It's the final countdown ...

As I type, we are less than an hour away from the step into Friday 22nd September and our day of departure. Over a year of blood, sweat, tears and gears have passed since we signed-up for the challenge ahead of us. To be honest 600 miles in 7 days and 60,000ft of climbing sounds ok when it is a year away but trust me it feels something entirely different when you need to use your passport and assemble a bike within the next 24 hours.

The morning sees our Band of Brothers assemble at Turnock Towers for onward transfer to Liverpool's John Lennon Airport from where we will fly to Nimes in France. We Brexit at 3pm to land en Francais just after 6pm local time and then take a transfer to the hotel. On arrival we will greet our bikes with a kiss on both cheeks, having been separated from them since Tuesday when they began their overland journey. Once assembled and checked over me may then and only the take on the calories that will fuel our first day in the saddle and hydrate with common-sense and restraint.

Day one proper will dawn on Saturday with the choice of a short (95 mile) or 'medium' (120 mile) route that will take us to the foot of Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence. I am reliably informed that the route to Bedoin on Saturday is stunning and takes in the Gorges du Nesque, so fingers crossed for good weather.

Team Welsh has in the main prepared well. We have build a team ethos and camaraderie that should see us support each other throughout the challenge. From past experience of long weeks on the bike you can expect at least one bad day. Hopefully our bad days don't sync with each other as there is a an almost beautiful symmetry about being supported by others one day and supporting others the next.

My role of mentor sees me aim to ensure that the group that sets off in the morning is the same group that meets for lunch, takes coffee in the afternoon and concludes the day with a cheeky glass of something cold before showers, dinner and rest. It has to be said that my own preparations have been hampered by something of an Annus Horribilis, however the muscle memeory and mental resilience that I have banked over the years should see me through. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to impart some of my wisdom (questionable) and experience upon some of the less experienced members of Team Welsh, whilst it has also been something of an embarrassment that in the case of Mike Evans I am mentor to someone who at he very least is my equal. I should also add that Tony Brierley as he approaches his 65th birthday is the fittest/fastest/lightest gentleman of his age and I fully expect to watch his back wheel as it pulls ahead of me when the road rears upwards.

I sincerely hope that my regular updates to the blog are well received. Feel free to do the whole like, comment, share thing on all social media platforms, but more importantly please remember why the challenge is being undertaken. We are collectively raising money for two very worthy local charities, both of whom could not provide the services they do without public donations, charitable events and legacies. Please, please make a donation if you haven't already done so. I'm not expecting my 'contact points' to be in a healthy state when we finish and so to know that thousands of pounds have been raised will help to ease the pain, if not reduce the scarring.

Thanks for reading

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NeilWelsh