Finally the appointed hour has arrived! And we make the Grand Depart! But not before one of us headed back to London for some R&R before aiming to rejoin us in Bristol.

After a light breakfast of bacon, egg, toast, …

The alarm was set for six as I was to be on the 8:03 am from Paddington Station to Penzance. J&C were on the 12pm (they booked almost the day bookings opened about 9 weeks before the trip). I booked …

The BIG REVEAL —- Christine has busted open the wallet and bought a custom built Condor Touring Bike (arranged from back in Australia, picked up from the maker in Greys Inn Road yesterday).

A day later C&J headed back to …

Everyone crashed fairly early, like by 8 pm as the jetlag and excitement caught up. Being so tired meant that four of us mixed genders sharing the same family room at the Royal Eagle in Paddington couldn’t keep us awake.…

Finally got a red wine with a meal! Probably good not to drink alcohol with the chronic dehydration on 19 hour flights (11.5 Perth- Dubai, 7.5 Dubai – London). Emirates Airlines meals are big, four course including entrees, salad, meat …

Packed half of Sunday (day -5) and half of Monday (day -4). The bike went easily into a ‘large frame’ road bike box. Difficult bit was getting weight overall to 30kg checked and 7 kg in cabin. Made it after …