Nice early start up with the dawn chorus, quick cup of tea, little snog with Sandra the sweetest rose of all, then a little ride up to Sunshine corner to pick the other reprobates up.

Then nice little ride down to the port, just meander through the lanes no issues, too early for the school bus. All good through the port soon on the ferry, ready for a big breakfast and a snooze

Here we go superstars let’s rock – the business starts now, with the nice little escort out of the port (Calais have got it right) little bleep of the horn here we go. Rylan is in charge of directions, mainly because I can’t see and Bingo has forgotten how to load the ride onto his Garmin, early days yet. We master our way out of Calais, heading for Montreuil-sur-mer, soon hit the countryside with the familiar odour of rural France and a pleasant surprise of a pack of Alpacas, welcome to Patagonia: it’s bit greener here, but not as windy!

On we go. Rylan leads us up into the forest trails, which would have been excellent a few days ago, but unfortunately more like a swamp now. As normal I took a tumble into the damp ground, no harm done, in fact it was pleasant laying in the soft mud. Quick wipe down, then a check of the map see if we can get out of the forest, soon on little road, actually going in the right direction so all good.

Stopped for some light refreshments in the little town of Desvres. I made a mess all the caked mud dropping off, the guy just laughed. All refreshed on we go last 20 odd miles on good roads, but the headwind was constantly fighting us.

Rolled into Montreuil-sur-mer, stopped to take stock, obviously in a bar, then climbed the cobblestone hill up to the Citadel, a French youth hostel, Bingo and I are far removed from being a youth, they still let us in, after flapping around with key boxes and walking around the place a few times, in the end some dear old ladies (well my age) guided us to the hostel, we are the only ones staying so we had the run of the place.

Quick shower then out for some pasta and stock up on provisions, lovely meal, think we ate enough for a whole army nothing wasted, then back for an early night, need to rest these weary legs