Street to Welsh Bicknor

OK, here's one of me...

Much better ride today.

Started early, 7ish, and got past Glastonbury and Wells pretty quickly. Then a longish climb up the Old Bristol Road onto the top of the Mendips. By 9 I was whizzing across the tops in glorious sunshine - it was lovely.

Then down the hill and past Chew Valley Lake to Chew Magna where I stopped for refreshments (a pork pie and banana) and a quick trip to the post office to post some surplus clothes and other stuff back home - I've been carrying too much weight.

Then thru Long Ashton where I noticed a St Peter's Hospice charity shop - one of the organisations I'm raising money for. I popped in, explained what I was doing, and got the woman there to take a photo of me outside he shop. If I'd been the least bit clues up I'd have found out where the actual hospice is in Bristol and called in there instead!

Anyway, next came a bit of a climb to the top of Ashton Court followed by crossing the Clifton Suspension Brisge. Then thru Bristol and out to the old Severn Crossing - there was a massive headwind across the bridge and I had to pedal to get down the downhill ramp on the far side :-(

Then up thru the Wye Valley which was lovely. I stopped for lunch in the woods at the start if the valley (another pasty), then again at Tintern Abbey (just to take a photo), then slogged it all the way up to Monmouth.

Worried about the lack of a restaurant at the YHA I stopped for shopping at a Lidl in Monmouth - not a great move it has to be said... they only seem to stock food in massive quantities. Anyway, I bought some prawns, chorizo and tomato to go with the left-over pasta from yesterday and pushed on towards the YHA - a lovely route along the river on a cycle path - followed by some steep hills in the run up to the hostel.

I feel like I've settled into a routine now - I'm happier travelling very slowly and more comfortable with the fact that I'm going to have to sit on my bike for 10 hours or so every day!