Rest Day!

This is our first rest day after 8 days cycling.We are in Roanne which is very hot and so it finally feels like we have made it south after the rain of the first few days.

Its also the first town that we have been to that has internet..  so this is where we have been so far..


Day 1 PARIS - MACHAUT

Day 2 MACHAUT - SENS

Day 3 SENS - MONETEAU

Day 4 MONETEAU - CLAMECY

Dqy 5  CLAMECY - CHATILLON EN BAZOISE

Day 6  CHATILLON - DEZICE

Day 7 DEZICE - DIGOIN

Day 8  DIGOIN - ROANNE


Now im off to savour staying put for two whole nights...

Handlebar Drums

We leave today! Electrelane! Whoop! Thanks for your donations : )

Guest Post

Andy Edwards at the Refugee Services at the British Red Cross explains how the International Tracing service works:

The London Refugee & International Tracing Service assists vulnerable refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in times of crisis with support and advice and links together families and loved ones. The Refugee Support Service provides advocacy and advice, helping asylum seekers and new refugees get legal representation, hostel places, medical care, NASS support and benefits payments. It is one of the principle agencies in London for destitute asylum seekers, supplying food vouchers and essential clothing and toiletries to these clients. The International Tracing and Message Service assists in tracing separated family members and relaying family messages where normal lines of communication (eg postal services) have broken down as a result of conflict, political upheaval, natural disaster or migration. Many ITMS service users are refugees and asylum seekers (including unaccompanied minors) who wish to initiate tracing enquiries to find parents, siblings, children, etc. They will be without news of their loved ones and their loss may be a recent one or may have occurred many years ago, for example due to World War II.

Phoenix

Red Cross Refugee Services

Here's a quick overview of the Refugee Services that the Red Cross offer...

Orientation - Short-term suport to help particularly vulnerable and newly arrived refugees. The Red Cross match the refugees with volunteers who speak their language to suport them in the first steps of life in the UK.

Destitution - Support for refugees that have been cut off from all welfare services and so rely entirely on the help of the Red Cross. Support for young people and refugee women - The Red Cross peer befriending volunteers offer a friendly welcome in an uncertain environment, providing useful advice and helping young refugees to develop their language and social skills. Female refugees often come from countries where their rights have been restricted, the Red Cross’ Women in crisis projects provide one-to-one social and emotional support, helping clients to access their basic rights and rebuild their lives.

Family reunion and resettlement - Sometimes refugees flee persecution in their own country only to find that the country in which they seek asylum cannot offer protection or basic human rights. Often the only safe option is for the refugees to resettle in a third country. The Red Cross help the refugees and their families reunite in this third country.

Emergency large-scale arrivals - When large numbers of people arrive in the UK following a political or humanitarian crisis, the Red Cross offers practical care and support.

Imminent

Not to scale.

Refuge.

We have decided to raise money for the Red Cross refugee services. The other day I went to an information session to learn about how to volunteer with them too. Ironically I can't because the interviews are when we'll be cycling but I did learn lots more baout the refugee services. I was particularly impressed by the International Tracing and Messaging Service which help trace family members and relay messages if communications have broken down due to war, migration and natural disasters. You can read more about it here.

And It Began.

Back in August Van and I cycled round the Lake District and discovered our thirst for touring, exploring and er, chasing sheep. It was then that we decided to take on a bigger challenge. We thought about many different options like doing a marathon or triathalon. It was when one of our closest friends told us she was going to get married in the south of France, in Uzes near Avignon that we decided to cycle there from Van's house in Paris. 775km in 16 days. With the Massif Central mountains to climb, and the heat its a big step up from a relaxed ride around the rolling hills of the Lakes. We'll post our progess on here leading up to ride. and let you know how we're getting on throughout when we can. I'm getting pretty nervous now..