Day 4 - Mum joining the ride in France

We woke up in Dieppe knowing Day 4 would be different from the adventure-filled previous stages. No ferry crossings, no busy cities, no dramatic climbs. Just a long ride into the French countryside.

And heat. A lot of heat. Again!

The day started gently enough as we rolled out of Dieppe and quickly joined what would become our companion for most of the journey: an old railway line converted into a cycle path. The surface was absolutely incredible, smooth, fast, and easy to ride on. In many ways, it was perfect cycling infrastructure.

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But after hours of following the same straight path through open countryside, it also became somehow mentally challenging. There was very little shade, very few changes in scenery, and almost no protection from the relentless sun.

From early on, it became clear that hydration would be the priority of the day.

Unlike the shaded tree-lined sections we enjoyed in England, this route exposed us completely to the heat. Water stops became essential, and we carefully managed the pace from the start. Between Teresa and whichever adult was cycling alongside her, we consumed around 10 litres of water throughout the day. Over approximately 9 hours on the road and about 5 hours of actual cycling, that worked out at roughly 0.6 litres per hour, per cyclist.

The route itself climbed gently uphill almost the entire way. Nothing dramatic, just a constant gradual drag that slowly wears down the legs over 72.8 km (45.2 miles). The kind of climb you barely notice at first, until several hours later when your energy suddenly feels heavier.

One of the nicest moments of the day came when Mum joined Teresa for half of the journey. While the two of them rode together through the French countryside, David and I switched roles and provided logistics support along the route. Having the family involved in different ways made the challenge feel even more special.

As the kilometres passed, the rhythm of the day settled in:

Ride. Drink. Stop. Cool down. Ride again.

Despite the repetitive scenery, there were still memorable moments along the way.

One of the absolute highlights was our stop in Arques-la-Bataille. We found an incredible local pâtisserie and treated ourselves to what can only be described as a gigantic macaron. It felt enormous, completely over the top, and absolutely deserved!

As the afternoon continued, the heat never really eased. The smooth railway path stretched on and on through fields and quiet villages, but Teresa kept going steadily, showing just how much she had already adapted mentally to the challenge by Day 4. The doubts and uncertainty from the first days were gone. She had found her rhythm.

By the time we finally completed the stage, tired and sun-drained, the numbers told the story:

• 73 km / 45 miles completed

• 9h total time (5h moving)

• Around 10 litres of water consumed

  
  

Not every day of an adventure is dramatic.

Some days are simply about resilience, patience, pacing yourself properly, and continuing forward under conditions that slowly test you hour after hour.

Day 4 was exactly that.