Sunday 26 July 2015

Middle aged spread

Well, you certainly know what the weather is doing when you're on a bicycle.

After Friday's downpours, Saturday dawned bright and fresh, and our ride down the Strawberry Line to Clevedon felt effortless. After a picnic rendezvous at Severn Beach, with a view of the new(er) Severn Bridge, we rode (now with Sarah's sister Katie for company) through a field (not sure why), then on to and over the old bridge. We had about two miles in Wales, then left Chepstow for Gloucestershire and the road up to St Briavels, and its extraordinary Youth Hostel housed in a 13th century castle. In fact they were hosting a mediaeval themed banquet that evening, but we had our own feast, as friends Amy and Malcolm arrived from Cardiff with vast quantities of delicious curry. I had thought we might lose weight on the journey, but so far it seems to be heading in the other direction. Our bedroom was in the East Tower up a steep spiral stair. If the castle ghosts were noisy in the night, we were too fast asleep to hear them.

Sunday reverted to drizzle, not as heavy as Friday's, but enough to leave the cyclists pretty wet by the time they reached Leominster. The video unfortunately missed the moment Sarah was drenched by a passing car, surely worth £250 to one of Jamie's favourite TV programmes. One week accomplished! Legs and backsides are starting to toughen up, now we need to make sure the bikes are not neglected, and keep brakes, gears and chains in good order. A longer day in prospect tomorrow, but - fingers crossed - dry.

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