Today's Stats : 83 miles
Approx 1772m climbing
Avg speed 14 mph
Fastest 40.7mph
After a very early rise, quick breakfast and a briefing we set off, all 76 of us in one group into the London commuter traffic. As you can imagine we were quite popular but in all honesty we soon strung out and most of the city stuff was in single file. The first 20 or so miles was very much stop and start with loads of traffic lights and roundabouts to deal with.
Almost the second we crossed the M25 at Dartford all the cars seemed to disappear and for the rest of the day we cycled along quiet country roads through some beautiful villages and small towns.
Drink were at 20 miles and then lunch after 40. Then the work started.
The second half was a little testing with a succession of sharp climbs not helped by what seemed to be a continuous head wind.
I've teamed up with a farmer from Wolverhampton as he seems to ride at about my pace and we've taken it steady all day really as we both know this is a marathon not a sprint.
The group is mixed and almost 50/50 male/female. I'd say I'm about in the middle in terms of speed.
After about 7 hours we arrived in Dover at about 3pm well ahead of schedule. Because we were so early we were able to catch an earlier ferry getting us to France at least and hour and a half earlier than planned
Dinner tonight was fish and chips on the ferry, which was a little choppy but not too bad. Once off the ferry we went in a slow convoy to the hotel which were about 5 miles away checked in and then headed for the bar.
Overall a good start to the trip, tomorrow is flatter and we go through the Somme so I'm looking forward to that.
Onwards and Upwards!!
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