The end is nigh!

'Am I going quackers?' asks Mr Gnome as he contemplates the amazing final figure from this year's Pedal to Paris bike ride.

Fear not, Mr G, all is well.

To date Rory's sponsors have contributed an incredible £1899.05, which with the addition of Gift Aid, adds up to a stunning more-or-less final figure of approximately £2125.00.

Rory says: 'A heartfelt thank you to all my wonderful sponsors. Your kindness, interest and generosity helped me truly to ride with pride throughout the 277 exciting miles from Greenwich to the Arc de Triomphe.'

Mr Keegan and Mr Gnome salute their sensational sponsors and say: 'Au revoir, merci beaucoup and over and out!'

Update from Mr Gnome

The cycling is over. The sponsorship collection is very nearly complete. And the news is sensational.

£1851.55, which with the addition of Gift Aid is equal to well over £2000.

Man and Gnome are approaching the final figure before decaring the Pedal-to-Paris project closed.

Once again, a million thanks ot all who have helped us to reach this amazing total.

Hurrah for you!

Approaching the target!

Post-ride blues? No way!

Mr Gnome is fizzing with excitement as our fantastic sponsors bring our total-so-far up to an amazing £1470.30!

Triomphe!

Stop press! Goal achieved. Ride a success!

Delighted to announce successful completion of the 2007 Royal British Legion Pedal to Paris event. All 277 undulating miles of it!

More news very soon!

Mr Gnome's radio activity...

Mr Gnome guested today on Bob Brolly's popular afternoon show on BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire.

What fun! Producer Sarah James (so friendly) welcomed us to the BBC's gleaming, state-of-the-art studios in Coventry city centre.

Mr G basked in the celebrity status afforded to him by all at this tip-top station.

And after a brief wait, we were in the studio being quizzed live on air by Bob Brolly.

Bob gave us ample opportunity to chat about the ride, the excellent work of RBL - and about Mr Gnome's inspirational role in Rory's training.

Thanks BBC Radio Cov and Warwickshire! And thank you, Bob, for your generous personal donation to the funds.

Hurrah!

STOP PRESS!

The total has reached £1340.30!

Wow!

Hurrah!

Gratitude!

STOP STOP STOP PRESS!

Gnome apparel has arrived....

Spa to Spa!

Brilliant sunshine blessed Mr G's (and Mr K's) final training ride from Leamington Spa to Cheltenham Spa.

Cleeve Hill was bit of a huff - but afforded a glorious view (above) over to the distant Malvern Hills.

Mr K and Mr G were feeling chipper. The fundraising total-so-far is an astonishing £1220.55!

(Yes, £15.00 lower than in last posting. Mr K forgot to ask Mr G to check his adding up. Blush.)

The bike is now proudly be-poppied and man and gnome are eagerly preparing for the off on Thursday morning.

New to the blog? Read on!
Rory Keegan is cycling from London-to-Paris at the end of August - many people have already generously agreed to sponsor his efforts. If you haven't already done so, perhaps you'd like to join in....

Rory says: 'I'm preparing to take part in the Royal British Legion's exciting London to Paris bike ride. My chum Mr Gnome, a keen cyclist, is my trainer and principal encourager.

Huff and puff
'We depart Greenwich, London, on Thursday 30 August - and arrive at the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday 2 September.

'The route covers 277 miles. Click here for details of the itinerary.

'The event is organized by RBL and is professionally marshalled and monitored - and Mr G and I will be part of a large group of cyclists of all abilities taking part in this enjoyable, energetic event.'

Mr Gnome says: 'I have been supervising Mr K's training programme. I'm convinced that my human protégé will complete the course.'

High hopes
Man and gnome are hoping to raise £1000 in aid of the excellent work of the Royal British Legion.

Rory says: ' Why RBL? Quite simply it's a way of saying "thank you" to the thousands of men and women whose courage and perseverance ensured the freedom and relative peace that we enjoy today.'

Shameless invitation
Would you like to sponsor Mr K's effforts?

You can do so in several ways:

• Secure online service: Donate via the Royal British Legions's website
  

• Make a pledge to Rory Keegan via an e-mail.

• Or simply contact Rory and Mr G by phone or the traditional postal method and they will be happy to send out sponsor forms and further info.

