for a variety of very complicated logistical reasons, I drove up on Sunday evening the 35 minutes to Gary‘s house. He and Janet cooked a beautiful meal and I had a relaxing evening with a reasonably early night. In the morning we were away by just after 5 am with a van/mini bus that Gary had organised and we were at Gatwick by 630. Flight was 815 and I had bought a club class tickets with Air miles so I got access to the lounge for the last time probably. The flight was fine and arrived only a few minutes late, however the passport queue due to Brexit was out of pandemonium with around one hour 405 Waite to one of the three open windows. I felt extremely weak and unwell and almost decided to go and get medical assistance but decided they would probably send me off the hospital when I just needed to sit down and a glass of Water. So I got some water off Gary and Janet and that helped somewhat and eventually we got through to the very organised planning that Steve and Rune had put in place to get us our bikes and luggage to the start point in Valença about an hour or so away.

Hotel is absolutely what we need, with decent size rooms, and air-conditioning, although my air-conditioning wasn’t working and I got upgraded to a slightly Austin Powers style suite with a bow unit!

Steve arrived at about 430 and we were able to assemble our bikes and all is now done. A bit of a rest and then dinner out in the old town which is a beautiful fortified Hill town overlooking the river into Spain.
Steve arrived at about 430 and we were able to assemble our bikes and all is now done. A bit of a rest and then dinner out in the old town which is a beautiful fortified Hill town overlooking the river into Spain.

As most of the Norwegians only arrived this evening we have not yet had a team meeting that we need to have so that will be at 7 am tomorrow, then breakfast and then off to the hills and the heat and 90 K of riding!