An early start today, as we had an afternoon appointment in Wedmore.
I typed up the blog update for yesterday, while Martin sorted the bikes out and after a couple of biscuits and a mug of tea we were on the way before 8am.
We got 10+ miles under our belts on a lovely morning and we came across The Strand Cafe in Culmstock, where we had a proper breakfast and very good it was too - a highly recommended refuelling stop.
We arrived in Wedmore, having done about 55 miles and we met up with friends and family (more photos will be put in the photo gallery, when I get that updated, which will now probably be at the weekend). Most significantly for the cause we are supporting, the two most important people we saw were Avril Vaughan-Lee and Jeremy Lambart, who are with us in the photo below.
The story behind the photo is that I, together with two friends, Joan, who joined us today, and Jono, who we sadly lost in 1998, met Avril and her friend Susan (again sadly no longer with us) on a skiing course in 1994. We have always kept in touch, although we haven't met in person for about 10 years.
When I told Avril about the planned ride she said she would start raising money for the cause. She also mentioned her friend Jeremy, who not very long ago lost someone to bowel cancer. I'd told Avril we would make sure our route went through Wedmore where she lives and so this week we were able to meet up. Avril and Jeremy had raised between them over £400 and they each gave us a cheque for their very welcome and much appreciated donations (now added to the JustGiving page!)
We spent longer than planned in Wedmore, but for very good reasons (Also my sister Kate, who has like me has known Martin since our schooldays, was catching up with him for the first time since my wedding in 1995) and we then bade our respective farewells and headed off towards our overnight stop with Martin's friends Mike and Pam in Bristol.
Not far out of Wedmore, the first surprise (to me at least) of the last leg of the day was the need to get over the Mendips rather than round them. One of the roads over them was closed so Martin asked a lady who was gardening for an alternative route, which she helpfully gave us. Unfortunately, she chipped in at the end, "they're called the cardiac hills", for which I thanked her, and we set off doing our best to ignore that parting observation.
As it turned out, we could understand why she said what she did. The ascent was steep and long, plus it was very warm. Martin, of course getting to the top well ahead of me, had time to snap me as I toiled along, the evidence of which is here.
The only consolation is that in still photos I look as if I'm cycling much faster than I really am!
Once we were over the Mendips (great views from the top!) we had some lovely cycling on towards Bristol, apart from a severe hill to get us to the Clifton Suspension Bridge, where one of our hosts, Mike, completed the photography for the day.
Can you spot the look of relief after another long day? 82 miles, warm weather, some big hills (but not as bad as those in Cornwall!) and off to Mike and Pam's for a well earned rest.
Ian
