On paper, this always looked the hardest day (with the possible exception of the day after tomorrow). Whilst it was only about 70 miles, it was across a very hilly/mountainous area. We spent around 6 hours climbing under the baking sun. Only interrupted by the occasional hairy decent. This is where all the hours of training proved their worth. One rule: never dismount. However slow. The day started badly for JC, who breakfasted on a cocktail of both paracetamol ...

The crossing was good. A strong headwind in Biscay slowed our progress a tad, but there was insufficient list to cause any real seasickness problems. Watched Man City share the points with Liverpool on the big screen. JC resolutely, courageously and comprehensively ignored the advice on her seasick tablets which stated 'not to be taken with alcohol'. For my part, I ignored my gut feeling that I should avoid the plate of (supposedly) fresh prawns for dinner. So ...

Aboard the Brittany Ferries flagship, the Pont-Aven. A nice warm evening. Out on deck with books and a cool beer. I'm reading The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared. JC's reading The Other Hand I've just spotted a clown!

Just bought some maps. Never realised that northern Spain was all mountainy. Right down to the coast. Looks to be no way around them. Not to worry, still got about a week till the off. Time to build up some leg muscles. Squats! Lots of squats! JCs coming over this morning to discuss details of the trip. Like - shall we take that monkey again?

The Olympics are over and it's time to dust down the bikes. Two weeks to go before my sister, Jackie (or 'JC') and me pump up our tyres and head off, once again, for the open roads of Europe. This year we'll take the ferry down to Santander from where we'll pedal our way across northern Spain then follow the Pyrenees all the way to St Chinian in the Languedoc region of France. We'll fly home from Beziers on the Mediterranean. We aim to pedal around eight hundr...