DAY 20 – FEELING THE HEAT | TOUR DE FRANCE CHALLENGE CYCLING EVERY STAGE PLUS THE TRANSFERS

It’s the 16th July and Amy cycles from Verdalle to Carcassonne to finish stage 15, sh then cycles the transfer to Montpellier where stage 16 starts. She’s cycling every stage of the Tour de France plus the transfers for mental health charity Shout / The Mix.

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Good morning. Bonjour. It’s day numero 21. Don’t know what that is in French. Um of my tour to French challenge. And today I’m finishing off stage 15. So I’m going from here in Videl to M no to Carason. So that’s about 45 miles. And then I’m going from Carcassone to Mont Pelleier, which is a transfer ready for stage 16. And then later I’ll do maybe 5 miles of stage 16 just to get to where we’re staying tonight, which is a bit out of Mont Pelle. It’s going to get really hot today. It’s going to be like 35° and I’m not very good in the heat. So, it’s an early morning. It’s just before 5:00 a.m. We’ve just had No, just before 6:00 a.m. Sorry, we got up at 5. Just had breakfast. Kyle’s down there just finishing his off and having a chat with the lovely fellow that owns this place. Then I’ll get on with it. For the rest of stage 15, I do have a 2,500 ft climb, which I think is pretty near the start of my day. So, that’ll warm me up. Right, Kyle’s just doing me bottles. Kylie. Okay. I got him. There he is. It’s such It’s going to be a beautiful day today. Look, clear sky, no clouds, and it’s about just under 100 I think just under 160 miles today. So, quite a long day, but after this first big climb, it is pretty flat. So, it should be okay. I’m just worried about the heat cuz I do get grouchy in the heat. So, hopefully I’ll be okay. Right then, it’s 10 6 in the A.M. and I am off. Feeling really positive today. I think it’s it’s always a little like mood booster when I know I’ve got a rest day coming up. So, tomorrow I only have to do 40 miles. So, it’s nice rest and then it’s into the Alps, but won’t think about that right now. I think it’s going to be really nice today. It is going to get hot, but I’m not going to melt. Just going to keep cool and I’ll be fine. Having deja vu from yesterday. That’s where I went down there yesterday. Going the wrong way to the accommodation. So, the climb starts in 2k time, but actually it’s not looking that bad. So, it’s looking like this. It’s 21 km long and it goes up 2,56 ft, but there’s only one real red bit. Because it’s 21k long, really, it’s not going to be that bad. It’s just going to be mainly a gradual climb up and then a nice big descent. There’s lots of animals around today. I’ve heard two roosters, just heard a cow, ash, and birds. Hello. Don’t run in front of me, mate. Thank you. Little chat. Little sh. Right. I’ve just come through Esson. And that’s where the proper climb starts now. So, we’ve got 14.7K to go. Just over 2,000 ft to climb. This section’s a bit of a burner. A lot of red on my garment. Just come from down there. Phew. Keep on going. 12.6k left to climb. Still climbing. Just been up a really steep bit, but I think it gets a bit easier from now. So, nearly there. Well, 11k left to go, but you know, better than it was at the bottom. Hey, I made it colder from Bruno. 880 m up. I didn’t realize there’s going to be a blooming sign. I didn’t bring a Chester sticker with me. Oh well, there’ll be plenty of time for them when I hit the Alps the day after tomorrow. But the day after tomorrow, I’m going to edit this video, so it’s okay. We’re going up Montto. Kyle’s 30th birthday on the 18th of July. So, I’ve really got to treat him. I’ve got him a few presents with me. some nice cycling kit. But um I’m going to give him some I don’t know why I clicked there. I was trying to think. Going to do some better presents when when we get home. But I have got some funny stickers with Kyle’s face on. So they’re going to be whipped out on his birthday. So looking forward to that. But anyway, time for a nice three-wheel down now. LA. Beautiful. Wow. We got lakes to my left, few lakes to my right. So, it’s pretty much now a gentle downhill all the way to Carcasson with a few little bumps, but nothing major. Nice and easy now. I’ve been to Carcasson actually once in my