In order to be on the road by around 7.30am I had to go down for breakfast at 6.15am, which meant I had to settle for a very basic continental breakfast, consisting of cheap ground coffee and a couple stale croissants. Oh well, it'll hold body and soul together until I get on the boat.

My phone sat nav initially took me directly east, but just as I was picking up the road signs for the Bilbao ferry port the GPS took me north and into a tiny village on the coast. Then just as I was beginning to curse my satnav and worry about missing my sailing, I rounded a headland and to my relief, there in front of me was the port!

Once on board and with the bike safely strapped down, I made for my cabin only to find my way blocked by cabin staff stating that as the ship had docked late and the cleaners were still busy preparing our accommodation. Consequently our sailing was delayed for about an hour, but when I finally entered my cabin it was lovely. Spacious,(well it was meant for 4 people. Back in July when I booked the crossing there were no 2 berth cabins left) and clean with an ensuite. As Ness from Gavin & Stacey would say, "Tidy!".

Now, you may well ask how did I keep myself occupied for the next 24 hours (Bryn from Gavin & Stacey?). Well now I look back, I'm not sure, but I spent quite a bit of time updating my blog on the laptop until the battery went dead(I'd left my power lead with my luggage on the bike and there was no access to it once the sailing was underway) I took my time choosing and eating my brunch and evening meal. I did several laps of the ship on various floors just checking out comfy places to sit and people watch. My most fruitful expedition ended up in the main entertainment bar hosted by a lovely husband and wife team charged with keeping everyone entertained. They did their level best to sing, dance and amuse us all, which they largely did, apart from a couple of truckers who were sat near the front drunkedly guzzling beer, talking and laughing loudly, completely ignoring the two troupers who gamely and professionally soldiered on. If they weren't interested in the entertainment why didn't they just f--ck off and sit somewhere else on the ship? Anyway the best bits for me were a couple of quizzes they ran. A food themed quiz in the afternoon and a music quiz in the evening. In the food quiz I think I was third from last, but in the evening I came 4th out of around 12 teams, and considering I was the only solo team, I don't think I did too badly.

I think I finally hit the sack around 11pm, falling into a kind of Bay Of Biscay rocking and rolling fitful sleep.