2051 hrs............end of day 7

If you want to see 10 superheroes (out of costume) walking like John Wayne in 'True Grit' I invite you all to the Premiere Inn, Alveston. Men have not walked like this since the very worst days of the wild west and it would come as no surprise to this writer if any of the riders ordered a sasparilla and demanded their horses were well stabled for the night. Speaking of horses, it strikes me as an omission that we have yet to pay due homage to the steeds that are taking us on this epic mission from one end of this country to the other. Consider this writers bicycle, 'Black Thunder' - where other bikes would have died of shame due to their rider's desperately slow pace (I was stung by a horsefly whilst ascending a hill on Sunday), Black Thunder has simply carried on regardless, I salute his bravery to carry me down the A roads of this great land without a word of complaint.
Today has been a cracker - the superhero skype with Eastwick Infants ended in a melee of superheroes, with no quarter asked and none offered. I knew I was in trouble when Bananaman tackled me from behind whilst the Thing jumped on top of me. In many respects this has been the dream that has been keeping me going from Scotland down to Bristol, but the venue (a pub beer garden) and the company (I could see Captain Underpants grappling with Thor) put me off too much to enjoy the moment. I am now working out how I can suggest another superhero bundle without seeming too keen.
Tomorrow sees us enter the depths of the west country, a massively worrying prospect for avid watchers of Jeff and Knowlesy, who both run the risk of simple becoming too cornish in their homeland. I have the mixed blessing of sharing a room with Jeff and between his olympic standard snoring (consider a walrus fighting a motorbike whilst blowing on a foghorn) he often lets loose an impassioned cry for a pasty. The next few days will be interesting......
There is much Ali would love about this effort - the banter, the never giving up, the outfits, the sight of his uncle in a one size too small pair of lycra pants to name but 3 things. All superheroes are honouring Ali's memory with their commitment, their never-give-up attitude and the banter they bring to every stage if this epic trek.
Bring on Day 9, bring on the next melee and my chance to grapple again with Bananaman, bring on the west country and all that it offers but more importantly for now, bring on my mixed grill - you beauty.
Love to all, James 'Mr Incredible'.