life before when I was a kid, and I remember just being absolutely boiling and not enjoying it. I’ve never been good in the heat, but hopefully I’ll get there early enough for it not to be too hot. So, one thing I will say about that climb for the pros is there’s a lot of gravel on the road. They seem to have like filled in loads of holes and like all across the road with loads of gravel. So, I think the pros are here in like 5 days time. Hopefully, it would have compressed a bit by then. Otherwise, there might be some slips. Yahoo! Woohoo! Free wheeling through the trees. I’m whipping down here faster than the tractor. I just had to overtake it. Sorry, tractor. I’m on the outskirts of Carcassone now. So, not far to the finish of the stage. I’m quite happy cuz it’s quite a quiet road leading in rather than a busy main one. So, that’s good for me. Bit of a headwind, but it’s keeping me cool, so I can’t complain. A lot of a headwind actually. Woohoo. Carcasson. You can just see the uh castle torrent. Whatever it’s called. Torrent over there. I tell you what’s not torrent. This weather. It’s lovely. Oh, no. There’s the castle over there. That must be the cathedral, isn’t it? Blooming heck. There it is. Massive. So, I’m on the home stretch for stage 15. There’s a sculpture of Kyle the bear. And actually, I’m really happy cuz I thought it’s going to be really busy here and an absolute nightmare, but no one around. It’s empty. Right, the finishing straight is left there and down there. But just had to quickly stop and get off my bike. Saw this fella. And I thought I’ve been missing out on a bit of tour of France deck. So stop and have a picture with the bike. Got to make the most of it. They’ve got another one over there. A white one, too. White jersey. Jersey. 500 m from the finish. Minor traffic light stop. Oh, we’re on green. And this is the finishing straight 300 meters from the finish. Pros will be whipping down here. And I’m glad that I stopped at that little thing cuz I don’t think there’s going to be anything for me to take a photo of the finish. So here we are. Finish is here by this statue apparently. And this, my friends, is the finish by the bins. But no, I’m glad I stopped back there for that photo by that nice little tour to France thing. And now I’ve got this bad boy in 182.15 km transfer. Going up 1,200 ft, going down 1,500 ft. So easy really. Um going to Mont Pelia now, which is where the start of stage 16 is. And then we’re going to stay just outside of there. So better crank on. Hey up. Santini John’s been here again putting up his jerseys. That’s a nice one. I can’t believe how quiet it is. Honestly, I was literally envisioning like it’s going to be an absolute nightmare. There’s going to be traffic. It’s going to be packed. I think everyone must still be in bed. It’s What time is it? Hang on. Time update. It’s Oh, it’s 9:15. It’s not that early. Here’s the castle. There was a dog there. She at the castle. I think I have a top stop to take a picture of my bike on this bridge with that in the background. That’s really nice. It’s got to believe how quiet it is. Kyle, maybe Kyle could have come here after all. There’s no one around. It’s so nice. Right, quick stop for a bike quick and then carry on. Otherwise, I’ll never get there today. Now, it’s time to see. I’m going down there. So, shine. Right. So, I’m just rerouting slightly cuz I’ve end up on quite a grally path. It looked like a nice cycle path, but it’s just it’s quite grally and I should be on it for like 10k. I just don’t fancy it. So, I’m going over this bridge. Left back on myself a little bit onto the road that runs along it. So, I’d rather have a smooth road than a bumpy gravel. I’m back on the road and la smooth tarmac. Hey there, little fella. Didn’t manage to capture it quite in time, but that’s the smallest tractor I’ve ever seen in my life. Right, I’m 99.72 km in. And Kylie’s here with my shake shake shakey mama shaky little milkshake. I’m in a really good mood today, Kyle. I think cuz like it’s quite an easy day routewise. It’s not hilly. Although I do love the hills cuz it’s more interesting. But I am excited cuz I’m going to see the sea soon. Are we I’m going to sing that song, Kyle. Are we aboard a L at the minute? We’re