Gift Aid
Mr G adds: 'If you're a UK taxpayer, please don't forget to tick the Gift Aid box - it makes such a difference - at no extra cost to you!'

Gnome country

Mr Gnome (pictured on the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge) had a tip-top weekend break in the USA. Hurrah!

He's home, jet-lagged but eager to thank all who have donated in his absence.

The fund stands at a gnometastic £1235.55.

Thank you!

Gnormal service will be resumed....

The fund stands at a fantastic £1,150! Thank you!

Rory and Mr G wish to announce that they are about, er, take a weekend off.

Rory says: 'On Friday 17 August I'm flying to New York City to attend my brother Barrie's wedding. Hurrah!

'Mr G was horrified when I told him that I was taking a short break from training. For a few very dodgy minutes it looked as if he was going to refuse to give his permission. Fortunately for family harmony, Mr G is a keen traveller and gave way once I assured him that he would be accompanying me.'

Rory will be back in England on Tuesday 21 August, pepped up and raring to continue preparing for the ride.

Meanwhile, please scroll down for details on how to join in.

Thanks for your support.

Seeya later!

Onward and upward...

A rare moment of tranquillity for Mr Gnome during a recent training ride in Oxfordshire, before snapping back into his usual state of frenzied excitement...

And today he's feeling chirpy because the fundraising total has reached a staggering £1,100.00.

Hurrah!

Click here to read Mr G's recent coverage in the Leamington Courier

And please scroll down for more info about the ride and about how to join in!

Thousand hurrahs!

Today our 'fund' stands at an amazing £1000.55. Red-letter day, or what?

Mr G and Mr K are almost, but not quite, speechless with gratitude to their terrific crew of sponsors and supporters.

Thank you so much!

And with just over two weeks until the start of the ride, there's still time to sponsor / donate.

Here's how....

New to the site? Need an update? Please read on!
Rory Keegan is cycling from London-to-Paris at the end of August - many people have already generously agreed to sponsor his efforts. If you haven't already done so, perhaps you'd like to join in....

Rory says: 'I'm preparing to take part in the Royal British Legion's exciting London to Paris bike ride. My chum Mr Gnome, a keen cyclist, is my trainer and principal encourager.

Huff and puff
'We depart Greenwich, London, on Thursday 30 August - and arrive at the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday 2 September.

'The route covers 277 miles. Click here for details of the itinerary.

'The event is organized by RBL and is professionally marshalled and monitored - and Mr G and I will be part of a large group of cyclists of all abilities taking part in this enjoyable, energetic event.'

Mr Gnome says: 'I have been supervising Mr K's training programme. I'm convinced that my human protégé will complete the course.'

High hopes
Man and gnome are hoping to raise £1000 in aid of the excellent work of the Royal British Legion.

Rory says: ' Why RBL? Quite simply it's a way of saying "thank you" to the thousands of men and women whose courage and perseverance ensured the freedom and relative peace that we enjoy today.'

Shameless invitation
Would you like to sponsor Mr K's effforts?

You can do so in several ways:

• Secure online service: Donate via the Royal British Legions's website
  

• Make a pledge to Rory Keegan via an e-mail.

• Or simply contact Rory and Mr G by phone or the traditional postal method and they will be happy to send out sponsor forms and further info.

Gift Aid
Mr G adds: 'If you're a UK taxpayer, please don't forget to tick the Gift Aid box - it makes such a difference - at no extra cost to you!'

Media frenzy

'Bizarre? Moi?'

Mr Gnome is taking media attention in his stride as the Leamington Spa Courier gives splendid coverage to the Pedal to Paris ride.

By the way, if you're visiting the blog as a result of reading the Courier, welcome!

Fundraising for the excellent work of the Royal British Legion continues excitingly with the total-so-far getting closer and closer to £700.

Training update - Saturday 11 August
Early morning route planning session at Caffe Nero, then south via Charelcote House to Chipping Campden, which is in the Cotwolds. Route was not flat.

Want to know more about the ride and how to sponsor Rory?

Please scroll down!

Ker-ching! Ker-thanks!

Another sponsor-tastic day!
Mr Gnome and Mr Keegan are once again agog at the purse-emptying generosity of our amazing Pedal-to-Paris sponsors.

Thanks to today's incoming pledges the fund now stands at a tip-top-tastic £605.73!

Zut alors!

Hurrah and merci beaucoup.

