[Cyclefrance]

Well, thank you Skysidhe, You're makin' me go all red!

There''ll be plenty of pictures as in previous trips, plus the website to go along with it, but don't go getting too overawed by the apparent size of the task - it's not so bad. For a start, we use a combination of train and cycle as far as Lille - cycling first to a nice chateau for lunch (French food and wine is so essential!) then on to the station for an hour's train journey to Lens or Lille from where the serious cycling starts.

We have to include train as we only have a total of 5 days available again this year. When we did the journey last time we cycled from Calais to Ypres and back again - we allowed a full week to do the trip then as a result.

It was startling that last time to discover just how close together the various battlefields were, and so, this time, we are fairly comfortable the journey from Lille to Ypres, which also takes in a number of sites, should be accomplished in a day.

Rather than the stamina for the the ride, it's more about the scale of the misery and tragedy of the First World War that hits more than anything, and I hope that I don't disappoint when attempting to recount and convey this element of our journey when it comes to writing it up after we return.

I'll post a map of our route once everything is finalised for the trip, and then add some points of interest as we draw closer to the date of departure.