Getting up before 6am on a travel day to me is a psychological barrier. So, 6.01 & I was up, breakfasted and in the car to pick up Beth on the way to Gatwick.
Beth got into the car complete with flask of coffee and piece of toast with peanut butter and jam. On a china plate!
We had a good trip down with little traffic, Beth supplying the coffee all the way down. We dropped our car at Cophall Farm Parking (very good value and I would recommend them). As I loaded my bike bag into the minibus I noticed what looked to be a piece of toast on the ground, looking a little squished, half way between our car and the office. Much later on, on the airport shuttle Beth mentioned that I must remind her to find the piece of toast in my car when we got back which must of slid off her plate, and I realised it must have been hers on the ground. Beth had no idea but mentioned she might have stepped on some chewing gum and had shaken it off whilst walking to the car park office. She then looked down at her sandal and foot. It was covered with peanut butter and jam!
The slightly late take off gave Team GB a chance for its first bit of competition. Who can get the best value Boots Meal Deal. After a tense round of receipt analysis Andy Conn won by a clear margin, his vast international experience paying off with a massive £2.85 saving, the key being the £1.34 pudding option.
From Porto the drive to Montelagre was quiet apart from 10 minutes following a heavily laden small lorry carrying straw bales. Beth and I felt guilty watching the lorry balancing on the edge, one rear wheel almost off the ground every time it went round a corner, almost wanting to see it tip over but eventually we thought it better to overtake and get out of its way.
We arrived to find the accommodation booked by Emily to be fantastic. After some food in a local restaurant and a walk round the castle we spent the evening bike building on a huge balcony overlooking a river valley and wooded low mountains. There was even time for a shakedown ride whilst looking at the sunset.
Looking forward to the rest of the week, now.