Chester to Hereford

Massive day, 97 or 99 miles (depending on the cycling computer).  

Cool to warm, mostly overcast, no rain, light breeze.  Perfect for a long day in the saddle.

“Tell me a story Charlie” / “We’re not singing, we’re not singing, we’re not singgggingggg anyyyyy morrrrrre”

Everyone tired and battling on, making sandwiches at the Travelodge was second business to breakfast. 

We then went to our third country: Wales and into Wrexham for hugs, tea and biscuits with Brian and Dorothy.  Great to see you both xx  B & D drove their team car ahead of us to show us the way out of town (to make sure we had gone, Brian?!).

Switching back into Ingerland we headed due south

Ellesmere Boathouse for cream tea (bloody lovely) with the geese, ducks and swans by the Mere.  Fran says that the cream teas in Devon and Cornwall have a lot to live up to.

Lots of lovely place names round here:  Butt Green, Cock Bank, Cock Shutt. Lots of poppies roadside.

Main A roads(A528, A49) via Shrewsbury with heavy loud traffic meant another day with little socialising en route, however we were pressing on and completing this section meant less distances in the days to come.

With the sign saying 50 miles to go, our spirits dropped and we slowed considerably, the team finding it hard to pick a suitable speed for all.  After a quick telling off, Charlie started making stories up to get us all going again.  Stopping for treats also helped.

The scenery was pretty, no major climbs, following the valley up through the Shropshire Hills to Church Stretton 

and then Frannie took the lead for a brilliant long downhill ride into Ludlow.  What a surprisingly lovely old place.

The last section of the ride was Leominster to Hereford with a “lovely” big hill up to Bodenham just to drain us completely.   But we still did it and were undefeated!

As a lovely surprise, Fran’s husband Al’s Uncle Frank and Aunty Pauline were waiting at the hotel and after a quick shower we left to the local pub for a meal.  We are grateful for the delicious dinner.  Though we are all exhausted, we are looking forward to Pauline’s treats tomorrow… mouths watering already!