Today was a day of rain and the 2 big bridges.
After a good breakfast I lost track of Jim and Phillip and I joined up with Tom and Adam.It was raining and I was wearing my full rain gear.
By the time we reached our 1st waterstop in North Petherton we were pretty wet and cold.
We were even colder after our stop and it took a while before we got warm again.
We cycled on mostly flat roads now and through Bridgewater towards Cheddar.
Near Cheddar Shipham hill was waiting.
A cheeky 1mile hill with ramps of 20%.We reached lunch soon after.
The hot tomato soup was most welcome and soon after we had arrived Jim and Phillip arrived.They told me they couldn't find me when setting off in the morning and assumed I had already set off.They too were suffering from the cold and wet weather and decided to warm themselves up in a cafe after the 1st water stop when Jim who was only wearing bibshorts and a thin top was suffering from hypothermia.It was then that Adam,Tom and I must have passed them.
After lunch we set off with 7 of us and headed for Clevedon and our 2nd water stop at Easton in Gordano.Just out of Clevedon we went onto Northwood Lane which on a nice sunny summer day must be lovely lane to cycle.Today however it was very wet and muddy and those who didn't have wet feet already definitely had them after.
I wished I had mudguards as by now my whole back and backside were very wet and muddy.We didn't stop for long at the 2nd water stop and pressed on for the 2 bridges.
The first big bridge across Avonmouth was easily found with help of the orange arrows set out by DA staff.The 2nd bridge(Across the Severn) took a bit of searching but after looking at garmins and iphones we managed to get to the Severn Bridge.After climbing some steps and going into traffic we got onto the right side of the bridge and the experience was cycling across this enormous bridge was very special.
When we reached the other side we were in Wales and only a few miles away from our end point in Tintern.We still had a few hills to climb but finally we descended into the Wye Valley and spotted our Hotel for the night.Opposite the hotel lay the ruins of Tintern Abbye and the whole scene was just breathtaking.
Our Hotel for the night is called The Abbye Hotel and this is by far the best hotel on the trip so far.We all have a room for ourselves,bathroom with hot towel rails to dry all my wet stuff.Also the staff are very friendly and on arrival they made us the best cheese sandwhich which I've ever eaten.
Tomorrow Clive is coming over and we'll meet at the 2nd water stop at Hope Hill 15m south of Shrewsbury.
Beer/Ale of the day:Wye Valley pale ale.
Today:distance 94.78m,moving time 6hr20min37sec,avg speed 14.9 mph,max speed 31.8 mph,elevation 1877ft.
Total distance 247m,total moving time 17hr18min,total elevation 12671ft
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