DAY 6 - 1000 MILES DOWN! CYCLING EVERY STAGE OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE + THE TRANSFERS

Good morning, it's day 6 of my Tour de France challenge and today, according to my roadbook down here, I've got a 172.96 mile day. Starting off with a 14 mile transfer to the start of stage 6, which is in Bayeux. Then I've got stage 6, which is 128 miles, so it's a 205km stage. Quite hilly, as you can see. This is what I've got coming up. More uphill than downhill. Then I've got a 30 mile transfer after that to the hotel and I'll do the rest of the transfer tomorrow. I have developed a little bit of heat rash on the top of my legs and unfortunately on my derriere, as they say in France. I've been putting lots of chamois cream on and I've got some nappy rash cream which seems to be helping. I'm hoping it's not going to make me feel too uncomfortable today. But there's nothing I can do about it, so I've just got to get on with it. Pain is temporary, as they say. So, let's go and see what Kyle's doing. Kyle's already packing up. It's 5.28 in the morning. No, 5.30 in the morning now. Kyle's in here packing and prepping, aren't you Kyle? Oh, better not forget my sunglasses. You alright? I've got a banana here. Thank you very much. Right then, Kyle's meeting me 50 miles in, 128 miles in and 150 miles in. Because at the 128 and 150 bit I go past there twice, so he can just stay and wait. Play the old waiting game. Right, anyway, I'm going to stop faffing and start pedalling. Stage 6, here we go. I can already tell it's a lot cooler. It's only going to be maximum 21 degrees today, so that's much nicer moving along. Yeah, let's get to Bayeux where stage 6 starts. My favourite part of the day is always the first four hours. That just seems to fly by and I'm always like, I'm a morning person anyway, so the first part of the day always is my best bit. Then as the day goes on, I start to struggle a bit more, but at least it's not going to be too hot today. I've made it to Bayeux. This is where stage 6 starts. So I'm going to go down here and see all the stuff they've put up, because I've come past a bit on the way, so I know that it's good. I'm going to have a peaky down here, then carry on. 206 kilometres this stage is, with a few hills, so I'll pretend I've got that chasing me and that'll get me up there. That's Alais. They've really gone to town here, look at this. I think this will be where their presentations are and things, because they've got a little stage ready. They've even painted all the steps. It's great. Pini, not Pini, Pantera shining. So nice. Anyway, better crank on, as I say, otherwise I'll be here all day. Oh, I've got a green light. Hang on, there's an ambulance coming. Let them go first. Nice cathedral. Right then, time to say au revoir to Bayeux. Oh, that's a nice angle of me, isn't it, down there? Gee whiz. Right, au revoir, Bayeux. 206km, let's go. Hello, mate, do you want a joust? So according to my mate Garmie down here, I've got 37 climbs to do in this stage and I've just had a look. Most of them aren't too bad, but there's six or seven that look not too nice, so we'll take them as they come. Nice slow day today. I've told Kyle I probably won't finish like 7.5, 7. We'll take it nice and steady. Remember, I've still got a really long way to go, but I will hit the 1,000 mile mark today. When I get to 158 miles today, I'll have done 1,000 miles, so that'll be really nice. So I'm feeling positive. Just got to keep going. Currently getting hailed on and Kyle's got my rain jacket. This was not good planning. We should have checked the weather. Well, we did and it didn't say it was going to rain, but I need to always carry my rain jacket on me. Hopefully it'll pass over and it won't last long. Okay, it feels like it's stopping a little bit, but I'm going to get my rain jacket when I see Kyle because it might be on and off all day. I don't know, but I'm wet now. Maybe have a kit change when I see Kyle. I might put some fresh shorts on. Don't want to be riding in wet shorts because it's not going to help the rash. Okay, so I'm a bit scared. There's thunder I can hear and I've just seen loads of lightning coming in the direction of me. And I'm quite high up at the minute. Almost a thousand feet up. So I'm a little bit scared because I think the thunderstorm is about to come and I'm near this bad boy. I'm only 11 miles from Kyle. So I'm just reminding myself I've ridden through a thunderstorm in Spain before and I was fine. Just keep going. You're going to be okay. Just ride. Keep riding. That's thunder. It's going to get me down. I've got descent now. Get me down off here. I'm scared. Come on, Amy. It's only a bit of thunder. Keep going. Holy pine cones. Now I'm in the storm. Get me to Kyle. I don't like this. I do not like it. Okay, I think I've escaped the thunderstorm for now. It's over there. That was scary. I thought I was going to get struck by lightning. Oh, it looks brighter over there. So hopefully it will brighten up. But I'm going to get my raincoat from