Wake-Up

We probably averaged around 3 hours sleep yesterday at it was telling. We met breakfast at 7:30 AM but didn´t leave the hotel until 9:30 AM (it´s like herding cats).The weather was admittedly at least dry but we didn´t see the sun all day (playing havoc with Mark´s navigational skills). During the morning we experimented with different leadership styles (what do you mean you can´t cycle at 20MPH? See you later!). But by the afternoon we built on this to form an efficient peloton (necessity is the mother of invention).
One of our problem has been the cold and our members have Adopted numerous ways of coping including “Nora Batty´s” tights or merely a simple Everton top (could someone text Derek the Everton score, please?).
In the afternoon, we had our first accident of the trip. Alan managed to get his bike on a patch of gravel and fell off. Luckily his bike is OK (and he is OK too!).
Dinner was fantastic (a reward well earned) but it was funny seeing 11 men struggle up the stairs (John Wayne eat your heart out). We cycled 86 miles (170 in total now) and we are starting to realise what we got ourselves into! The Ex-Challenger people claim this is much tougher physically, mentally, and logistically.
Only 4 more days to go ...