Collection trip
Great write up. I have the same bike in the baby blue colour, your bronze is far prettier.
You seem to be a man after my own heart. I collected my one from the seller near Lands end (I'm in Stirling!) and decided I'd be silly not to make use of the distance I was south, so got an overnight ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe.
Had a squirt round some D Day parts early next morning, breakfast in Honfleur, then down the peagé to Geneva.
Alps the next day, meandered up through Switzerland, Germany, a LOT more France as I stupidly hadn't booked the Amsterdam ferry to Newcastle, and then an overnight in the Cotswolds before getting home on the Friday night.
I think 500 mile days are a bit much for me after that (I did 4 of them) but it was great fun, and unlike your trip dry and hot the whole time.
I hear some people have bikes delivered to them, can't think why
Anyway, love your bike, stay safe.