After a good night in Oostende, Friday saw us travel down the Belgian coast into France just north of Dunkirk.

From there we cycled down to Calais for the ferry back to Dover.

We under-estimated the time needed to make the ferry, leaving a fairly frantic last couple of hours, especially since Tony Crawford and Gary Webb ended up lost for a good hour, not knowing which country they were in.

The weather had picked up and by the time we arrived in Dover it was beautiful.

The night was spent in Folkestone and Lynn Woods, our Folkestone Claret hosted a very entertaining night at Folkestone Invicta F.C (where he is a director).

Saturday saw us set off from Folkestone and head through the Kent countryside up to Crawley.

After a week of flat roads the hills came as something of a shock, with the keen cyclists enjoying them and the rest of us cursing them!

Brian Parker, the landlord of the commercial in Harle Syke, who has told us his bike is now going in the canal!

As you can see from the above picture of Brian Parker relaxing(!) at the top of Turners Hill, near Crawley.

Sunday came, the day of the game and Alastair Campbell joined us once more with his son Rory to complete the final 22 miles of the trip up to Selhurst Park.

The team looked great, all in uniform green cycling gear, kindly sponsored by Lloyds TSB. We almost looked professional.

We passed the Burnley FC media team in Croydon (who were indulging in an athletes breakfast at McDonalds)

Upon arrival at Crystal Palace, Owen Coyle came to meet us and we had pictures taken pitchside which was a nice surprise.

Back Row L-R: Graham Rushton (Driver), Ian Duerden, Alastair Campbell, Gary Webb, Steve Corrigan, Lynn Woods, Steve Thompson, Brian Parker, Neal Barnes, Steve Hodgson, Nigel Maddigan, Mike Evans, Tony Crawford and Robert Boocock.

Front Row L-R: Andy Farrell, Neil Welsh, Neil Field, Nic Corrigan, Owen Coyle, Anne Clark, Andy Marsden, Ian Whalley and Chris Gibson.

Unfortunately, the match was something of a low point but it didn't take the shine of what had been a great week for twenty ardent Burnley Fans.

Overall mileage was 600
Total Punctures were 14

We are now planning next year's ride, which will be the Clarets' Claret Tour from Bordeaux to Burnley, bringing back a new vintage claret to be used at the football club.

If you are interested in taking part, please call Chris Gibson on 01282 700007.