Day 22

2050km, 1281 miles, 93.5 hours, 164.5 baguettes, 78.5 litres of blood sweat and tears, 4 crashes, 10 punctures, 1 wheel, 2 tyres, 16 thighs and 8 gooches later, at an average speed of 22km/hr we have made it to the town of Tisno. 200 metres outside our apartment, in a bar, 4 beers down. Le Havre to Tisno, Done. Blog out. 

Day 21

Fantastic rest day playing volleyball and watching strange aquatic sports on the harbour. We are now just killing time until our accommodation starts in Tisno on Tuesday morning. Cheeky 50km tomorrow morning to bring us very close to our final goal. Tonight we are sleeping on a beach 15km south of Senji. Everyone is looking forward to reaching Tisno, sprits are high but a little in pain. 

Day 20

We had a massive slog this morning and made it to Zadar by 12. Whilst relaxing in Zadar we were interviewed about our journey by a journalist for a Croatian radio station, needless to say we all now count ourselves as rockstars. Only 60km to go until we reach Tisno and we are ahead of schedule, time for a rest day tomorrow. 

Day 19

Found a great place to sleep on the beach last night, until we were rudely awoken by a group of drunk local girls who didn't leave until 2 o'clock. The morning started with a long 13km climb but the amazing views over the islands made it worthwhile. With 55km done before lunch the heat got to us so we stopped for something to eat and a much in budget jet ski ride. Now we are chilling in a restaurant and sleeping on the beach tonight. All excited for a night in Zadar. 

Day 18

The Croatian coast didn't fail to deliver with the most scenic coastline any of us have ever seen. The roads have been extremely hilly and the heat got unbearable but we were rewarded with several dips in the sea and on the beach. We have had tea at a restaurant in a harbour whilst watching a beautiful sunset and tonight we are sleeping on the beach 15km south of Senji. Everyone is looking forward to reaching Tisno, spirits are in pain but high! 

Day 17

After a rainy sleep we climbed all morning through Slovenia. We had a 3 hour siesta before we descended into Croatia and stopped 10km short of Rijeka in a restaurant where we proceeded to consume 2kg of pig. Tomorrow we hit the Croatian coast line and begin the last 250 miles of our journey. Spirits are high. 

Day 16

Last night Rich decided to check the depth of Venice's grand canal with a backflip off a bridge, even after shouted warnings from the local Indian salesman. Needless to say, he cut his foot.. but it was tiny. Greg decided to take Kit, Rich, Jake and Aaron on a shortcut across Venice which resulted in missing the bus back to camp. This morning we got up and out by 7 and had done 70km by 12. A quick lunch turned into a 4 hour nap, so we got going again late afternoon. We have now passed the 1000 mile mark and tonight we've found a place to camp 30km from Trieste which may be a dogging spot.. Only time will tell. Tomorrow we should leave Italy, cross Slovenia and head into Croatia! 

Day 15

Sorry about the technical difficulties this afternoon. Everything is now all up and running. There's not a lot to report on today.. We have had a rest day in Venice, eating pizza and ice cream, relaxing in our camp site pool and giving our legs a well deserved rest. Back on the bikes tomorrow. 350 miles to go. 

Day 14

After managing to survive our dodgy camping spot, we were on the road by 6am and had finished 60km by 9am. After the peaceful 60km taking turns to lead we thought we would give young Richard a turn to lead. 5 minutes later we were walking back down the motorway the wrong way. After getting lost in Padova and stopping for the 109th time for Aaron (he got a puncture) we finally managed to navigate the last 50km and made it to Venice before 3 to a lovely campsite. Whilst having a wander around Venice a tramp approached us for a beer and as we turned him down Aaron dropped all our beers on the floor, karma. Dave nearly cried like Murray.

Day 13

A few beers turned into many last night and after mixing with the locals we ended up at a democratic party rally. Kit was charming all the elderly women of the village with his promiscuous dance moves whilst gee was faced with nothing but rejection. However good a night it was, the morning to follow was near unbearable. Setting off at midday in the heat of the sun, hanging out our arses, with 80 miles to do was far from ideal. Saying that, we are still on target with very few set backs, apart from small crash from Dave. Spirits are high, we are camping in a field in Legnago tonight and looking forward to reaching Venice tomorrow. 

Day 12

After failing to set the crucial morning alarm, Rich went on to play 20 questions.. his key criteria being that it was not a bird and it couldn't fly. Angry that we couldn't get it he revealed that it was a duck. Mosquitos do terrible things to people. Last noche a nice man allowed us to sleep in his driveway. He went out and when he returned we were gone. However upon entering his porch he was greeted by Greg sat in full lotus position and an enthusiastic buongiorno from the dark. The language barrier has reduced  us to patronising charades and the answer is always sarcastically casual. Tonight we lost it entirely. The table is stacked with empties, mosquitos count for nothing and we're off to a democratic party rally. Vive Berleosconi! 

Day 11

Considering Italy is a country known for low slung sports cars the roads here are croc shite. Crossing Turin was done swiftly by expert navigators Greg, Tom and Aaron, although the bit we crossed was gert minging. After laying some miles down after Turin we stopped for lunch where Rich realised his brake had been rubbing all morning and then never shut up that he managed to keep up. The siesta working hours of a supermarket caught us out so when they finally opened we repaid them with 8 boys worth of poo! We carried on and had a fantastic dip in a river this afternoon. When our ride became surrounded by nothing but paddy fields finding a camp that wasn't infested by mosquitos proved quite difficult. A very kind restaurant owner has let us camp in his car park just east of Montara. Sleeping on gravel tonight. 