New to the site? Need an update? Please read on!
Rory Keegan is cycling from London-to-Paris at the end of August - many people have already generously agreed to sponsor his efforts. If you haven't already done so, perhaps you'd like to join in....

Rory says: 'I'm preparing to take part in the Royal British Legion's exciting London to Paris bike ride. My chum Mr Gnome, a keen cyclist, is my trainer and principal encourager.

Huff and puff
'We depart Greenwich, London, on Thursday 30 August - and arrive at the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday 2 September.

'The route covers 277 miles. Click here for details of the itinerary.

'The event is organized by RBL and is professionally marshalled and monitored - and Mr G and I will be part of a large group of cyclists of all abilities taking part in this enjoyable, energetic event.'

Mr Gnome says: 'I have been supervising Mr K's training programme. I'm convinced that my human protégé will complete the course.'

High hopes
Man and gnome are hoping to raise £1000 in aid of the excellent work of the Royal British Legion.

Rory says: ' Why RBL? Quite simply it's a way of saying "thank you" to the thousands of men and women whose courage and perseverance ensured the freedom and relative peace that we enjoy today.'

Shameless invitation
Would you like to sponsor Mr K's effforts?

You can do so in several ways:

• Secure online service: Donate via the Royal British Legions's website
  

• Make a pledge to Rory Keegan via an e-mail.

• Or simply contact Rory and Mr G by phone or the traditional postal method and they will be happy to send out sponsor forms and further info.

Gift Aid
Mr G adds: 'If you're a UK taxpayer, please don't forget to tick the Gift Aid box - it makes such a difference - at no extra cost to you!'

Red-hot delivery

Hot off the press!
Donations have broken through the £500 barrier - and the Pedal to Paris total today stands at a magnifique £560.09!

Thanks to all who have donated!

Want to know more?

Scroll down!

Hurrah!

Training
Rigorous training continues this week with one evening ride of approx thirty miles followed by a longer jaunt on Saturday.

Welcome! New readers start here....

Rory Keegan is cycling from London-to-Paris at the end of August - many people have already generously agreed to sponsor his efforts. If you haven't already done so, perhaps you'd like to join in....

Rory says: 'I'm preparing to take part in the Royal British Legion's exciting London to Paris bike ride. My chum Mr Gnome, a keen cyclist, is my trainer and principal encourager.

Huff and puff
'We depart Greenwich, London, on Thursday 30 August - and arrive at the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday 2 September.

'The route covers 277 miles. Click here for details of the itinerary.

'The event is organized by RBL and is professionally marshalled and monitored - and Mr G and I will be part of a large group of cyclists of all abilities taking part in this enjoyable, energetic event.'

Mr Gnome says: 'I have been supervising Mr K's training programme. I'm convinced that my human protégé will complete the course.'

High hopes
Man and gnome are hoping to raise £1000 in aid of the excellent work of the Royal British Legion.

Rory says: ' Why RBL? Quite simply it's a way of saying "thank you" to the thousands of men and women whose courage and perseverance ensured the freedom and relative peace that we enjoy today.'

Shameless invitation
Would you like to sponsor Mr K's effforts?

You can do so in several ways:

• Secure online service: Donate via the Royal British Legions's website
  

• Make a pledge to Rory Keegan via an e-mail.

• Or simply contact Rory and Mr G by phone or the traditional postal method and they will be happy to send out sponsor forms and further info.

Gift Aid
Mr G adds: 'If you're a UK taxpayer, please don't forget to tick the Gift Aid box - it makes such a difference - at no extra cost to you!'

And finally
Mr K and Mr G are massively encouraged by the response so far.

Thanks to the generosity of friends and colleagues, they are just over one third of the way towards their target. Hurrah!

And merci beaucoup!

Keep checking the blog for updates on training and donation totals!



Training update: 4 August
Sunny 52-mile ride today from LS to Oxford, with Mr G offering encouragement all the way.

We made it to the many-spired city at teatime. Hurrah.

We paused for refreshment at the splendid Nosebag Cafe before returning to LS on the 17:36 train.

Please note that the to-die-for lemon cheesecake was prescribed by Mr G in full sports-nutritionist mode.

He was more than a little concerned about my blood-sugar levels.

Over to the duck side?

The ducktastic weather continues with daily drenchings and downpours. Consequently, Mr G was not surprised to receive a visit from celebrity chum Duck Vader.

