Bike from London to Paris! (And Other Wild, Realizable Goals)

I haven’t heard much fanfare about it, but I recently learned that a cycling route between London and Paris opened over the summer. L’Avenue Verte is a 406 kilometer (252 mile) low- to no-traffic itinerary linking the two capitals (via the Dieppe-Newhaven ferry; they haven’t figured out biking on water yet!)

The route winds through a changing landscape of pretty villages and past picturesque chateaus. On the French side, the shortest line runs from Paris to Dieppe, with part of the trip following the old Paris-Dieppe railway line. An alternate option passes through the Oise Valley toward Chantilly and Beauvais before heading to the Normandy coast.

The British side uses small paths already in place from the National Cycle Network allowing riders easy access through the English countryside. The former railway lines on this end include the Forest Way and the Cuckoo Trail. The ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven takes about 4 hours and allows bikes (with a “bicyclette” fee).

While I’m not much of a cyclist, I like the idea of this “Green Avenue.” It also got me to thinking about how great it can be to have a goal – especially when it’s achievable! Maybe this will motivate people to say, hey, why don’t I bike from London to Paris – and then do it!

Goals don’t have to be huge or headaches to plan, either. Anything that excites you or gives you energy or that you just plain want to do.

I’ve been blessed this year with many adventures. I would not have believed at the start of it that I’d get a chance to teach in Barcelona, be filmed in a documentary, or witness my sister being sworn in as a judge in DC Superior Court, for example.

So now I’m focusing on staying put just a bit, with quieter, but equally as important, goals. I am carving out time each and every day to sit down with my writing; I have not been this disciplined in awhile. I’m finding this site called HabitForge helpful. If you’re trying to develop a new habit or work yourself toward a goal, you might want to check it out. Name what you’re after, then get an email each day to see if you’ve worked on it. Accountability plain and simple.

I’d love to hear what you’re working toward these days or if you have a crazy, wild (but realizable!) dream you’re thinking about. Let’s inspire each other in the comments!

If biking from London to Paris happens to be your cool goal, you can find more information about L’Avenue Verte at the website. (In French, but in English soon).