not sitable for me. Parts of the road are on dirt tracks, one part took me through a field, where there were no signs and I got lost, other parts signs go missing. Tomorrow it'll be back on A and B roads. The upside is that it brought me down some lovely country lanes and always on a safe route. I kept having to go really slow though. When I arrived in Bristol this evening I had a full three couse meal. Big breakfast will be had in the morning. There was a couple of lycra clad ladies going up a lane, Captain Havoc made sure to ease past them I got into a chain gang with some Polish guys near Bristol Also, looking for directions: "sorry wil this road take me to Bristol?" Englander: "yes, do you want the shortest route oor by the port route, it's lovely?" CH"No, I just want the shortest way" Englander "well if you go down this road etc.. it'll bring you down the port route, it's really nice for cycling" CH "Thanks" He was right, it is a lovely route but I've been to Bristol 568 million times already but ayway, it would only haveaded a k or two. 116.9kms 6h27 ave 18.1, we're going to have to go a bit harder tomorrow. By the way, this keyboard is annoying the hell out of me, have to stamp my finger to make it work. Can't check facebook either

Esroh

Fair call Cap. You willl just have to get a pair of yellow Shorts for the TKK to make up for it:D