Day 1 - The Journey

One man down. Family tragedy. Unfortunately his journey will start a day later but the great news is he will be joining us.

Me? Too bloody tired and too bloody excited. The bag isnt packed, the bike is still at the shop having a new bottom bracket or something else equally unnecessary fitted.

The journey begins at the airport where we have some good news and some bad news. The good news? We discover that by luck of all lucks we have been upgraded to the front. Not sure I know how to drink Champagne, while lying down having a massage and eating froe gras. The bad news? One of us isnt ugraded. It isnt me, so who cares.

Fly. Fly. Fly. London. Fly. Fly. Paris. This is where we wait a short while admiring the beauty of Paris from the comfort of a garden chair outside a sandwich shop inside the TGV Station. Train. The journey by train is a must-do. It is beautiful, lush and goes past really fast. It's the first time everyone has sat down together and talked without being fueled by beer. We struggle and an early call for ale is made. Thank God. One more story from Cobby about the last time he went up Ventout would have resulted in tragedy. Train. Train. Train. Avignon. Taxi. Arrive. Jesus Christ.

We have landed in heaven.

The Chateau is stunning. We overlook Ventoux. It is absolutely stunning. The only distraction is the smell. We havent washed for 42 hours. Is Cobby walking around with his dipstickers on there? Ah ha. So that's why they call him Softcroft.

The bikes are built. It is like an early episode of The Muppets. Poido puts a wheel on the wrong way round. Is that possible?

This place has a secret. A wonderful secret. Hidden in the bowels is a place where only the few are lucky enough to venture. Bottle after bottle of vintage wine. Acres of the stuff. Piled high in crates. Stacked to the ceiling. As the Wok gazes on, the reality strikes hard. "Mate, giving me this stuff is like feeding strawberries to pigs". We make off with 3 beauties.


The views are amazing. We eat in a courtyard beside the Chateau. Poido in an attempt to get his second wind, wonders off like Oates. Only he comes back, regailing about more views up the road. Seems a shame to ruin this with a bike ride tomorrow.