Planned as a fun day but the perfect storm deterred the tourists. Late start at 12 and the worst had passed. Paul Kimmage wrote a wonderful piece for the Sunday Times but it didn't make the print editions.
The Hamelin parallel is apt. Today Josh Lewsey (very fit) and Jason Leonard (very big) joined us. Charlie Stayt from the BBC ground away on a mountain bike, and Dermot Murnaghan – very strong, a regular training partner – cruised along. And amazingly, Freddie Flintoff came too. Josh is in training for Everest in April.
A dress rehearsal for Ireland, we are in the bar at the Wee Waif in Charvil on the IPA by 2.30pm. Freddie made his debut in clips and rolled along. Cycling is a key part of his rehab. Rooster reset my thumb – feels okay but typing one-handed on Blackberry is heavy going. Sorry it's short today. Does need to be looked after or I will end up with 'dangly thumb' – and who wants that?
Great coverage over the weekend, particularly on the BBC. See the video on the rugby union section of BBC Sport online.
Joanna still recovering. The stomach bug has hit a lot. Lee Dixon only managed 5km on Friday before being pole-axed. The doc took him back to the start hotel and he slept all day. Looks like fun group this week. Forecast okay until Thursday.
Andrew Croker is part of the core team accompanying former England rugby union captain Lawrence Dallaglio on every leg of his epic 2,770km Cycle Slam which started on 12 February in Rome. Joined by celebrities including former Arsenal defender and Match of the Day pundit Lee Dixon, one time Spurs and Newcastle striker Les Ferdinand and newsreader Dermot Murnaghan plus members of the public, they're riding between Nice, Paris, Twickenham, Fishguard on to Rosslare and finally Edinburgh. Money raised will be shared between Sport Relief and the The Dallaglio Foundation. You can support the Cycle Slam at www.dallagliocycleslam.com.