just in a little layby. The road’s so smooth here, Kyle. I think I might have some renavigation to do later as well, cuz I’ve got another bike path and I’m worried it’s going to be gravel. I don’t know what you’ve done there. It’s really grally, weren’t it? You saw it, too. You actually drank it. You drank that whole bottle. It wasn’t that warm this morning. I’m It’s going to get hot now. I can feel it. I’ll make you some more songs up car too. Mhm. I’ll save them for you for the next stop. Some suspense for you. Kyle, the hero’s just giving me glasses a clean before I go. I get bit. I’m starting to swallow up like a balloon. You’re getting bitter. Yeah, but you know what? My arms don’t want to get bit. What’s some antihistamine? Have you got Have you got the flower spray on? Don’t worry. Never. I think I’m growing a second knee down here on this one. I’m not allowed to shave my legs either because it adds to the heat rash. So hairy Mclari over here. Right, I’m just having a lovely little stop on this nice bridge. It’s so pretty here. I’m in Kat Dunidi and my route is taking me on that gravel path down there by the river which looks pretty grally again. I’ve just been down there. So, I’m going to route round on the road again, but it’s fine. It might add a few miles on, but I’d rather I think I’ll be quicker on a smooth road than risking it turning into proper gnarly stuff as they say. So, I’m on the smooth road, the gravel paths up there somewhere. The mistake I made was not dropping the little Google Earth man in when I was planning my route. Normally, I do that. I’d plan a route and then I dropped the man in off Google Earth to have a look at what the road looks like. But I went with, “Oh, it’s a cycle path. It’s France and it’ll be okay.” I was in such a rush planning the route because I only got the official tour to France routes two weeks before we came to France. So then it was a mad rush to get all the transfers in, you know, book all the accommodation, everything like that. So yeah, but it’s all good because I can always I can go around on this road. So it’s fine. And what’s a few extra miles? cuz I think I knocked some off earlier when I went off the gravel. So, it’s all good. Just a little walk through some road works. It’s hoting up to tell you that. Oh, jeez. We’re not going to fit through there. There’s a car on the way. Go this way. La gone. There we go. [Music] The insects are so noisy. Never heard insects that noisy before. It’s starting to hot up now. I think I’m about just over 10 miles away from Kyle. And I hope he’s got the ice on cuz I’m ready for it. Lots of people on holiday around here. Burn, baby, burn. It’s so hot. I’m just cycling past loads of like holiday clubs. People on holiday. Wishing I could jump in the pool for a minute. That would be lovely. But not today. Get me in there. Get me down that slide. So hot. I didn’t think this level of heat resisted resisted existed. I’m so hot. I’m burning. Am I right? My heat rash is back from Benjamin. It’s all down the leg. I don’t know if you can see that. Really really itchy. Just having a minute in the air con, but Kyle’s delivered me this, which is really nice. He’s putting that over the wind screen to stop the sun coming on my legs. Thanks, Kyle. Oh, it’s too windy. You knew it was good there. It’s good there. Won’t stay long. So, honestly, it’s so hot. I’ve got this salad. I’ve got some bread. And I’ve got this bad boy juice. Not going to drink all of that, but you know, drink some of it. just so hot. Honestly, I feel like I’m cycling in a sauna. Feel like I’m just I don’t know. I don’t even know how to describe it to be honest. Just heat basically. Heat. So, I’m trying to like make some shade in my legs. So, Kyle just told me I can’t believe it. The donations are on £40,000. I honestly can’t believe it. I really can’t. And when you told me, I had a little bit of a tear in my eye. You did? Like it just This is what motivates me to keep going. You know, I’ve not actually had any moments of wanting to quit at all, but like, you know, it’s hot and stuff and it’s hard. Just Yeah, that really helps. So, thank you so much. Everyone’s donated. Makes it all worth it, doesn’t it? Pepe is happy, too. Pepe says thank you, too. Where’s