The trip so far...

I'm gonna bung this all in one post - the combination of this notebook and the french wifi makes it a giant ballache!! I'll fix it all and add pics when I get home. **I'M GONNA SMASH THIS NETBOOK!! HENCE THE LACK OF ANY HUMOUR!!*

Day 1 - Rugby to Portsmouth

I was met by lots of my awesome friends and family at the remembrance day gates for my departure. To say I was nervous would be an understatement!! After some photos and goodbyes I left, all on my lonesome. The 1st 40 miles were fine but I soon realised my bike was far too heavy when I reached some hills!! Its amazing , and surprised me how quickly I wanted to give up. This was day 1 chamone!!

At Steves house im Pompey, I left a load of crap I didn't actually need to lighten the bike as much as possible'

Day 2 - portsmouth to Arromanche

Ferry at 0730. A long, very nervous crossing left me wondering what I let myself in for but as soon as I was on the bike, I felt good and was enjoying myself!
Arromanche is where Grandad and his regiment landed, I found it a very emotional place - I will go back with more time soon.
Camped, sorted out kit and spent my 1st night alone. Didn't sleep much!

Day 3 - Arromanche to Gace 86 mles

Here's a giant lesson; use common sense, not technology! The Garmin (sat nav) took me some back routes, including single track roads through fields!! That meant the progress was slow. I got to Huberts Folie where there was a nice monument thanking the Brits and Canadians for liberating their village- I left a poppy.
Continued down to Falaise and Argentan a broken man after terrible roads.
This is when I made the decsion to alter the route and use only main roads. So thanks to some conversations with Sonny back home, I have a new route each day, still taking in the important towns.
Camped in Gace, met an awesome couple who charged my stuff in their caravan and even managed to convince a closed restaurant to cook me some food all in French!!
Went to bed feeling much more positive!

Day 4- 100 miles - Gace to Gournay-en-bray

With a route planned involving only main roads, I woke up feelin good. A chance to prove to myself that I can do this, and I can do it consecutively.
The 1st 25miles were so flat!! Awesome roads and no wind meant I was having my 1st coffee at 0930, 25 miles in!

Feeling good I carried on through to Rouen where I bumped into a leather faced Frenchi on a bike who, after some broken conversation rode with me all the way through the city to where I needed to go. Unfortunately, that was a mental motorway junction like Spaghetti junction, pretty scary on a bike in Lycra.

Hilly last 30 miles and i'm in a hotel. the owner has the best moustache I EVER DID SEE!