A day of two halves

This morning was hideous. I woke up absolutely exhausted and my knee was sore. I think I'd been worrying about it all night and didn't sleep so well. Then once I was on the bike I realised that my bum was sore too. Wondered how I would make it through the day. The weather was grey and damp and horrid. I was mostly on back lanes, getting covered in mud and going up gruelling hills. I was struggling to even walk up, never mind cycle up. I got to the top of the Beacons and there was nothing but fog. I couldn't see much further than a few meters ahead. Pretty grim.

When discussing my route with some of the oldies in the pub last night, one of them said that once I reach a certain point, it was downhill all the way to Swansea. I didn't dare believe him.

But then suddenly, I was on a proper road, the fog lifted, the skies cleared up and I was going downhill. A few miles of 30mph so quickly made up for the slow walking this morning. And it kept on going. Literally downhill all the way to Swansea. I stopped for a late lunch and then followed the National Cycle Route all the way to Llanelli. I may have been found swearing under my breath at the multitudes of people who can't seem to understand what the picture of the BICYCLE means and meander into your path or saunter along across the whole two lanes, taking up both the pedestrian and cycle lanes. I mean, it's not even as if it's lost in translation. It's a picture. Of a bike.

Anyway. Made it. So glad to not have to get on the bike tomorrow and definitely looking forward to a rest. The coastal paths look magnificent. It's going to be a beautiful marathon on Sunday!