Days 2-7

Finding time/energy/Internet connections to update the blog has been harder than we thought. Camping makes it even harder.
Will come back and edit the details in later, but here's a quick taste of days 2-7

Day 2
After a funny night camping nr Ditchling, we somehow left the site totally late (1.5 hours!) and after a sickeningly fast pace through the seemingly never ending south downs hills, we arrived at Newhaven exhausted, feeling bit sick, but seeing the ferry there we were just in time. Just in time that is to be told we'd missed it and couldn't get on. The ramp was up.

Next ferry 10:30pm. Time now 10:30 am.

Got bus and spent day in Brighton, got night ferry, rough crossing, little sleep,

Day 3
sat in dieppe terminal until chucked out at 5:45am, cycled in the dark until ran out of streetlights outside dieppe, sat by road until light enough to ride.

Cycled on to Rouen, and on to Ponte de l'Arche for camp

Day 4
On to la Bonneville Sur Iton

Day 5
Dreux, then on to Chartres. Finally somewhere with minimal dismal outskirts, and a decent city to look at and facilities too.

Day 6
Tired, calling a day off even though not really on schedule. Washing smelly clothes, resting, eating, sleeping in a bed, festival of lights.

Day 7
Cold! Longest day so far, 62.3 miles. Orleans, and finally on the Loire Valley.