I had a visitor last night. I woke up to find Ellie carefully tucking in my duvet all around me. She was fast asleep. What a kind thought she must have been having! The only trouble was, I was much too hot and so as soon as she had gone back to bed, I threw the duvet off again.

We've had a good day today - easy route, no wind and no rain. Which was in contrast to the previous 2 days when we spent hours mired to the mudguards in mud, lost round industrial units in Mannheim, embattled with a strong headwind and soaked to the knickers several times a day.

Your support kept us smiling, so keep sending those messages.

We've been nipping in and out of France (country number 4) over these last three days but tonight will be our first night here. We're staying in the little town of Ottmarsheim in Alsace. We've now done 1150km! Unbelievable! And tomorrow we'll be in Basle!

Alison