to Where’s Tommy? Yeah. somewhere. Can we put Tommy back on my bike tomorrow? Yeah. Also, someone knows that she asked for a shout out. Have they gone then? Yeah. I’ll pass my phone so you can see the message. They’re going to ride the first 24-hour ride. Oh. So, someone called D and aunt Yeah. are going to ride a 24-hour cycle to charity in a few weeks time. So, good luck to them. I know I was going to give you the shout out, but I thought, who’s better than Amy to do it? I’ve given you the shout out now. Here. Yeah. Oh, that’s really nice. Yeah. 24 hours. That’s a tough one. It’s nice to know that you’re inspiring people do these sort of things. Yeah. I hope they don’t regret. I hope they don’t hate you when they’re doing it. They probably will at some point. Probably will at some point. Yeah, we all do. Anyway, we can get this down and get some pelle. Mhm. Oh, you want a drink or something? M. That’s donier. Oh. Come on. Um, are you wanting an ice vest or anything? If I take the ice vest, then I’m just going to be wearing it when it gets hot, aren’t I? So, probably not. Or you just want to take some pouches? Yeah, I’ll take some ice. Do you want to take some of them blue disc? Need some ice? I haven’t got any ice. The trouble with ice is now is the temperature in the freezer because I didn’t have a hole last night. It keeps going up and down. So, it’s not sitting consistent enough. Okay. So, lesson tonight is bring it in. Um, but I’ve got the blue discs that are really cold and that sort of thing. So, you can take them with you if you want. And you can just put them in your pocket when you’re done. Yeah. And they’re not going to leak. The heat rash is real. So, it’s time to bring out the big bad boy, which is the um mineral sunstick factor 50. Says for facing that person. Yeah, I did. That’s a big snee rush. Oh yeah, that’ll go on. Flipping it. You can see it. This is solid block. The heat rash is so itchy, Kyle. It will be. It’ll go down tomorrow though. Think of that. It’s doing so well. I think that will help it a bit. Stop any sort of sun. I’m going to have to get the aloe vera. Put a bit on my cheeks as well. The crucial thing is it’s heat. It’s not actually the song if you know what I’m saying. Wish I’d done that before I’ve done my legs. Oh well. Well, can you taste the song? Just put it on my lips after all the dirt on my legs. I won’t worry about it. Oh, it’s less. Anyh who. Anywh who, there’s only one thing for it. I thought it was meant to be pink. Pink? Well, I don’t think it is pink. It’s definitely not pink. It’s white. Yeah, it’s time to crank on anyway. Mhm. Just get me in a nice cold shower when I get there, Kyle. Put that in there. Yeah, you know what I’ve done, right? Oh, shammy. Yeah, get your shammy on. Cold shammy. Put it in the fridge for I don’t want to video this bit. I’m just having some extra nutrients cuz the salad wasn’t quite enough and I’m saving the bread for later. It’s my homemade granola. Made this on the last rest day. Anyway, I forgot I’ve made another song for you, Kyle. Mhm. You ready? Or if it was Digest. What’s up? All right, go. Clip on in to your bike, Amy. Riding the tour to France. I know it’s got hot, but it’s okay cuz Carly and the Scod with the ice is on the way. One, two, three. Well, the legs are feeling knicknacked and and Carly is telling you to have a snack, but you feel like it might come back up. Whoa. Got to keep on. Actually, no. I may stop down. Well, start this song again. Yeah. Okay. Ready? I’m going to have one more mouthful. Is this going to take long? Uh-uh. You’re really dragging this out. I really want the song to be perfect. So, start again. Right. Go. It is a well-known song. You know, just get on up when you’re down. That one. It goes clip on in to your bike, Amy. You’re riding the tour to France. I know it’s got hot, but it’s okay cuz Kylie in the scod with the ice is on the way. Two, three, four. When the legs are feeling knick-nacked and Kylie is saying, “Have a snack.” But you think it might come back up right. Very, very good. And I’ve got to make another chorus to accept. You can’t fully take the credit for that. But no, I can’t take the credit for the tune, but I can take credit for the lyrics. Yeah. So, you’ve been on your