Started a monsoon whilst we were having lunch. Everyone gathered under the trees, huddled like penguins trying to escape the worst of it, but without success. We all got absolutely soaked, and cold.

Setting off, most of us found out cycling shoes had collected a load of mud so wouldn't click into pedals, or worse, clocked in but then not out when that first stop came and a foot on the ground required.....

Next 20 miles through more beautiful scenery and lovely little villages, but still largely raining.

The rain did eventually stop but by then most of the country roads we were on were covered in mud and puddles. Hot to the last water-stop of the day soaking wet and looking definitely like I'd been through the Somme - bike and rider...

By the time we rolled-in to lunch, it had just started spitting with huge goblets of rain. A taster of what was to come. And for the last 5 miles we were willing the lunch-stop to be around the next corner. Must have been the extra miles of the earlier detour taking its toll.

Absolutely stunning scenery, (gently) rolling countryside - cycling through its easy to see how this whole region offered no cover for soldiers crossing the ground, from opposing forces. Hard to fathom that so many were killed here and neither side advanced much for almost 2 years.

Again the 3 Amigos set-off at a pace (others described as "tanked-it"!!) towards the first water-stop which was at the Somme memorial, 20 miles.

Well, 23 miles after the "detour" - We missed a turn.

Not sure how, big bloody orange arrow nailed to a lamp-post!! however we weren't the only ones, retracing our route about 25 guys did the same.

Eventually pulled in up the hill to the water stop, and visited the memorial.