Day 4: Sept 17, 07:44: What a fantastic night's sleep! After two nights on cr*ppy sofa beds in Travelodges, a real, honest-to-goodness bed was a genuine luxury! Small things I guess but after about 240 miles in the saddle, it made a massive difference

I feel good. Yes, my legs ache and my knees are incredibly stiff in the mornings, but as soon as I get up and move around everything loosens a bit, and once I'm on the bike it'll be all good for what I hope to be the next 77 miles.

The plan today is to start from where we quit yesterday and finish in Shrewsbury. There's general agreement that a bit more discipline is needed with regards start times and length / frequency of stops, so that can only be a good thing. Becks is rejoining us today; her knee isn't miraculously healed, she's just tripping her t*ts off on co-codamol (god knows how you spell that) and can't feel a damn thing. So fingers crossed.

I've decided I like to lay the game plan down in an early blog, before we set off. That way you get a more honest appraisal of how we've done come the evening update - not that I'd fib about our progress if you hadn't known what to expect, obviously....

Keith

PS Apologies for the lack of photos - when we land somewhere with a sufficiently decent connection speed I'll put some up, promise!