own for a while, can’t we? Yeah. Right. Come on. Let’s get on with it, cuz we can’t drag this out all day. Now, this is the bit I’ve been looking forward to. It’s the sea. [Music] People on the holidays on the beach. Wish that was me sometimes, but I’d rather be riding my bike, I think. This is great. This cycle path is full of holiday goers, but you know, it’s lovely. Kyle was actually telling me in the car that there’s been lots of stages in the tour of Carcasson to Mont Pelleier. So, the transfer I’m doing today, it won’t be the same route, but it’s a common one in the tour. and Chris Froom when he famously snapped his bike in half in a crash at the finish in Mont Pelier and had to run over the finish line with his bike. That was in Mont Pellier. I just can’t believe that I’m on day 20. Like I’ve only got nine days left after today and I was just riding along. I looked down at my jersey and I was like, “These people sponsor me.” Like what the actual It just doesn’t It’s hard to comprehend. Like when I started cycling, I never ever ever thought that I’d start a YouTube and an Instagram and it would grow and I’d be doing stuff like this. So, thank you to everyone that’s part of this channel because without you, I wouldn’t be here doing this and I’m so grateful. It’s not been easy and it’s not easy in this heat, but it’s such a good experience to be able to do and I’m so grateful for that. And I’m so like still in disbelief that we’ve got a 40,000 pound raise for the charity. I know it’s going to help hopefully so many people and that’s the reason I’m doing this. So just thank you. And I’ve got some hard days coming up. Rest day tomorrow, but then the Alps. I’m actually really excited for the Alps. And someone from home, Steve, who helps me out with stuff. He messaged Kyle and said Amy’s doing really well, but she needs to focus on the moment, not worry about what’s coming up. So, I’m just going to focus on the moment now and remember that because I have been doing that a little bit. So, just going to enjoy the moment that I’m in on this nice bike path. I can honestly say it’s the hottest I’ve ever been in my life. I just like to stop and whack a load of the stick thing on my neck. Probably got white all over me, but I don’t care. I don’t want to burn. So hot. It’s hot. But it’s nice. Nice view. I wish there was a bit more of a cold breeze on me, but there isn’t. The the breeze is hot. Feel like I’m in a convection oven. I’m a chicken being roasted. Well, hello there little fellas. I’m 10k away from the finish and where stage 16 starts. I’m not being hung drawn and quartered. I’m being cooked, roasted, and sizzled. Let me tell you that. I’ve never been this hot in my life. This is honestly the hottest I’ve ever felt. And not in a good way. That horse looked like it had water chucked over it. Maybe it’s too hot, too. Whoever did that to the horse. You can do that to me as well if you want. I could do with a spray down. It pains me to stop in this heat. But look at that donkey. He’s got his eyes closed. Looks to be in the shade. So cute. It’s a dappled donkey. Donkey counts on 25 now. So heat. Oh, it just stood with its eyes closed. Bless it. Think it’s too hot. Bit like me. Oh, hala bloomingluya. I made it to Mont Pelleier. So, this is where stage 16 starts. I’m so hot. And they’ve got a lovely little well not little big flag there toward France. So this stage starts here and it’s 184 km long. It goes up 9,656 ft and it’s basically flat flat flat flat flat and then you hit Montbu and you go up. So I’m now going to ride to our accommodation which includes a little bit of the route. Then I have to go off the route to go to the accommodation. Tomorrow I’ll come back onto the route and I’m just doing like 35 miles as part of my rest day. It’s half rest day. And then on the 18th of July, Kyle’s 30th birthday. I’ll finish off the stage and do Montto. Okay, stage 16. Let’s go. We’ll do a little bit of it. This is exactly where they’ll start. There won’t be any people around and they’ll be heading towards Montbu. Oh, I want to get under that fountain. I might actually dip my hands in that fountain. Is that bad? I need to cool down. The pros will be whipping past here, but it’s too it’s too like deep to dip my