Salut!

I was very nervous - but I did it!  I did the Paris Rando Roller!!  (Or at least half of it!)

I was nervous for quite a few reasons:  Not being good enough: not knowing anyone; Getting lost on the way home; Getting attacked on the way home etc…

But it turned out fine.

I took the metro there which took 15mins and arrived in front of the Gare Montparnasse and there were hundreds of skaters!  Most of them very cool and very experienced, it was then that I got even more scared!  The crowds continued to form as night fell and bang on 10pm we were off.  Maybe 2OOO people on rollerblades!  Crazy! 

 I know it’s not the best photo but it’s hard to stand very still for a long exposure on rollerblades - I’m sure you understand!  For better photos see: http://www.pari-roller.com/

We went really fast.  On orleans there was an easy hour and then a ’sporty’ hour.  Paris goes straight into the sporty and it was push all the way!  It was still 26 degrees and very heavy so the going was quite tough.  There were serious decents that went on for about a kilometre.  I used up nearly all of my stopper!  I need to improve my braking skills or I’ll be praying a fortune for stoppers every week!  There was a huge climb too, again almost a km  - phew, that burned some calories!

It was so cool to be flying along the roads of Paris with all the monuments lit up.  The road was blocked for us and people were lining the sides and cheering!  Funny!  I saw all sorts there: A dad with his child in a buggy; A guy with a white suit and little LEDs all over him; A man with a rucksac that was a portable stereo system pumping out Kylie; A group of organised and co-ordinated Germans; And even the police!  They were on rollerblades too - they looked seriously cool! 

The rando starts at 10pm and finishes back at montparnasse at 1am.  I knew I wouldn’t be able to stick the pace for 3hrs and I was worried about getting back OK.  So at the half way point I broke off and took the metro.  We were right in the North of Paris and I was worried about missing the last train or being alone in a carrage.  But there was nothing to fear!  I got the train at 11.45pm and it was standing room only!

On Sunday afternoon there is a rando for families that goes at a slower pace, I’m going to try tnat one out too.