Vicky was up early this morning - taking this shot of the sunrise near the hotel. We got the bikes loaded onto the van last night, so all that was left to do today was to squeeze the bags in there too. The support crew then headed for vehicle boarding whilst we went to the foot passenger entrance.
I was determined we were going to have a better day from a navigational perspective today, so bought a map the minute we boarded - and we spent plenty of time working out the route. Meanwhile, Tracey was working on yet more massages, making use of one of the benches on the ferry. Not entirely sure what our fellow passengers thought about half naked men being massaged in front of them! Calm, sunny and surprisingly quick crossing.
I had a mini crisis when we arrived in Calais - Sarah & Victoria couldn't get the car to the foot passenger terminal. Luckily Roy could in the van, so we all had our bikes and most people had kit - however, my shorts, shoes and GPS watch were in Victoria's car. It was looking as if I'd be either doing the first bit of the ride balancing trainers on SPD pedals or getting a ride in the van, but Vicky had a spare pair of SPD shoes that just happened to be my size. Happy days.
Despite route planning, we had a false start trying to find the right road out of Calais which led to a few extra miles and taking a different road parallel to the planned one to Gravelines. Very agricultural, very flat and despite even more roadkill rats, picturesque. We whizzed along, making much better progress than I anticipated. Eventually met the car by Bourbourg where I changed into my own kit (thanks again Vicky) and Sarah led the cyclists through the rather complicated town southwards.
There were a couple of glitches. Victoria & Sarah couldn't find an open supermarket - so refuelling was limited to what was left from yesterday. We were to have a break in Cassel, a picturesque village on a hill, but the roads into it were all closed. There was a benefit as the road up to Cassel would have been extremely steep - instead, we had more gradual climbs.
In Bailleul, Victoria and Sarah finally found a patisserie open so we enjoyed some very tasty bread and pastries. Hayley was so relieved to have "non oat based food" - there's a great photo of her with french bread in one hand, a banana in the other, with her legs getting a quick massage from Tracey to be added here.
The villages and towns were fairly easy to navigate - and very attractive. As we got closer to Lille, the villages merged into its suburbs and the support team took the very brave decision to guide each group in. Maneuvering a Luton van around busy city streets slowly enough for bikes to follow on the wrong side of the road required some impressive driving from Roy - helped out by Tracey and Julia! The final bit through the old town took us over cobbles - I was pining for my mountain bike.
Got to the very basic budget hotel, all in by about 7, and we decided that the bikes would be safer in our rooms than in the van.
The final night so we went out for a meal and lots of Flanders beer, celebrating effectively completing the ride.
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