Day 3 Bridgwater to Welsh-Bicknor. Sunday 26th June 2011

88.5 miles
Total after 3 days = 272.2


Another day another cooked breakfast. The accommodation was actually top notch. Probably a bit too good for 6 smelly cyclists!


From Bridgwater to Cheddar we cained it eating up the miles on the flat Somerset roads. If yesterday was about counting counties (Cornwall, Devon & Somerset) then today was about counting countries as we would pass through Wales and back into England.


Cheddar was an enjoyable climb to Axbridge passing lots of cyclists out enjoying the terrific weather. It was a scortching day that sat around 27 degrees all day with no cloud cover at all. Nick claimed he doesn't get sun burnt so applied little sun cream all day while the rest of the Spokers slapped on the Factor 20 every hour or so. Fraser also indulged in some 'taps aff' cycling for most of the day! At the end of the day Nick was looking much much redder than the rest of us - apart from his comical white hands as we was wearing gloves all day.


We met Andris' parents, Janis & Carole, early in the morning and again at lunch on the sea front at Clevedon. 


Grum again directed us towards the Avonmouth bridge except I had to school him on one or two points. Whilst reading the map he asked "what does this large 'H' stand for on the map? I think it's either a hospital or a helipad." I had to point out this was the grid reference for that particular page of the map! But it was a very hot day and we were pretty frazzled so we let that one slide...

We crossed the River Avon and then over the M48 Bridge over the Severn Estuary to Chepstow. We were now in Wales but slightly disappointed not to see a 'Welcome to Wales sign.' At this point I collided with the back of Fraz’s bike as we had to pull up sharply on a small path as two paramedics were approaching us with a stretcher.


The rest of the day was spent climbing through the Wye Valley which was pretty spectacular and lined with large houses. Nick broke 2 spokes on his rear wheel on this stretch which would require attention from a bike shop ASAP the next morning. 

The descent into the basin was absolutely superb and again we touched 40mph. Eventually we found the road to the hostel at Welsh Bicknor but we didn't arrive until 10.30pm as we stopped 1 mile away for our dinner at the Hostelrie at Goodrich. We arrived just in time to get our order into the kitchen before it closed and we suspected the chef wouldn't be too happy about that. Nevertheless it was a very welcoming pub and the proprietor was rightly proud of his local sausages which Fraser had for dinner. For us it was quite a funny sight to be having our Sunday roast dinner kitted out in our full lycra!


We eventually got to the hostel in a sun lotioned, sweaty mess after travelling up and back down the steep driveway which was pretty hazardous in the low light. After getting the cycling kit off and a quick shower it was off to bed to put the lycra back on in about 8 hours time...


At this point we discovered Nick had forgotten to pack a towel as we caught him trying to disappear to the showers with a duvet! He eventually settled with a YHA bedsheet to dry himself. What a boy!