Monday 13th May – Day One
London to Brussels

And we’re off...!  Registration started at 10am at St Pancras International after an amazing day at the Heroes Concert at Twickenham. We met our American Wounded guests from Operation Comfort http://www.operationcomfort.org/ who arrived at Heathrow Airport. We were greeted by the Army Air Corp band to get us in the mood by sending us off to the sound of 1940s music. Friends and family said their goodbyes and it was through to departures to board the train.

The journey passed in a flash but there was still plenty of time for a few beers and lots of catching up with seasoned H4H Bike Riders who are on their second, third or even fourth ride as well as welcoming first timers.
We arrived in the hotel and enjoyed a delicious three course meal, a few more beers before retiring for the night ready for our 6am start in the morning.  Everyone’s really excited to actually get out on the bikes tomorrow, first stop is the British Embassy where we’ll be greeted by VIP guests - can’t wait to get started!

Jess xx

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Tuesday 14th September - Day 2
Brussels - Leuven
Cycle - approx 75 miles

Up at 6am today, to the British Embassy for breakfast and a welcome from the British Ambassador before our ride to Leuven. After the reception at the Embassy, we headed to the Avenue Montgomery for the start. Everyone was buzzing this morning, despite the early start, and really looking forward to collecting the bikes and getting started.

General Bill sent our riders off with a moving speech, quoting H4H as 'a most extraordinary charity', and with the wave of an H4H flag, the ride had officially begun!

The cyclists rode for around 15 miles, south from Brussels, before arriving at the Butte du Lion or Lion's Hill. This was one of the main sites of the historic Battle of Waterloo, which was our focus for the day. There was plenty to see and do and see and after a tea stop we were split into three groups and circulated between the Butte du Lion, Hougoumont Farm and Enniskillen.

The Butte du Lion was built to commemorate the location where William II of the Netherlands was knocked from his horse by a musket ball to the shoulder during battle and from the top you could see one of the best preserved battlefields in Europe where 300,000 men from 7 nations faced one another.

There was also a private wreath laying by Emma Parry and Simon Vandeleur, whose ancestors had fought alongside each other at Waterloo, before the hungry cyclists stocked up on lunch.

The next stage of the ride was 40 miles, heading to Leuven. En route there was a short rolling guide stop at Quatre Bras (a battle between the allied British-German-Dutch-Belgian army against the French) as well as a well needed tea break, many thanks to NAAFI for providing that comforting cuppa!

The final stretch to the hotels included a particularly painful and surprising hill but despite a few aching limbs and a couple of bike malfunctions, everyone made it back safe and sound.

Another delicious three course meal, a few very deserving beers and it was time for bed. Not quite such an early start tomorrow but a 47 mile stretch to start us off.

It's been an amazing first day and so inspirational seeing the camaraderie between the riders – I'm even starting to feel the onset of the cycling bug creeping in....watch this space!

Until tomorrow,

Jess xx

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Wednesday 15th Sept - Day 3
Leuven - Antwerp
Cycle - approx 75 miles

We had a bit (!) of a lie in this morning with riders setting off on a beautiful morning, at 8.30am for a solid cycle of just under 50 miles to Breendonk Fort.

Belgium has not been spared the horror of Nazism and its concentration camps and the fortress of Breendonk is a moving and striking example, as well as being one of the best conserved camps in Europe.  During the Nazi occupation of Belgium, from 1940, the fort was turned into a concentration camp that mainly held Jews, freedom fighters and politicians who were against the regime.

The building itself is very dark and grey looking and we were able to look around and try to understand what life was like for detainees.  It was hard to take in the cramped living conditions that were endured as well as the torture chamber and execution square, where a private wreath laying ceremony took place to remember those who lost their lives.

After a moving look around the Fort, everyone was back on their bikes ready for the next stage – 15 miles to Antwerp.  The route today brought us right up to the Second World War, 1944 and the Liberation of Antwerp. We were very fortunate to be joined by three extraordinary men who told us their stories of what they remember when they were actually at Antwerp themselves and laid a wreath of remembrance of those who fought and lost their lives here. 

John Painter (who is also Bryn's 84 year old 'Uncle John' and who is travelling with us on the ride) started by telling us his memories of when he was a young 19 year old subaltern  and part of the 11th Armoured Division of the Rifle Brigade, Stanley Williams was also serving after joining the British Army in 1942. Stanley was part of the 11th Armoured Brigade too and told us of his experience at Antwerp.  He was injured at Antwerp after being hit twice by a flying bomb and gave an emotional talk about how 23 people from his regiment are buried not far from where the ceremony was being held. He told us how he went to try and save his comrades but he was too late, they had all been killed.  The 3rd speaker was Des Van Freight who was  5 years old when the war stopped. He remembered seeing his first soldier, who was German, when he was 4 who gave him so sweets.  Later on he told us how he saw the same soldier then shooting through the windows of all the houses in the street and his mother having to shelter him from the shots.