hand in it. It’s too deep down. But it’s okay. There was a water fountain over there. So, I’ve just filled up both my bottles and it’s nice and cold. Oh, that was a French man dipping his head under there. I wish I’d done the same, actually. Right, I’ve literally done one mile, one millon of stage 16. It continues on up there, that way, but our accommodation is 2 miles this way. So, I’m going to ride there now and I’ll rejoin this route tomorrow. But, I’m going to get there without the camera cuz I’m so hot. I just need to get there. Right. This is what you look like when you’ve ridden in 35° heat. And for the last part, in 35 I don’t know what I just meant. I meant this is what you look like when you’ve ridden for over 10 hours in 35° heat. 35 10 hours. Yeah, it’s not been 35 for 10 hours, but it’s felt like it. Anyway, ride stats for you. 154.56 mi, which is 248.72 km. Went up 5,472 ft, which is 1,667.86 m. So, actually a really flat day. Thank goodness cuz if it was hot going up climbs like that, I would not have been able to cope. Bum was in the saddle for 10 hours, 17 minutes, and 27 seconds. And my average speed was exactly 50 mph on the noggin. So yeah, let me just tell one thing, one word to sort today. Fireball. I literally have never been so hot in my life. I honestly was cycling along thinking I started off as a grape and now I’m a raisin shriveled up on the floor in a minute. So I’m going to go and have a shower, freshen up, and then rest day tomorrow. Wow. What? 40 miles in the morning. 40 miles in the morning. Well, the problem is that we’ve got is you can’t check into our accommodation tomorrow until 3:00 p.m. So, I can’t get up and do the 40 mi before it gets hot. So, it’s going to be another 35° tomorrow. But, I could wear the ice vest cuz you’ll be able to pick it up, won’t you, Kyle? Yeah. So, 40. So basically the aim it the other plan is little lion leave here at checkout at 11:00 ride there and then if I’m there before 3:00 which I probably will be we’ll just go to the supermarket in the car get some food and then stock up because the day after it’s on two. Can’t stock up too much. You got so much room in your bed. We’ve not got much room in the car have we? Anyway, what how’s your day been? Busy. I’m trying to catch up now because obviously it’s been amazing being in B&B as such. Yeah. Having no kitchen, but it’s not helped the cause because now I’m trying to reorganize, wash everything and Yeah, cuz you like to bring everything in at night, don’t you? You sort of have to. You can’t do that. Luckily, the last two nights I’ve had enough water, so it’s worked out. But like all these little things are things that I do each night, ideally. Anyway, look like I’ve been dragged for a bush backwards. I’m going to say thank you so much for watching. Thanks to everyone that’s donated. I really can’t believe that we’re on over 40,000. So yeah, TT the FN. Tata for now. Goodbye. Goodbye. Who are these two little fellas? Nomio and Juliet. Don’t like you. Look like you more like your hot pits. Oh, blooming that they will be at the end of this. I haven’t been able to shave them very much. Anyway, bye from the nomies. Want to say goodbye? I’m sorry. We’ve come back because we just went to the shop and we got two Joya apples and I want to get K’s reaction because you know I love a crunchy and Kyle. This is your first ever Joyer apple. Pretty little cycle. Yeah, you got 10 lines. Which one do you want? They’re massive. Which one do you want? I hope you want that one. Yeah. Right. Go on then. What your reaction? Don’t better not break your teeth. 30 years old. These are It will be quy. Is it crunchy? What do you think? Nice. You think it’s nice? Yeah, it’s good. They do have a really good crunch. I do love a Joyer. They only have them in France. They don’t have these in the UK. Joy, they’re the equivalent of a Jazz in the UK basically. One thing I’m not happy about, sorry, you’re going to see is the heat rash. It’s rashed up. Really, really itchy all over. Yeah, it is better than a J. I’m just showing heat rash. Yeah, this is better than a jazz. Let me I’ll finish with a crunch test. off. That makes up for the heat today and the heat rash on my legs. Anyway, going to go now. Bye. Ta. That’s for now.