An early morning training session and a convivial farewell lunch with their hosts from Lille Metropole Rugby saw the touring Newcastle squad off in style, but little did they know that six hours later they would be back to square one.
With a three-hour bus trip to the airport in Paris, the group was agonisingly close when a major motor accident ten kilometres from the airport saw the whizz of sirens and a subsequent road closure which meant the entire tour party missed its scheduled flight home.
With Bank Holiday seats to all UK airports virtually non-existent the group set about plotting its way back to Blighty, with talk of a Gumball Rally and a prize for the first home.
In the end it was to the TGV station that the party headed, and a train back to the departure point at Lille.
With the train departing in just five minutes' time it was a sprint to the platform and not time enough for everyone to buy tickets, with some crafty ducking and diving ensuing as the conductor made his way up the carriage.
It is times like these that separate the seasoned tourists from the rookie travellers, with old heads cracking out the guitar at Lille station for an impromptu sing-song and a bit of team bonding.
Cramming all 44 of the tour party on to the Eurostar to London, the Falcons made their way underneath the English Channel at high speed before arriving at Kings Cross in time for the last train out of town and a 1am arrival in the Toon.
Thirteen hours after they had set off, the squad stuck together and got the job done.
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