All three stories were very touching and it was really interesting hearing 3 different experiences of the liberation of Antwerp. After the speeches wreaths were laid, the last post was sounded and the bagpipes were played, a minutes' silence was held where we could all reflect. 

A drinks reception was held in a nearby bar where we were able to speak further with the three veterans before heading back to the hotel for supper and bed.

It's been quite an emotional day today but everyone's been fantastic, it's great to see so many smiling faces and the determination to keep going is phenomenal – perhaps that's got something to do with the fairly flat roads today in comparison to yesterday's hills! 

Tomorrow we make our way to Eindhoven, a mere 80 miles to cover, where we will be visiting a number of cemeteries, and perhaps a little surprise, before starting the route of Operation Market Garden...

Goodnight,

Jess xx

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Thursday 16th Sept – Day 4
Antwerp - Eindhoven
Cycle – 80 miles

We woke to a beautiful morning; the sun was shining, delicious breakfast and 52 miles to our first stop of Lommel German Cemetery.

Dark gravestones were a stark contrast to the typical porcelain white headstones you see at the British Cemeteries. There was a chance to walk around the graves where nearly 39,000 members of the German forces were laid to rest, 542 of them were WW1 soldiers, sailors and airmen and the rest were WW2.  A ceremony was held and a H4H wreath was laid.  

After the thought provoking service, it was back on the bikes and a quick ride to Klein Brogel Airfield for a surprise landing of 1944 Dakota, an aircraft that saw wide spread use by the Allies during WW2.  The rain was coming in hard and the morale was staring to fall whilst we were waiting for the Dakota to land.  To keep everyone going, Uncle John filled in with some additional stories about his incredible journey from Antwerp to Eindhoven.  Suddenly, luck was on our side, the rain started to ease off, the sun came out and everyone was able  to enjoy the Dakota.

Once the plane landed, we were greetedby 91 year old Arnhem veteran, Vic Gregg, who was dropped as a young para in 1944.  It was fantastic to hear his real life stories and reminded everyone of the personal traumas endured by our veterans of the Second World War.

We then moved on to JOEs Bridge where we were to start Operation Market Garden.  Simon Vandeleur then told us of his Godfather, Lieutenant Colonel J.O.E Vandeleur. J.O.E Vandeleur commanded the Irish Guards who captured the bridge in September 1944, completing the encirclement of German troops in Hechtel.  As soon as Simon had finished, the heavens opened once again and we were subjected to another downpour so it was time to get going again. After JOEs bridge, we moved on to the Valkenswaard Cemetery where the people we remembered at JOEs bridge were laid to rest.  Whilst we were there, the cemetery record showed us the name a widow of one of the dead who had visited just today.

It was then a short ride into the Netherlands,  back to the hotel for supper and to watch 'A Bridge Too Far' film in advance of the journey we are about to take over the next few days.

The cycle paths today were much better, especially for the wider hand bikes.  Drivers were much more considerate too which made it a lot easier for everyone.

The cycling bug is getting bigger and stronger and a chance text from a friend and ex-colleague suggesting taking part in next year's ride has prompted that even more...!  Continue to watch this space... J

Jess xx

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Friday 17th Sept – Day 5
Eindhoven - Nijmegen
Cycle – 70 miles

Leaving Eindhoven this morning, we continued to follow the Allied route of Operation Market Garden with a focus on the USA as this was the route taken by the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division whose role it was to secure the highway and its bridges which linked Eindhoven to Nijmegen.

The first stop was a wreath laying at the Son Bridge which was done by our American guests.  It was an extremely emotional laying this morning and got me, in particular, very chocked up and from looking around, there weren't many dry eyes.

Having wiped away the tears, it was back on the bikes to head to Leunen, via Venray and Overloon Cemeteries where Uncle John found the stones of some of his friends and comrades he fought alongside in 1944 and told us some of his memories of them.

The next part of the ride took us through some beautiful countryside and the guys from Headley Court donned the fancy dress and did the next section of the ride dressed as characters from Star Wars!  As they passed through a village on the way, our piper was poised ready to greet them with the Star Wars theme tune on the bagpipes. It was a great moment!

Today also included a stop where we were shown the modern day medical equipment that's used to treat people in Afghanistan when they are injured.  Uncle John gave us an account of when he was injured and what happened to him as well as telling everyone what it meant to see them riding in support of Help for Heroes doing something to support the modern day wounded servicemen and women.

