Blog

Our team planned ahead and organised a taxi early to get us to the first connection a Charing Cross. Problem was we didn't manage to get to bed very early what with packing into the wee hours and we arrived at 5.30 for our train.

The train journey was a mixture of hap-hazard sleep and mild panic as we realised a delay on the line meant we would miss our 8am ferry from Dover.

The unthinkable happened and we arrived too late, but all was not lost at the first hurdle when we were informed we had until 10am to use our tickets! A bit over dramatic, but we were already running on fumes...

Alex and Fernando decided it was time for breakfast in the ferry waiting area, and we missed our second ferry of the day. All seemed to be going well you see.

On the other side of the channel we started our mission photos, getting a group of guys in an array of wigs on the connection bus.

On route to Paris we discovered a dog with a penchant for different hair styles, she gladly donned a green number for a good cause. Alex provided the negotiation skills when trying to explain the reasons for wanting a photo of this man's dog... in a wig... it wasn't easy with mixed Franglish I can tell you!

In Paris we made our way to the first checkpoint, and enjoyed our challenge for all of 20 seconds! We had to play boules outside the Basilica Sacre Coeur, and security did not like what they saw. We were questioned and stared at before being shifted along un-politely! Challenge done at least

It was a mad dash to get to our Barcelona night train after we had lost a few hours in the ferry crossing. There was panic and bad moods, but we made it in time to pick up some cheese for the journey (a bad choice in the end!).

We arrived bleary eyed in Barcelona at 6.30am, making our way to the hostel for the day and night. Our route plan meant we had to hold up in the Catalan city for 24 hours, where challenges and hanging around were a plenty!

Our first hurdle was to find the hostel, when no one speaks Spanish or Catalan. We figured out Fernando could understand some as it was similar to Portuguese, but still struggled to find the hostel that was out of the main centre.

Finally settled it was time for the Barcelona challenge! We needed to get to the Hilton Hotel and pick up a letter with our tasks. Problem was we didn't know which one, or where it was. After 2 hours of walking around we gave up and caught a taxi to the hotel! Hoping it was the right one, we were surprised that it was!!

Our challenge: take photos as a blow up band (blow up instruments that is).

We also had been charged with getting our monkey into as many pictures as possible, Alex relished the challenge...

Back at the hostel we found out that the girls had broken down on the motor way in France... we hoped and prayed they would make it!

The train for Valencia left at 6am, not a pleasant time to get up for and while I struggled to sleep in my seat, Alex had a long conversation with a Chinese businessman!

When we got to Denia all the focus was on making sure the ferry didn't leave without the girls. We had spoken to them and found out that they weren't far away, having got a train all the way to Valencia and then hired a taxed to drive at warp speed for Denia!

Whilst queuing Alex managed to convince the Baleria ferry staff to hold on, although they could only promise for so long! After refusing to move off the tail gate (where the cars come on) for the last ten minutes we finally saw the girls running for the ferry and onto the back!

What a relief and mad final slog! But everyone was on board, on time and with their super hero costumes intact. I think everyone was a bit excited to see the super heros in action so we changed early and freaked out the majority of the ferry's passengers.

Landing at Ibiza was swept in sunlight and camera flashes (from Gemma), but came as a huge relief that we had made it intact! Thanks to everyone who sponsored us, we managed to raise around £1500! We're already planning and looking forward to the next one and I hope you all will be involved!