I had a great night's sleep in my cabin and woke up at 05:30 UK time. I grabbed a quick cup of coffee, packed up my stuff and headed down to my bike.

I was off the boat at 06:30 promptly and then through passport control and out on to the open road.

I don't know that area of Essex at all - I never really venture that way, so I decided to follow the NCN signs when they presented themselves to me. That obviously lasted about 10 minutes before they disappeared so I just headed in a general south westerly direction.

It was very pleasant - the weather was better than it has been for quite some time! Soon enough I went through Colchester and onto familiar roads.

I stopped at the Coop in Marks Tey (for a pork pie!) and got chatting to a gentleman who had just arrived on his bike to do his shopping. I told him what I'd been up to when he asked and it turns out he did a very similar trip 60 years ago! So we had a bit more of a chat and then I got on my way.

It was all plain sailing into Chelmsford and it was a nice feeling arriving home after so long and so many miles on the road.

I've not done much since getting home - just drinking tea (not had a cup of tea for over a month!) and watching Le Tour on telly.

I'll get some stats together for the who trip later on...