Day 2 — Moved by Determination

If Day 1 was about uncertainty, Day 2 was about belief and determination.

We woke up at our campsite near Gatwick knowing that, on paper, this would be the hardest stage of the journey. Nearly 79 km (49 miles) ahead of us, long climbs waiting in the final third of the route, another hot day, tired legs from the day before… and yes, very sore bottoms too.

But something had changed overnight.

From the moment we started riding, I could feel it: Teresa wasn’t afraid anymore.

She truly believed she could do it.

And that changed everything.

The day began with a small challenge straight away when part of the cycle path was closed for works, forcing us into an unexpected detour. It was one of those moments that can easily drain momentum early in a ride, especially when you know there’s a long day ahead.

But after that, the route opened into some of the most beautiful trails we’ve ridden so far.

Miles and miles of tree-lined paths stretched ahead of us, with thick green canopies creating tunnels of shade from the heat. The tracks rolled smoothly through forests and countryside, quiet except for the sound of tyres on gravel and birds hidden in the woods around us. Some sections felt endless in the best possible way, gentle flowing trails where you could simply settle into a rhythm and keep moving forward.

And for the first time on this trip, we had full logistics support.

Mum and David met us at key points during the day with cold water, snacks, and proper meals. Honestly, it was a complete game changer. Knowing support was waiting ahead lifted such a huge mental and physical burden from us. It allowed us to focus entirely on the ride, and it made a massive difference to our energy and morale.

Then came the climbs.

Three long climbs waiting for us in the final third of the route. The kind that make your legs burn and your breathing heavy. The kind where every metre feels earned.

So we did our little trick: we turned the music up when things got hard to the sound of Paul Russell - Lil Boo Thang 🫣

That song carried us uphill. It kept the rhythm going, kept the mood high, and somehow made the suffering lighter.

But perhaps the most memorable moment of the day had nothing to do with cycling.

In the middle of the road, Teresa spotted a hurt robin.

Without hesitation, she stopped and carried it carefully to safety, away from danger, giving it water and trying everything she could to help. Even after climbing uphill and continuing the route, she insisted we go back, not once, but three times, just to make sure the little bird was still safe.

That moment got stuck in my head…

Tired legs, aching muscles, sore bottoms, heat, hard climbs… and still caring more about helping something vulnerable than about herself.

We finally reached the Cuckoo Trail, and it felt magical. A long, gentle descending path stretching for around 10 km (6 miles), smooth and peaceful, carrying us effortlessly towards the campsite. After the pain of the climbs, it felt like floating.

And just like that, Day 2 was complete.

Strangely, despite being a much harder and more demanding route than Day 1, it actually felt easier.

Not because the climbs were smaller.

Not because the heat was lower.

Not because the distance was shorter.

But because the doubts were gone.

From the very beginning of the day, we believed we were going to make it.

And that makes all the difference.