Kyle. Six miles away from him. Yeah. The power of nature. Something to be reckoned with. Not to be reckoned with, actually. Oh, I've never been so happy to see Kyle. I've got my shake. That was what I was riding in. And it looks like it's coming back this way. So I'm putting the Ass Saver on my bike. I'm putting some fresh kit on. But I'm going to get wet again. But it doesn't matter. I'm going to get my raincoat now. And I'm 50 miles in. So, yeah. 200km to go. Including the transfer after the stage. Kyle, where does this stage end? Do you actually know? What's up? Do you know where this stage ends? The finishing village? It's in that folder that's in front of you. Oh, I'll have a look. Right, it ends in Via Normandy. So I'm going down like this at the minute. On this bit. And then I'm going to go round and round. You did not drink enough water, Amy. I know, because I was too scared. In the storm. You only drank half a bottle. And I'm going to drink loads now. Sorry. I was thinking, what have I actually made for lunch? I forgot that I've been to the boulangerie for you. So I've got an option. Yeah? You've either got a chicken sandwich. Yeah. This for my next stop. Or, yeah. Or a tuna bagel. Yeah. And I know it's probably not good for you. Oh no, I can't eat them. No, I didn't think you could. But I thought it was going to be nice. You like eclairs. I don't like eclairs. I've never liked eclairs. You've been married to me for nearly six years. I've never seen you bowl them. Because I don't like them. I thought it was going to be really nice. It is nice. You've got a tuna bagel. I thought it was going to be a nice pastry. I can get you a nice pastry. I'm not done yet. I'm really excited about a pastry then. I'm not done yet. You bought that eclair for yourself. I did buy it for myself. Yeah. So don't lie. But if you wanted it. I think I might want the chicken baguette actually. Or the tuna. It's up to you. I'll have whatever you order up. I'll have it at the next stop. I'll decide at the next stop. Oh, by the way, you know the next stop? Yeah. 150 miles. And then I go past. No, 128 miles in. Then I go past it again at 150. So if you wanted, you could ride that loop with me. Because it starts and ends at your car. Yeah, but it depends. Because I've got stuff to do as well. OK. What, are you going to sit in the car? Do you want that chicken? Do you want that potato egg now? Probably best to, isn't it? Let's carb up. Right. I'm strapped up. I'm bagged up. I'm coated up. I've got snacks. I've got everything I need. I've got 68 miles. And I'll see you, Carl, again. All right, Carly? Right then. Better get on with it. Enjoy your ride. Yes, I will. Oh, I've got a bit of sand on that. Right then. Bottles are refilled, aren't they, Kyle? 8,700 feet left to climb. There's been a bit of car maintenance. Oh. Carl's car maintenance in the scooty. Right. I'm on the road again. It's Cleesey, where I met Kyle, this little place. Quite pretty. Oh, they've got a cyclist. A cyclist on the roundabout. They do love to decorate a roundabout. And I love it, too, because it's a nice little motivation. Just working my way up. It's 850 feet burner. I've only got 250 feet left to climb. Then I think I'm going to take this jacket off, because it's not raining. I'm too hot. And I can just stop and put it on if it rains. So yeah. Let's get to the top. Yoo-hoo. We're moving along nicely. It does look like it's, well, it is spitting a little bit, spitting everybody in. It looks like the thunderstorm might be coming back again, so I'll probably be putting my jacket back on again in a minute. But I'm not made of sugar paper. Nothing's going to get me down today. So keep on going. Keep on moving. I'm moving along like a mealworm, riding my bike. Nothing can stop me. Pepe La Sal is with Kyle. Moving along. Nothing can stop us. The reason I always say mealworm is like a little joke me and my sister have for no apparent reason. So yeah, we just like shouting mealworm at each other. Hey. Hey there. Heading towards a thunderstorm again. It's like my belly. It's rumbling and rumbling. Kyle has actually met me a little bit earlier than expected for an extra stop, which was perfect because I was just looking somewhere for a wee, which turned out to be there. He didn't even notice me here. I went past you without noticing and I've just re-chammyed up with chammy cream. It's now raining, so I'm going to put my jacket on. And I'll just give you dry shorts. And I've just put some dry and fresh shorts on. But they feel nice. Yeah, they feel really nice now. Make sure they're pulled up properly. Snack up. And so it's only 46 miles till I see you again. And hilly though. I'm going really slow. To be fair though, a little bit of rain is not too bad. I'm going really slow because I just think there's no point in going fast because I've got lots of days to come. I feel like I'm going like a snail. And you've got to. I've got snail mode. Consistent. Snail mode is the best mode. Right. Did you say you've got an almond croissant? Yes. I bought one