Stage 7 – Landing in Dieppe and Avenue Velo Verte to Saint Saëns, Normandy – 56.5 Kms / 4hrs 9mins / 476 metres climbed Stage 7 – Landing in Dieppe and Avenue Velo Verte to Saint Saëns, Normandy – 56.5 Kms / 4hrs 9mins / 476 metres climbed 

Farewell to the white cliffs of Blighty off Newhaven. Fellow passengers were very supportive of Help for Heroes.

The Dieppe landing. The Annual Dieppe Kite Festival is the “World Cup of Kite Flying” which welcomed us to the French coast. Huge contrast to the scene of the tragic WW2 Allied losses here in August 1942.

After a manic exit from Dieppe on a crowded main highway to Rouen I re-routed to The Avenue Velo Verte, the green cycleway to Paris laid on a former train track bed. Rich farmlands with many cattle grazing on green rolling hills intersected by chalk streams with Trout fisherman casting their flies. Dream cycling territory.

Chateau Mesnieres-en-Bray where a Wedding Party were expected to arrive imminently. I passed a convoy of at least 50 Wedding cars en route to the Chateau a few minutes later.

Avenue Velo Verte at Mesnieres-en-Bray – many of the former stations and platforms have been converted into attractive houses.

The Booking that never was ! After the easy cycling along The Velo Verte there was a period of tough climbing in the twilight but on checking in with a very surprised Receptionist at my overnight B&B in a splendid Chateau my heart sank when as I was informed that they weren’t expecting me. I showed them my booking only to discover that they don’t take bookings from any agency. The owner and his wife were duly summoned and on hearing that I was cycling for Help for Heroes and that there was no other accommodation for miles they very kindly allowed me to sleep in the attic of the Chateau free of charge. A Golf Touring Society, The Woodies from Colchester in Essex, were on their annual visit and in the bar the story of my charity ride soon circulated resulting in their top golfer, Richard Watts (in my opinion anyway), collecting 80 Euros for H4H. The spirit of generosity that I was experiencing bowled me over.

Your fantastic sponsorship support for Help for Heroes is hugely appreciated and really powers those pedals! Donations are always welcome by clicking here: www.justgiving.com/Remembrance100HenryEvans