Realisation kicks in!

Two falls, a sore knee, a sore achilles and some serious exhaustion - but we have all arrived at the hotel safe and sound!

Interesting day today.  Everyone woke up feeling tired, sore and a little jaded.  Renata and Tony decided to relay today's route meaning they would not cycle the full route.  We departed (on time - shock horror) and the day ahead beckoned. Our day was dry and relatively flat, and the scenery improved throughout the day into the beautiful French countryside. 

Today we cycled a total of 77.8 miles, whilst ascending 2,742 feet and as a team we estimate we burned over 40,000 calories!! New games entertained us today including guiding each other whist eyes closed cycling 20miles per hour on the French roads, and who could roll furthest, rather childish but you need something to break up 9 hours of cycling each day. 

Day 3 ... look at the view!!!

Something changed today. Whilst many of us frankly raced yesterday like kids on push bikes chasing the ice cream van burning energy liberally, today was noticeably different. We cycled as a team, the pace was 1-2 miles per hour slower, and everyone in the team began to fully appreciate the extent of the challenge ahead as bodies started to creak, and muscles strain. 

At about twenty miles or so we stopped at a beautiful Somme War Memorial. Here - as well as taking the photo of course.....

At the Somme Memorial

.....Nigel inadvertently glanced at the team map and realised that after two days of everyone enduring gruelling riding, very sore knees and legs, exhaustion and some frayed tempers due to fatigue, we have pretty much gone nowhere in total France term, we were still over 50 miles north of Le Harve and about as close to Monaco as we are to Moscow! It truly dawned on us today just how much of a gargantuan challenge this is and that it is one to be taken carefully and not attacked. 

Tony has unfortunately damaged his knee tendon which has been very tender today. Tony will rest tonight and assess whether he can start cycling again in the morning. Lisa took an inadvertent tumble as well - and for no apparent reason - yet like a true trooper, she re-mounted and continued to the end, sporting a bloody knee and war wounds across her hands and face. Keiron has a pretty sore achilles on right foot, Nigel is helping with the stretching (having had the same injury during his training) and Keiron will assess his fitness tomorrow!!

We arrived at the hotel at 6pm, for an early dinner and bed before 10pm. The team are pretty exhausted to be honest but certainly up for the challenge tomorrow which is a sporting 62miles, across some some pretty meaty undulating terrain for day 4 of our "Lost in France" expedition. Bring on day 4! Gulp.