for you. Treat myself. Right. Bye then, Kyle. Oh, listen to the thunder. I'm getting wet, Sandy. Wind you up. Right. See you then. I may be chugging out of this. Right. I need to load up where I'm going next. OK. Well, one thing that won't be rumbling, although the thunder is, my stomach won't be because I've just eaten two almond croissants and they were so good. My first croissant in French. Oh, Lord. Right. Time to knuckle down and get on with it. See you, Kyle. Here comes the rain. Doobie doobie. Oh. This is the life. Drowned rat. That's the look I'm going for. Hello. See you soon. I love you. Yeah, I'm all good. Love you. Ali, Ali, Ali, Ali. Oh. Hi, Kylie. What an absolute legend he is. Best husband ever. Just going up a little burner. Average gradient 10%. Looking very red. Getting to a place called Mortein. More like morgue. Phew. A French whipper just went past me. Giving it some beams. Oh, la la. It's a burner, this one. Not too far from the top now. Need to take my jacket off. I'm boiling up like I'm boiling the bag. Hey, I made it. Little sign for the top. Carry on going. I just had to de-burrow. I was hot, hot. Not too far from Kyle now, so. Looking forward to getting to him and having something else to eat. Hunger levels are up. Bonjour, petit vache. Little babies. Now this is some kind of sick joke. I'm going left here to go up a big hill. Then I'll literally come out just down the road on the same street. So. Yeah. Bit of climbing coming. Little loopy. Right, so in a bit I'll come out just down there and carry on going that way. But for now, I'm going this way. To go round and back on myself. But, you know, it's the tour stage, so. That's what we'll do. Here we go. Nice red climb to warm me up. Not that I need it. Another climb back to the dust. Keeping on going. I've got another one coming now. Bonjour. I've just hit the jackpot. Sorry, Kyle. I'm going to be a few minutes late. Hello. Why, hello there, little fella. Hello. There's two of you. You are so cute. Donkeys are my favourite animal. Pepe. It's Pepe in real life. It's a real-life Pepe. Pepe. Pepe Le Sal. Hello, Pepe Le Sal. Hello, mate. Yeah, you eat that grass. You go for it. Right, anyway. Better carry on. A bit of a moustache. Otherwise I'll be out all day. Just freewheeling down a massive descent, and then I see Kyle coming up. Kyle's just ridden up here for me. What a legend. It's just above a massive hill. What an absolute hero. Here he comes. Kyle, I can't believe you climbed all the way up there. Could have just waited at the bottom for me. No, I was just riding until I saw you. I'm a bit off, though, because I didn't take my jacket off. You wanted to get some hills in. No idea. I was taking it easy until I got to that bit. Thanks for coming out to me. I was still taking it easy up there, but I was just getting really hot in my jacket. I saw a real-life Pepe Le Sal. I wonder what donkey is in French. It looked like Pepe. Yeah, it looked like Pepe, seriously. We need to look up donkey in French. Just the two of us. We can make it if we try. Just the two of us. You and I. Oh, we've got to be in a burner now. We've got to burn in. Right, we're back at the Whip, a.k.a. the Scody. We're both just enjoying our bakery bites. That's what you've done. I'm just assessing what I've got coming. Yeah, I've done that. That's mega-hilly. I know, it's really hilly today. I've got 14 miles left of stage 6, which is about 20-something km. And then I've got a 48 km transfer, which is 30 miles, which looks like this, hills-wise. That one. So it's not too bad, to be fair, compared to what I've done. I'm going to cook you a nice dinner. Oh, yeah, what dinner? Do you want any snacks from the supermarket? We've got raspberries, haven't we? Blueberries, I mean. Yeah, and that raspberry mix. And we've got some dark chocolate, haven't we? Yeah, but that's not the thing you don't want. Oh, he's a racer. I've seen him loads of times. He went past me earlier up the climb. Yeah, and I've seen him when I went out. Must have been in loops. Doing a big ride. Oh, could you get me some pears, if you've got any? I've got some there. Have you eaten them all? I love a pear. And we've still got crunchies, haven't we? Crunchy apples. Jobs are good, aren't they? Right, get this down, carry on. Can I just say, a massive thank you to Hatch, our mate who we met in France last year. Is it his company that's donated? Was it him or his company? I believe it's him through the company. He has donated £2,000 to the charity. What the hell? What are you saying? I can't believe the amount of money we're raising. We've got like £23,000 now, which to me is just mental. So, thank you so much everyone. Shopping less, what have you got on now? Chicken. Fresh ham. Do I need that now? I don't need ham. Yeah, that was because I was going to make you a baguette this morning, but then I saw a nice bakery. Do you want some salad? No, you don't need salad, do you? I don't need salad. We've got veg, haven't we? I know we probably need some more veg. No, we haven't got