Day 2 began with a continental breakfast, apparently the bloke who does the cooked breakfast doesn't start till 8.30. Lazy pig!
That said, it did the job and after a quick away kit team photo, we were off.
First-up was a 7 mile ride to the ferry port in Newhaven, the team set a good pace and we made it in plenty of time!
Although all the cyclists made the first leg of day 2 without injury, our trusty van man did not, managing to crack his head on a street sign above a bin.
Despite our attempts to give him a Terry Butcher style full head bandage wrap, he went for the standard plaster on forehead look. See pictures.
The ferry loading was a little unorganised to say the least. I won't go into details but at one point our high standards in organising showed, when the word 'inept' was used in a stern but polite complaint to the ferry port staff.
Finally, after 30 minutes cooped up in a red hot transfer bus, we were on!
First stop was the all day breakfast. Very nice is was too! Matt, of course, stuck to his nutrition plan and smashed a sausage butty for the second day running.
The ferry journey went better than expected. Especially for 'Seastick Graeme' he rode-out his severe sea sickness by finding a nice quite spot for a nap. During which Shane took the term 'kicking a man when he is down' to a new level, helping himself to Graeme's Mars Bar while he was away. Unforgivable Hannam!
After the short ride out of town it was straight into the first session of the day, 28 miles along a very flat old railway line, the scenery was amazing!
After a quick stop it was straight into the second session, this was tough, hilly and we were against the clock, we had to make it to our accommodation by 8.30 or run the risk of no dinner.
Another great ride from the team saw us smash through. That was it for day two's riding, we pulled into the hotel and were welcomed with a pint of ice cold Leffe. Magic!
On arrival it also became apparent that Graeme had followed my style advice and found himself a bandana. I've been sporting mine since day one to keep the lovely mix of sun screen and sweat out of my eyes. I have received a significant amount of stick for it, (with comments including "you look like you're just back from Vietnam") By the end of this trip everyone will be wearing one!
That evening we all sat down for some top home cooked grub, freshly prepared by our brilliant hosts. The Leffe and red wine was flowing and the party really got started when a "piano off" between Debs and Mr Rawlins got underway. You couldn't pick a winner, they were both top class and later teamed up for some Elton John classics including a enthusiastic but tone deaf team sing along to Rocket Man. What a tune! Check out the video too...
Another great team effort today, topped off by a superb evening.
Final day still to come tomorrow!