Day 10

The morning started on a terrible note, with the loss of a much cherished and now sorely missed friend. The incredibly well travelled Hull family water bottle was shot down in its prime on its third trip to the Alps by a rambunctious Richard who had drank too much caffeine. On a lighter more important note, we reached the top of the Alps this morning after a ridiculously steep 10km climb and stopped for a beer at half 9 at 2086m up, just under the snow line. After some photos in triumphant poses, we descended down into Italy, with a certain Kim Lambert flouting the 70km/h speed limit. We were then directed to a cheap 3 course meal by a old but talkative Italian woman. Aaron tried to charm the waitress through a terrible language barrier and his efforts were repaid with a plate of raw mince. We continued down the mountains towards Turin, stopping at Lidl where we met some Essex women who sponsored 15 euros to the cause. We are now crammed in a tent near to a motorway drinking very cheap vino out of plastic cups. 

Day 9

Last night turned out to be a camping spot straight out of a horror movie with high pitched screaming and automated lights, illuminating the creepy chapel. The boys staying outside certainly had an unnerving night. On to the 9th day.. with no public toilets nearby everyone was forced to take a more 'natural' approach. The morning started off cloudy but the sun started to shine through providing some ridiculous views across the Alps. The road started to wind and climb as we reached our lunch spot at an old fort where we discovered a maze made of blankets, there was lots of giggling between the sheets. Tom got a bit scared during a game of tag, letting out a girly scream. Racing occurred between ourselves and a group of old men, fortunately we won. We have followed the river up to the town of Lanslebourg where we have found a nice campsite for the evening. Tomorrow we have the daunting task of facing a 10km climb into Italy! Therefore we are preparing with a cheeky beer in the pub. 

Day 8

Waking up in a Hotel bed meant that today was the first day we didn't wake up feeling suicidal. We managed to watch the football last night and when we returned to the Hotel the landlady was so drunk she couldn't stand or even talk. Being our first rest day and the fact that it was raining all day we thought we would treat ourselves to a 75km climb! After 30km we realised that Dave was struggling with illness/not really that ill at all so we found a barn to sleep in, then left it to camp much further on at a chapel on a mound where Tom and Kit constructed a record breaking den! We hope to make good progress tomorrow, with or without Dave depending on how much moaning he does! 

Day 7

And on the seventh day God made the Alps. Made them gurt big too. A lot of cars drive by and cheer us on. One man drove by swearing. He was british. Day 7 on our tour of europe's supermarkets, and we are tired out and almost ferral and got so wet that crying was pointless. Some say that bad luck comes in threes, but being a third of the way there we believe that there is no good or bad luck, only the wrong number of magpies. Staying in a hotel tonight in chambery, where there is an airport, which imlplies that we should have flown in and not cycled (we are heroes). Spirits are high, and jake is now fluent in french, which is bon. On our next trip we are planning to cycle to Everest base camp on penny farthings with no saddles carrying our own weight in cous cous.

Day 6

Lovely morning ride bashing out 80 km by half 11. There was topless riding and Dave started a water fight with a spit gone wrong. Greg was actually ready before someone for the first time today and Jake lost his horn and his temper with his bike. Tom realised that vents in his new shorts were the best option, so took a pair of scissors to them and is now in danger of exposing himself at every opportunity. We've reached the bottom of the Alps on schedule and team moral is at an all time high. Aaron's bum hurts. We've done 113km and tonight we're camping in someones garden in Amberieu-en-Bugey with free beer included. French people have been very nice, with loads of drivers giving us waves and beeps of encouragement. 

Day 5

Biggest thunderstorm ever right above the barn last night. But today we got to do 10km down hill! Rich got a €5 donation in the supermarket but he also had to buy a €95 wheel as he broke 3 spokes. Chalon is not the nicest of places - no Wotton-Under-Edge - but we're in a campsite by the river. We cycled 66 miles today. Dave lost all ability in his thumb earlier which is bad timing as we've finally got the privacy of a shower.*

*Disclaimer for all parents.. these messages are copied straight from the boys text messages! 

Day 4

After a few slightly illegal manoeuvres we made great progress doing 50 miles this morning with no crashes but the heat took its toll after lunch as we couldn't sit in the sun let alone cycle. We finished the day in a nice barn 20 miles south of Avallon which is lucky because there's meant to be a thunderstorm tonight. We are now the smelliest lads in France. Going to be another tough day tomorrow. 

Photos courtesy of Tom's Dad

Day 3... and the boys have showered!

Last night Tom used his local lingo to find us a nice barn to sleep in. Woke up pretty late but managed to catch up, doing 50 miles before lunch. The weather was really good and we met Toms dad for dinner. The whole of France laughed at Jakes hair again. Rich crashed (as per usual) but nothing serious. Gee has cut a hole in his shorts to air the cut on his bum and we've all washed for the first time! We've made it to Joigny and cycled 242 miles so far. Much love from us all

Day 2

Last night was an incredibly wet sleep and in the morning our campsite had turned into a mud bath. After we got going there were a few minor tumbles from Greg, Kit and Chris but no major injuries, just a couple of bruises. Only one puncture today along with a hell of a lot of rain. We are just south of Étampes and have a big day tomorrow so it's time for an early night! 

First day on the bikes... and lots of punctures!

After suffering 4 punctures in the glassy roads of le Havre it was safe to say spirits were low. However after walking across the Pont de Normandie we finally managed to get some miles out the way and everyone, bikes included, were riding well. Consequently, we have made it to our destination just south of Evreux. We have found a secluded camping spot, just off the N154, and have finished dinner. Hope everyone is well! 

England to Croatia Charity Cycle 2012: Planning

Welcome to our blog for our cycle from England to Croatia 2012. We will be keeping this blog updated every two to three days. We are currently map planning so we better carry on.....