Days 2-4 : Fulham to Guemene-Penfao

Dear readers - I apologise that we have not been able to update the blog since day one. Internet has been pretty hard to come by - in some towns we've struggled to even find open restaurants, let alone wifi and internet cafes.

Day 2: Fulham to Portsmouth

Team Member Doble decided he'd already had enough of cycling, and instead went to a job interview in London. The rest of the team had the hardest day's cycling of their lives, through both the north and south Downs. The ferry from Portsmouth was almost missed, but in the end we snuck on, meeting Doble at the port (who had taken the train). After some cricket out on deck, the team bedded down, preparing for their first day cycling on the continent.

Day 3: St. Malo to Dinan

Disaster struck - only 20 miles inland from the French coast, Pemberton's knee gave way, and a rest day was called. Hugh was inconsolable, but a decent day was had - a particular highlight was a visit to the public swimming pool, which enforced speedo-wearing, catching Pemberton out, who was forced to buy a pair from a vending machine.

Day 4: Dinan to Guemene-Penfao

After passing a fitness test in the morning, Hugh decided he was OK to cycle, but the team decided to take it easy and do a shorter day, so we did 60 miles to Guemene-Penfao, our intended campsite for the night before. Hugh, unfortunately, came down with a serious stomach bug, and ate only lettuce for supper, spending most of his time going to and from the loo. The team was kept up late by the Breton Under-11 Karaoke Open.

Daily Routine so far:

0700 reveille - Grandmaster Dean and his Lieutenant E. G. Pearson sound the wake up call. Dean, Gimson, and Pemberton suffer from 'fat eye' thanks to sleeping outdoors, and no-one is able to take them seriously for at least an hour. The team, sleeping in pairs on a 'squad-rotation' basis, get out of their tents, wash, pack away the camping stuff, and try their best not to rile the leader, Dean, who is particularly vicious before his morning coffee.


0800 depart to nearest boulangerie - A croissant is taken before proceeding 20 miles to breakfast.

1000 breakfast - Coffee is taken in a small French town bar. Dean becomes slightly less grumpy. Huge amounts of carbohydrates are bought and consumed

1400 - Lunch - Consists of bread, more bread, and some brie. Navigator Pearson moans about not having had enough to eat.

1700 - Pearson calls another food break

1930 - Arrive campsite. Set up tents, wash (paying particular attention to parts in direct contact with the saddle), wash clothes

2030 - Find a small, cheap restaurant, and eat everything they have. And then order a round of croque-monsieurs for pudding.

2300 - Pass out in a tiny tent, listening to our Great Leader Dean's Funny Stories/Campsite Linedancing and Karaoke/Hugh's Gastro-Intestinal Fireworks