Day 11 of Milan2London Ride to London
Portsmouth to London
125km 1130m
05:45 Full English breakfast amidst slightly dazed IL team. 06:45 Disembarked, and headed to The Ship & Castle pub to rendezvous with our UK day riders. Span along the cycle paths by the upper reaches of the harbour, salt & seaweed in the air, chatting all the way. Slowly climbed out of Portsmouth & beyond, past Queen Elizabeth Country Park, over to the AM stop outside Rake Garden Centre after descending the hill where more UK riders joined us. Sandwich & iced coffee from a Co-Op before big climb over the North Downs on a quiet and steep Combe Lane. Undulations to our PM RVP at Epsom Downs, and then down into London, via cycle paths, backstreets, speed bumps, a little gravel & a bustling Battersea Park, feeling a little overwhelmed with all the people after a mostly rural 11 days on the road. Assembled at Chelsea Bridge for a final ride along Millbank to College Street Gardens where a surprisingly large crowd cheered us all in. Congratulations all round, hugs , handshakes & photos. Final roll through Parliament Square and the embankment to The Tattershall Castle where luggage was unloaded & bikes loaded onto the vans, before celebratory drinks onboard & awards ceremony.
