Well – what a day today has been.. I posted this morning that we were getting the brakes fixed. Well, not quite accurate.. We turned up to find that nothing had been done to the car as they had decided the discs needed replacing.. at 300 Euros.. The discs looked okay to me, so I was a bit puzzled.. Disaster.. So, we jumped back in Uncle Bulgaria

Well - we've dropped off Uncle Bulgaria for his new brake pads on the front... The local 'Speedy' is the place, and they have Speedily had our trousers down i think.. 152 Euro's 'fitted' - just for brake pads!!! In half an hour we go back to collect him, and for that price i expect the car to have had a shampoo and haircut !

Martin says to Alex 'don't be so ****** cheeky' Tomorow it's a drive from Annecy to San Remo, Italy - so let's see what's in store! Tomorrow morning we have the Womble-Mobile booked in for new brake pads at 8am, so we will be officially 'late starters' - but never mind - we will keep the photos coming. It would be nice

So - we arrive in Annecy.... 3 miles outside Annecy, we all looked at each other when Gordon hit the brakes. GRRRAAAAUUUUNCH... the pads are gone, down to metal. We have a drive through the alps tomorrow with mountain roads. "Okay - i can do this" i said.. "just use the gearbox and the handbrake"... So - we try the handbrake. Nothing

Jandyt: Judging by the bottles on the kerb, it took you a few goes to get the shot right! Well spotted - it took 6 bottles !!

Poor old Uncle Bulgaria. We can't do any 'running repairs' as you cant glue wet fur back to wet bodywork!! The Times Newspaper that was glued to the wheels has gone too... He's holding up well considering he's just done 500+ miles in the pouring rain at 80mph though..

Well - we found the hydrant, and we were looking for what we though might be a chinese restaurant as the pole looked very oriental. So - Martin shouts 'oh - look - a chinese restaurant!' - So, we stopped, and in my best French i asked if the lady knew where this may be whilst showing her the picture. In French, she replied that they had undergone

We're away! As we leave, we are given our route and tasks for the day. The Task Sheet is entitled 'Sticky Banger Madness' - and we have to head for the Porte de Mars in Reims. Simple task.. but... we have to do the 'Mentos/Diet Coke' experiment - ON THE ROOF OF OUR CAR !!!! To add even more difficulty - the 'fountain' had

So - here we are, ready to go. 5 minutes to off, and the anticipation is building.. Still, time for a quick photo opportunity!

Team Shrek - and here's the Gingerbread Man having a wander round taking photos..