4 Hrs 59 mins. Much better.

Remember Connors and Mc Enroe - match going back and forth; difficult to see who had the advantage? No? Ask your father. This is a bit like that. On tenterhooks one day, wondering what the problem was the next. Some well positioned tape applied by Samia (blue and pink have the same remedial properties I am sad to learn) isolates one tired muscle; allowing others to take the strain. Treatment for the sore shins and knee is working and no real niggles for Hugh on day 23 - a good day and a great relief.

Excitement was instead provided by the daily BBC Radio Sussex call. Steve Ovett (800m Gold Medallist 1980 Moscow Olympics & 1500m World champion) spoke to Hugh about the challenge. Hugh spoke laconically about the 50in50 and there was a pause. Would any advice be forthcoming he wondered?

Steve: 'Get on the first plane out'

Hugh: 'Ha, ha. Excellent. Any advice though?'

Steve: 'Really, get on the first plane in the morning.'

Not so Steve, partly because we're still some way from Bilbao thus no airborne steed available. But any chap who's performed behind the iron curtain at a time when an iron lady striding about back home should understand we need to hold firm. There is a succession of daily goals to be knocked off.

And so it was today. We continued our journey through the fabulous Cantabria) known as Green Spain), one visual sweep took in beaches on our left, farmland and rolling hills and the snowcapped mountains (Picos de Europa) to our right. We're hugging the coast again now, having crabbed northern Spain via Santiago for the last 10 days or so. Important to keep to the coast and away from the foothills in order to give Hugh a clear flat run as possible into France in a few days' time.

The hottest day yet, topping out at 22 degrees. I joined Hugh for a test run for a couple of miles, and it was good to be back on the road, albeit briefly. One sees so much trotting along. Lizards were sunbathing on the pavement and skittered into the verge on our approach; long lines of them, like reptilian dominoes.

We also now have our repaired support vehicle back, which we picked up from Santander. Good news and we can now cook Hugh what he needs as lots of supplies of pasta on board. At least Jonny can who's coming out this evening. Owing to all this we changed hotels to stay tonight at a surf hotel just opened by Samia's friends. De Latas Hostereia is a splendidly welcoming place on the beach in Loredo. We're not here to surf though so head off ever further east to within striking distance of Bilbao.

Footnote again - bits I can't easily fit in the blog. Steve Ovett is starting the inaugural Brighton Marathon on April 18th in which Hugh and I are VIP competitors (ooh). Come and cheer Hugh along if you're in the area