ALL CHANGE FOR 21st BIKE RIDE IN 2006

- Tue 25th Oct 2005

IT is with some relief as we sail into calmer waters and our plans for next year come together, at last!
The changes that we have made to the route and destinations have been forced upon us by the withdrawal of P&O from Portsmouth, but it was time for a few changes anyway, as we have had basically the same ride for a few years now, with only fairly minor tweaking each year.
It's goodbye to Cherbourg and Caen, which we have been visiting on the 5-Day event for the last few years and hello to Chartres, twinned with Chichester, and to Dieppe, our new departure port for coming back to England.
The new ferry companies we are using are Louis Dreyfus, for the crossing from Portsmouth to Le Havre for both outgoing rides (9th July for the 5-Day and 11th July for the 3-Day event) and Transmanche from Dieppe for all on the return crossing on Saturday, 15th July.
This means that we shall be in Dieppe for the Bastille Day celebrations on Friday 14th July and getting back from Newhaven to Hayling on the Saturday, which presents quite a challenge in itself!
We are hoping that the bike ride's first visit to Chartres will be a rewarding experience.
Plenty more details in the months to come.    

SPONSORSHIP
Sponsorship pledges from cyclists taking part in this year's event now exceed a phenomenal £100,000! Truly a reason to celebrate!

20th RIDE REUNION DINNER
The celebration took take place on Friday 21st October - Trafalgar Day - at the Royal British Legion on Hayling Island.
Since it was such a special occasion, we organised it in grand style, rather than the normal informal reunion.
Over 150 riders, support crew and supporters had a great evening, graced with the presence of our MP, David Willetts, and the new editors of the Hayling Islander.
David re-presented the newly-engraved bike ride awards and proposed the toast to the memory of Lord Nelson, on this special day in the history of Great Britain.
There was an excellent buffet and music was provided by the Crooners - the band who played for us in Le Havre. Several thousand pounds of sponsorship money was handed in and we were able to inform riders that our pledged amount had gone over the £100,000, to the surprised delight of all. It was such a busy evening that we didn't even have time to show the great video of this year's ride, produced by Councillor David Collins, normally the centre-piece of the annual reunion.
This will now be shown on the Father Christmas ride on Sunday, 18th December, so please try to make sure that you join us. 

RESERVATION FORMS FOR THE 21st RIDE 2006
Reservation forms are now out, so that riders can book their place, with a £75 reservation fee.
So book your place now! New entry forms will be available later in the year, once ferry prices have been resolved - indications are that we will not need to increase the price from this year.

Phone enquiries to 023 9246 1412 or by post to Paris to Hayling, PO Box 30, Hayling Island, Hants, PO11 9UD. Mobile - 07770-888501. Also Jenny Phelps on 023-9226-9311 or 07810-568172.
Website - http://www.hayling-cycle-ride.org.uk
e-mail address - paul.fisher69@ntlworld.com

PAUL FISHER  23/10/2005

By forum user, PaulFisher