After packing our kit (or repacking the van with the bikes in it numerous times) we were finally ready to set off at around 7am. The journey flew by and we were soon at Taunton services for our first stop and the first disappointed people when no one famous appeared off the bus.
It had become apparent that Colin the bus driver was going to run out of driving hours so the plan was changed to get us dropped off as near to Lands End as possible so that we could move into the minibus and van for the final part of the journey so that Colin could get the bus to the overnight stop in Okehampton.
Arriving at Lands End was fairly uneventful with the exception of Billy very nearly knocking a motorbike over with the van.
After paying the man with the none digital camera to put Blazing Saddles in the sign we had our photos taken as a group and then in the individual teams.
So that's Tony, Wayne and me ready to start as we were the team charged with completing the first session.
With a load of people clapping and cheering us on we all set off for the first 9 hours of riding with everyone except my team getting on the minibus after 5 miles leaving us to the joys of the A30.
The section was pretty uneventful for us apart from a French coach driver moaning at us for taking up too much of the road and the A30 wasn't as bad with a few of you cycling rather than being a solo rider although having the van behind made people well aware of what was ahead of them.
After 20 miles we got over taken by a tractor so slip streamed it for 5 miles before the van over took us with Tim saying we had five miles left so it was a shock when we suddenly saw the minibus and the next team ready to ride.
Tom and Pete then took over whilst the rest of us went in Redruth looking for somewhere for the last two teams out to get some food as the first few teams could eat in the pub where the tour bus was parked up for the night.
A brisk drive followed to pick up team B and passing them on a traditional Cornish hill Pete was hear to utter the quote of the day 'f***ing hell'. After a windy change over on the A30 Pete showed off his bad case of helmet hair.
As team C took over the mini bus raced along to drop teams A & B at Betty Cottles Inn which is where the tour bus was so we could shower and get dinner.
The bus was parked up in the campsite in a glorious location and the three young girls running in out of the bus made us realise that Colin the driver hadn't been joking when he said he lived in Okehampton.
A nice tea of New York chicken washed down with a couple of pints of Doom Bar was very enjoyable and the arrival on team D in the light meant that we had completed our target mileage in 5 hours as opposed to 9 hours - hopefully we've not burnt out on day 1.
The day finished with a number 2 - a few of us are getting a bit obsessed but not being able to poop on the bus is a bit of a pain.
Overall the day that started at around 4am finished at around 11pm with me climbing into my 3ft x 6ft x 2ft bunk. Team A aren't out until 11:30am tomorrow so get a lie in before we ride the Bristol leg and the Wolverhampton to Stone leg.
I'd forgotten about Billy knocking over them bikes at Lands End!!!
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