Day 1: St Malo to Saumur (181 miles)

Photo 5: Team Far Canal setting-up a welcome drink for riders at the Portsmouth Ferry Terminal

Photo 6: The Dream Team dressed as French Maids getting ready for the start

Photo 7: Arriving in St Malo as the sun-rises on day 1 of the Challenge.

The ferry ride from Portsmouth to St Malo all went smoothly. Team Far Canal set-up a table at the check-in with some Flack Manor beer on tap and it was good to see some old faces from previous challenges in the crowd.

The evening on the boat passed quickly, the on board cabaret seemed to clear the bar very effectively so a group of us stood on the deck outside to watch the English coastline disappear into the darkness. Day 1 started at 6:30 local time and we all piled into the restaurant for a cooked breakfast. Soon it was time to head to the van. The ferry arrived at St Malo and we pulled the van over just after customs unloaded the first bike and Paul headed off. All the vans were unloading riders so there were lots of bikes on the road and care was needed to weave through the crowds with the van. We caught a glimpse of the Chrome Domes on their double-decker bike and after getting a little lost with the arrows in the old town we were soon heading out into the countryside.

I set-off next after Paul and had a good long flat ride to stretch the legs out, Kevin then went next and Ian finished up the first round of rides just as we started to get into the rolling hills! First round of rides done and with 34 miles on the clock Paul started us off again on the second round. The day was beginning to really hot up already and it was only 11.00 local time. It was going to be a long hard day.