Mr G's mood, fortunately, is weather-proof.

He says: 'Sponsorship continues splendidly! With personal pledges and online donations, the fund stands at about £400. Hurrah!

'I'll get Mr K on to his bike at some point this weekend - come mayhem or monsoon.'

Link-up
Tip-top news. Mr G's blog has been boosted by an enthuiastic article in the 'blogosphere'. A friend of Mr K has 'written up' the ride in his very popular blog Mustard Seed Shavings.

Mr G and Mr K are very grateful to super-cool, revered (and reverend) blogger Steve Tilley.

Hurrah!

Wow!

The total-ometer is showing a few pence under £310!

Amazing or what?

Many thanks to all who have donated via

Donate via the Royal British Legions's website

And thanks, as well, for donations promised via traditional methods.

Hurrah again!

Mr Gnome is unable to control the urge to celebrate. Light the blue touch paper and retire...

No mates? Gnome mates!

Mr Gnome and his chums moved swiftly today to deny rumours of discontent in the Leamington Spa gnome community.

Mr Gnome said: 'Since becoming "poster gnome" for Mr K's Pedal to Paris ride, I've been getting a wee bit of media attention.

'In recent days I've been distressed to hear that many think "my fifteen minutes of fame" has let loose a hullabaloo of hissy fits amongst "envious" fellow gnomes here in Leamington Spa.

'This is very definitely not the case!'

Spokesgnome Nigel continued: 'As you can see from the picture, we're right behind Mr G's efforts. Tantrums? Termperaments? Such things, I'm glad to say, are unknown in gnome circles.

'We do our best to be an inclusive, mutually supportive community. You want to fish? Go fish! You like to toot the trumpet? Go toot! Mr Gnome's into this cycling thing - and we think that's great. So please, no more rumours of discontent....'

So as a busy weekend concludes harmoniously, Mr K and Mr G remind blog readers that the 'donation line' is wide open.

Donate via the Royal British Legions's website

Hurrah! And thank you!

Allons enfants de la patrie...

It's Bastille Day and generous gnome fans have already contributed more than £300 to the Pedal-to-Paris account!

Magnifique!

Mr G and Mr K are celebrating by going to Stratford-upon-Avon, where bard news is always good news. We may indulge in a slice of quiche lorraine upon arrival.

Merci beaucoup!

Donate via the Royal British Legions's website

Mr Gnome is excited...

His blog is less than a week old, but it seems to be 'doing the business'.

Kind people are logging on, finding out about the Pedal to Paris project and sponsoring Mr K and Mr G.

Hurrah!

Rory says: 'The total amount already raised is just over £230. Terrific! Mr G and I are tremendously grateful - and encouraged.'

Mr G and Mr K will be contacting all donors personally to say 'Thank you'.

Meanwhile, please keep logging on for news and updates.

Donate via the Royal British Legions's website

Mr Gnome adds: 'Donating online? Many thanks! You're a UK taxpayer? Please look to the base of the screen page and check the GIFT AID box, and instantly increase the amount of your gift by claiming back its tax element! Hurrah!'

Picture: Nothing to do with the bike ride: Mr Gnome fancied appearing in a moody, 1950s-style black-and-white shot. Sort of Gnome Gnoir....

Mr Gnome pedals to Paris - accompanied by Mr Keegan

Mr Gnome poses beside the Royal British Legion's poppy motif - to announce his plan to participate in the 2007 Pedal to Paris bike ride.

Accompanied by ageing weekend cyclist Roderick (Rory) Keegan, he departs Greenwich, London, on Thursday 30 August - and arrives at the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday 2 September.

The route covers 277 miles. Click here for details of the itinerary.

The event is organized by RBL and is professionally marshalled and monitored - and Mr G and Mr K will be part of a large group of cyclists of all abilities taking part in this enjoyable, energetic event.

Mr Gnome says: 'I have been supervising Mr K's training programme. I'm convinced that my human protégé will complete the course.'

Gnome and man are hoping to raise £1000 in aid of the excellent work of the Royal British Legion.

Follow this link:

Donate via the Royal British Legions's website

to sponsor Mr G and Mr K via the Royal British Legion's secure online service.

Alternatively, get in touch with the riders via the e-mail link in the panel to the right - and they will be delighted to send you a sponsorship form.

Thank you!