Day 1, April 8th 2011

After years of pub talk, months of gathering gadgets, weeks of fixing bikes, days of actually doing all of the above, we set off from Ashton Keynes on a sunny Friday in April.

We gathered outside the school to say goodbye to Lars and Mike's boys, Tomas & Simon.  And of course...a "Kodak Moment"  

It started in a good fashion with Mike who forgot his backpack, Lars who hadn't filled up and Mark dropping his bike on the drive before we even set off.. otherwise we were all set to go!

Following Lars new GPS directions with a mysterious choice of roads down to Portsmouth we filled up the tanks before we got into the port area. Lars bumped into Mike at the petrol station (these panniers are wide!) Mike retaliated by whacking into Lars's pannier in rock'n'roll style = ripped aluminium..., A hectic McGyver moment later we were OK to ride onboard. Puh, we made it!

The queue to the boat was filled with bikes and a number of Landrovers on their way to Tunisia, we got strapped down at the bow.

That first beer was glorious! Nice food in the restaurant, clean restrooms = a smooth crossing contrary to Mike's predictions...!

Mileage: 117 miles