We then arrived at the at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery which was created after the Second World War when the fallen were brought in from all over western Germany and is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the country. We laid a wreath in memory of those fallen and at the end of the laying, a surprise convoy of Gliders went overhead for us.

It was then back on the bikes for the last push into Leunen for supper and a rest! Another great day, with the contrast of emotions from this morning at the Son Bridge and the cemeteries to seeing the guys from Headley Court lift the spirits of everyone in their fancy dress and with their constant determination.

The big day tomorrow, I can't believe the week is already nearly over.  Everyone has been fantastic and I have huge admiration for everyone who has ridden on this ride.

Until tomorrow...

Jess xx

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Saturday 18th Sept – Day 6
Nijmegen - Arnhem
Cycle – 40 miles

The last day! And what a day...

It was a final 40 miles into Arnhem, with an early start, leaving the hotels at 6.15am!  As it was really early in the morning the roads were much kinder today with not much traffic.

There was lots to see and do today, starting with a series of rolling guide stops at memorials along the route, firstly at the 82nd Airborne Monument before another moving wreath laying ceremony at the Engineers Monument.  It was then onto Driel where a more private ceremony was held in memory of the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade who were dropped amidst heavy German fire. 

After the series of ceremonies, it was a short ride before we arrived into Arnhem to cross the John Frost Bridge – A Bridge Too Far!  There was a feeling of elation knowing that we were nearly there and certainly felt like we'd seen plenty of bridges to get us there! A group shot was taken at the bridge then we were escorted through town to Ginkel Heath.  This weekend is that of the Anniversary of the Battle at Arnhem so we joined hundreds of British and American troops for a grand ceremony on the heath where the paratroopers jumped in.  Uncle John and Vic Gregg were seated in the VIP area amongst other Veterans of the Battle.

After the anniversary ceremony was over, it was back to the bikes for the last cycle through the zones of the heaviest fighting of the entire Operation Market Garden where we met with some extraordinary people who were there at the time.  We also remembered Major Robert Cain who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Battle of Arnhem and who also happens to be Francie Clarkson's father, who was on the ride.

It's been an incredible week, I've met some awesome and inspirational people and it's very humbling to see the dedication of all the riders who took part to just keep going despite the long days (and sometimes longer than told miles...thanks DA!).

That's it for riding now but tomorrow we have our final day together starting with the Official Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Airborne Cemetery, where we are very priviledged to be able to lay a H4H wreath before the journey back to the UK.

Jess xx

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Sunday 19th September – Day 7
Arnhem - Brussels - London

We had a much needed lie in today after perhaps a few too many (but very well deserved) beers last night at the celebratory meal. It was fantastic for everyone to get together and share stories of the ride. Bryn gave a brilliant speech culminating in why we were all there doing our bit for the men and women of our Armed Forces who need our support. We had yet another delicious three course meal before the auction started which included some fantastic prizes such as a holiday, a hot air ballon ride and a signed Chelsea football. Ivan, one of our American Wounded guests from Operation Comfort who is blind, did an amazing job of hosting the auction and raising an amazing £10,000! Thanks to everyone here for their support.

This morning we were taken by coach straight to the Airborne Cemetery for the official annual wreath laying ceremony where we were privileged to lay a H4H wreath. The ceremony got underway; there were a phenomenal amount of people at the event, from all across the world, all paying their respects.

The guys from Headley Court and Operation Comfort were seated in the VIP area but due to time restraints we had to leave the ceremony early and tried to ‘sneak out’. As we were doing so we had to walk through the crowd of people, once we got up the crowd started to clap, the clapping spread and by the time we were nearly at the exit, the whole crowd were on their feet, thousands of people applauding our guys who had lost limbs, were blind or were suffering from brain trauma during the service of their country. It was an incredible and extremely emotional moment, one I will personally not forget for a long time and I know it meant an enormous amount to the guys too.

Once everyone had composed themselves, it was onto the coaches for the final leg to Brussels, onto the Eurostar, before arriving in London in the evening to be greeted by friends and family before making our way home.

I’ve had an absolute ball this week, it’s been one of the best experiences of my life and I am determined I will be doing the next ride on a bike – I’ve have even been challenged to do it on a hand bike to really experience what the guys have been through...!

Please do have a look at all the pictures and watch the videos on the blog, share with friends and family and spread the word. If this ride has given you the bug to do something more, don’t forget to check out the H4H Challenges page where next year’s events are all listed. There’s plenty to choose from; from two more bike rides to the Nepal or Costa Rica treks.

Signing off, until next time...

Jess xx

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