Readers probably know that Robin and Barbara Cooper are leading the advanced party and left the UK on 23 June to cycle the 1,500 miles in three weeks. They’ll be meeting the full group in Lucerne. Here’s the tale from day three on the bikes…

Heavy rain, thunderstorms and hail. Incredible. None of these featured today in another 40 degree scorcher. Very, very hot with hills right to the end. We’ve never drunk so much water in our lives. From Mesolongi at long last it’s very quiet roads with fabulous islands and turquoise coast to look at. Crazy motorway schemes that seem to have no purpose and have run out of money and been abandoned along with holiday homes and time share. Sadly my Garmin deleted everything so we went back to maps. I have to say Barbara appeared less than impressed with our unintended 10 mile detour into the mountains. We ended up doing 88 today. The last bit to Prevesa is tedious past a military airport with “no photo” signs. We were tempted to take a holiday snap but decided against. The tunnel where you need to be escorted through was very efficient. We just called at the office and an old jalopy came to collect us. I’m pretty sure taking bikes across 6 lanes of traffic by a toll on foot is pretty safe as were the two bikes dumped in the back of the truck with me perched on the back of the open truck driving at 60 in the tunnel. Kevin, i suggest you just say goodbye to your bike. In Preveza now and 50miles to the ferry at Igoumenitsa tomorrow. If we see “Welcome to Albania” we’ve gone too far. Pic of me with some of the locals on the way and Barbara on the lovely coast road.