So before I start I should probably let you know that for the first time since we began this ridiculous challenge we have managed to carve out just a couple of extra hours of what we might call “TMAAT leisure time” today and so whatever follows may require some heavy subsequent editing!

Actually I think I should start with the bit that I didn’t end with last night. What we are doing is insanely hard and very much about raising money for prostate cancer. Yes we are getting a huge sense of personal achievement by turning ourselves inside out every day but this is first and foremost about raising awareness for Prostate Cancer UK and raising money. We do then want to give a huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far….we do really appreciate it and I know prostate cancer UK does too …. it’s an amazing thing you have done and it is genuinely keeping us going each day.

The fact is though we do want more. Please, if you’re reading this right now and getting even a modicum of enjoyment out of it or our pain and suffering please do make sure you donate and then tell someone else about it, share our website details with them and let’s see if we can get other people to donate and follow and share.

To be honest at this point if any of you know Matt Baker please do give him a ring and let him know that we are up for a chat ….I would even consider being on the One Show right now ( although to be fair I do recognise he’s not doing that anymore but you get the general gist!)

I should at this point mention that “Team Santander” who we met en route yesterday donated £50 to our cause. If you are reading this right now then you sirs are absolute gentleman and and scholars and an example for others (even if you are staying in hotels and not camping). Good luck on your adventure and thank you so, so much!

Ok, so back to jour cinq. Our much vaunted “posh” night out last night didn’t really go to plan but a bottle of wine and pizza au naturale works pretty well when you are beyond tired and even further beyond hungry.

As we devour the really insanely good pizza (possibly best ever?) we start to talk about tomorrows route and the fact that potentially there is a “beach” at the end of it…..a cunning plan is needed if we are to make the most of it. When I say “cunning” what I actually mean is that we decide that if we leave a bit earlier we can get their a bit earlier but given how tired we are that feels pretty damn cunning let me tell you.

We duly get up to the alarm at 530, sort ourselves out and head off around 7am. If anything the French countryside is even more amazing this little bit earlier.

Our plan then, such as it is, is to crash through the countryside as fast we can to catch the 1105 ferry from Royan to St Verdon, then have a v early lunch on the ferry (and thereby not wasting any time …see I told you it was cunning) and then push onto our campsite early enough to possibly have a swim in the sea….it’s a big ask!

It’s a brutal 40 plus mile push but the terrain is much more forgiving today (ie flatter). We pause only briefly for a quick coffee and croissant and then finally we roll into Royan around 1020, grab some food and then get in the queue for the ferry. We made it! I have to say having our lunch whilst something else is doing the “forward motion” on our behalf feels like the most extravagant indulgence but one that we will gladly take. Marc is so overwhelmed by the whole experience he seems to channel his inner Jean Paul Gaultier (or is it Kate Winslet?) ….I mean honestly just give him a sailors outfit!

When we land at St Verdon we are no longer in the Vendee and instead have crossed over into the Gironde region of France. We are met by the most amazing coastline and the most extraordinary cycle paths which go on for miles and miles and miles. It’s traffic free, flattish and very pretty for every single bit of the remaining 50 mile we have to cover. It’s not entirely perfect and the last ten miles or so are pretty dicey and more uncomfortable than I could politely explain here especially the path clears needs a bit of repair.

The route we are on today forms part of what i think is known as the Velodessey, a cycle route which runs all the way from the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean (nope…forget it, that is just not happening!) so it’s great to see a sign confirming we are on the right track. What’s not so great is Marc questioning my campsite choices (for the avoidance of doubt, no we didn’t stop here!)

Eventually, after certainly our biggest effort so far we arrive at our very smart campsite just before 4pm. Cozzies quickly on we head straight for the beach…..and it is quite a beach!

Finally I should mention that I’ve taken lots of video on this trip so far but not actually posted any. Partly that is because I’m not really creative enough, but also because there is very rarely a signal good enough to upload. All the planets have however aligned today and so I give you a short contemplative piece that we like to call “Non, je ne regrette rien, tandis que l'homme avec le tete “bobbly” regarde.