Our next few blog posts are hopefully going to be updates from the intrepid pair Peter Duke and David Parson who have just set off to cycle across France in aid of the Jo Walters Trust. They have set off, and below is the first update. We'd like to wish them a following wind and conveniently spaced vineyards.

David writes...

Starting at the very beginning: on the Atlantic beach: Left to right: Mary and David Parson, Vicky and Peter Duke

As we set off on our big bike ride, we remember Jo who would just have become 31 and whose example was the inspiration for this expedition. She would always rise to a challenge and hopefully so will we!

Yesterday evening navigation turned out to be the biggest challenge! We left the Atlantic coast near Arcachon bound for our B&B some 10 miles distant. 20 miles and 2 hours later we made it.

So today while Mary and Vicky were dipping their toes in the Atlantic and climbing the Dune de Pyla, the largest sand dune in Europe, we took the route verte down the disused railway line from Le Teich to Langon on the Garonne. The highlight was a contretemps with a large wild boar!

We achieved 55 miles (88 kilometres), not bad for day 1.

After Day 1

Our apologies to those who felt our photo appeared upside down - it was fine when it left here!

David and Peter