Shropshire, Staffordhshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire...Counties we've all sort of heard of but have no idea where they are. But we found out today! Whizzed through them all on a giant 90 mile journey through to Gloucestershire. Now here in Gloucester, eating poppadoms, quite amazed that we actually made it to the South West.
Day started a bit grey and monotonous, heading out on busy A road, all we could see were signs ahead for a delightful place called Wolverhampton - didn't fill us with much glee. And head wind attacking us made things even worse. But, that was only the first hour, and soon we were B-ing it through the countryside away from Brummyland and towards Bridgenorth - a little old market town with a famous beautiful bridge.
Stopped along the way and had to use one of those horrendous trap-like middle-of-road talking portaloos, which you have to pay to enter. Stocked up on more lucozade - new flavour (cherry) went down well :)
Quick picture stop in Bridgenorth, right on the River Severn, before peddling on south on a nice B road towards Bewdley, which was pretty up-and-downy. Plenty of 1:1 gear usage.
Today will have been the longest day of the trip - up at 630, breakfast and ouit on road by 730 - which meant, by lunchtime, we had already covered just over 50 miles, and arrived in a place called Stourhead absolutely starving! Leapt off bikes and straight into Subway and ordered 2 foot-longs with every single filling they had, and a giant re-fillable cup of coke. Felt amaaaazing.
Then off we set, refulled, through Worcester, and had a much easier time of it on the bikes. In fact we seemed to whizz, and a later bright green energy drink seemed to give us an extra burst which powered us up and down hills. So hot and sunny, and more and more amazing views. All pretty good really except for momentry alarm when amanda sprung out from behind a hegde wondering if an adder had bitten her on the bottom... Turned out to have been nothing more that an insect or nettles or something, though 'numb bottom' persisted for a few miles...
Stopped for final break at 80 miles in a hay bail field, and so excited to be feeling so good at that stage that we absolutely flew the last 10 miles into Gloucester like Lance on EPO ;)
Awesome view of the city and cathedral from top of hill as we free-wheeled in.
Back tomorrow with more from the westcountry...
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