any veg. What veg in particular would you like? Anything, as long as it's like green and nice. Right, potatoes, check that I've got enough. I think I have. We've bought a bundle. Do you want pears? Or bois? French. And that's it. Any other treats? Because we've got loads of rice, chicken, noodles in there. I'm thinking of doing pasta chicken. That's fine. Perfect. And we've got dark chocolate, haven't we? So that's fine. Kyle's just given my bike a quick clean, haven't you, with that? He loves his little toy. Is that your little toy, isn't it? It is handy, to be fair. It'll come in useful to get home as well. It's a low-pressure washer. Right, I'm going to wipe my seat off, go for a quick wee, and vamoosh. Hey, what are you doing there? Oh, you're doing it, are you? Au revoir, Kylie. Right, let's get to the end of the stage and then do the transfer. I've just been through Vaia, which was really busy. I didn't film it because it was red light galore. And then I thought, hold on a minute, isn't that where it finishes? There's like a five-mile loop now around the outskirts, up and down a hill. So I'll be back there soon for the finish. But yeah, hopefully not as many red lights when I get back. I'm on the last climb of the stage, looking down there. I'll be back down there soon. I've only got three miles to go. And then that's stage six done. So the pros will be whipping up here, sprinting to the end. Right, I'm almost back in Vaia now, or Via, however you say it. And the stage actually finishes on a sneaky little extra climb. I thought I'd done them all, but no way, haven't I? So, climb to finish. Up we go. It's a steep one. Last 0.2 kilometres to go. Everyone will be cheering them up here. But at the minute, it's just me, myself and I. And this roundabout, my friends, is the finish. I mean, there's not much here apart from that little thing. I was hoping for a nice photo, but, oh well. Number six is done. Right, 48-kilometre transfer. Let's get it done. So, for the transfer, I'm basically going back on myself. I'm having déjà vu now because 32 kilometres ago, that's where I was in that car park with Kylie, having me bakery sandwich. So, yeah. There's a lot of back and forth going on, but it's all good. Yeah! So, I am 158 miles down today. This exact point, this is here, and this is the point where I've hit 1,000 miles. So, 1,000 miles down, 3,000 to go. It's the most I've ever cycled in six days. I don't want to fall off my bike. So, yeah. It's a good landmark to get to. But I have got a lot bigger miles this first week. My miles get lower as I go because I want smaller days in the Alps. So, I've definitely got more than 18 days to go. I've got 22 days to go. No, 24 days to go, 30 days in total. So, 23 after today, I think. I know there's 20, I know that's six. I know that 30 minus six is 24 days. So, it's 24 days. I think I've got a bite brain. Anyway, this is the spot of 1,000 miles. So, I was wondering, I was like, I wonder what I'll be going past when I get to 1,000 miles, and it's this. So, establishing 1701. So, I wonder what state I'll be when I get to 2,000 miles. So, we'll see. I'm not even going to think about the 4,000 miles. That's too far away. So, yeah. Quick pick. Carry on. Donkey! Right then. Well, that's my day. Ding-dang-doodly-oh. I've got my cherry juice the cow keeps telling me to drink. It's very strong. Anyway, cow's cooked a lovely chicken pasta. And I've got the ride stats for you. So, I did 172.39 Maloney. So, that's 277.43 kilometres. I went up 13,871 feet, which is 4,227.8 metres, which is the most hilly day so far. And I felt it. My bum was in the saddle for 11 hours, 53 minutes, and three seconds. And my average speed was 14.4 miles an hour. But today was my favourite day so far because I loved, I liked the hills, and there was more views, so it was very nice. So, yeah. Overall, in a nutshell, it was a great day. I look bald, but my hair's back here somewhere. So, a thousand miles down. Kyle? How are you feeling? Alright. Just trying to sort out tomorrow's B&B. We're a bit stressed with tomorrow's B&B, aren't we? I'm not stressed. Basically, they want to take £500 from us for security. I've never known them. I've only known them to take a little bit and then she breaks something. Yeah, like £50 or £100. £500? No, it would seem a bit excessive. That's your croissant money. Mate, it's just always a risk of it not being the deal. Yeah. Anyway, that's a worry for tomorrow. Thank you so much for watching. Thank you to everyone that's donated. It really does mean the world. We're doing this for Sharp Mental Health Charity. So, yeah. Tomorrow, it's day 7 and I've got a transfer in the morning and then stage 7. It's another 170-something mile day, so it's another long one. But then after that, I've got a 100-mile a day, so a bit of a shorter one. So, thinking about that. And hopefully, no thunderstorms tomorrow because literally today, I thought I was going to be struck by lightning. I thought I was going to get frazzled, but luckily I didn't. Anyway, goodbye. Goodbye.