Allez, Allez, Allez!

Well not quite, but at least we're on the first British leg of the journey to Niort near La Rochelle for la Semaine Federale a week of cycling for every ability.

Everything is packed, I hope, to cover all eventualities, spare tyres, tools. lights, maps,camera, chargers, European adaptors, passport, wet weather gear, hot weather gear and anything in-between gear.

The panniers are so heavy, the bike tips backwards if I take my hands off the handlebars, although that is not a problem today as we are in the car with the bikes on the back travelling to Hull to catch the Yorkshire Bikeliner, the bus with a cycle trailer which will transport us and the bikes via Portsmouth and Caen, arriving on the outskirts of Niort on Sunday.

Eh alors, a demain!

This is my Scottish chapeau which I will sport in the parade of nationalities around Niort a week on Sunday, as a thank you for hosting the bike festival. His Lordship's is even worse.