Huw, I think you'll have to count me out of this one now I'm afraid.
Work schedule means it's best for me to go before the end of September.
In any case I wouldn't have been stationed in one place as it's a point to point trip (from the Alps to the coast) with panniers, so if I'd come along with you guys I would only have stayed a couple of days tops.
I'll feed back any news to you from my trip though.
On a separate note, for those interested, I've updated my blog - a couple of race reports and links to future events.
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/