Day 3 Avonmouth to Hadnall, Shropshire
Mileage: 106
Cycling time: 7hr 2min
Total mileage: 317
Total cycling time: 21hr 22m
To avoid another late evening on the road we were up and away before 8 this morning and soon traversing the Severn Bridge into Wales where we were greeted by sunshine and a fantastic ride on quiet roads along the Wye valley towards Monmouth. Perhaps the highlight of the day was dropping down through the woods and suddenly coming across the majestic Tintern Abbey which certainly merited a team photocall.
Coffee and great cakes in Monmouth (and a £10 donation from Mary whose husband had prostrate cancer) and then on to the rolling hills of beautiful Herefordshire and Shropshire, although progress was slightly thwarted by a hatrick of punctures – first Graham and then both Richard and I. But with chief mechanic Richard in tow we were soon on the go again.
On the final road in to Shrewsbury there were some tired legs but the peloton just about kept its shape as we rode in to the super Saracens hotel in Hadnall (thanks to lejog secretary Janine for booking!). A great find and really accommodating for hungry cyclists – they even knocked up some pasta for us especially, which went down a treat with the Three Tuns local brew! Preston here we come on day 4 (past Cheshire, of course!)
Our intrepid team following in the tyre tracks of Fowler/Sanders/Ayres will be stopping for lunch at 12:30 at the Windmill Pub in Tabley. It's next to J19 on the M6, on the A556 on the Northwich (South) side of the motorway. Feel sure that they will enjoy seeing some friendly faces as they refuel !