Day 4 Ashcott to Monmouth.
Good night's sleep at Bro' Alan & Kay's - well fed and watered (eternally grateful A & K) and a leisurely start to Wells when we encountered the Mendip Hills!! Flat is definitely the new beautiful for us. Ian started off just before the 'plodders' using the most direct route so that he can get to Tintern Abbey to paint/draw. After the Mendips we make good progress, as it's reasonably flat, via Clifton Suspension Bridge (lovely views) and then the Severn Bridge (very windy) with great views down the river. Decide to get to Tintern for lunch and are encouraged by the sign which shows Monmouth only 17 miles from the bridge. Yippee a short day in prospect? Starts to drizzle as we arrive at Tintern but it's a lovely spot. The rain puts paid to Ian's artistic endeavours and he joins us for the rest of the journey to Monmouth. Rain is now steady but, hey, not that far to go! Arrive Monmouth, wet and ready for a nice bath/shower. Now where's the Monmouth Travellodge? Oh, it's just 8 miles down the A40 dual carriageway...in the wet.....with the lorries...and the spray.... and the wind - who's idea was this?:????? and exactly where is the T/Lodge? 8 miles later - it must be the 'lost Monmouth lodge of Travel' because there aren't any signs and the SatNav has thrown a wobbly. Let's phone the T/L - Receptionist is new and we reel off a couple of towns that are signposted and she has't a clue where we are or how to get there - we think whe was beamed there from another planet. We were also meeting H's boyfriend Iain there and he's trying to give us directions - it all gets v. confusing. We do make it eventually, a bedraggled trio and it's only 7pm - the night is young!. Quick shower and off to the pub for a big meal and prepare for the next day.
Day 5 Monmouth to All Stretton - 80 miles
Deep joy, we only have to add 8 miles before we get back on to our route again but at least we have an alternative to the A40...and it's a beautiful day. Ian goes steaming ahead but H and I, joined by Iain with his borrowed mountain bike take the more pretty route which takes us down the Wye valley on an excellent cycle route all the way to Ross on Wye. Tea break and about to restart only to find that m/bike has a flatty - no spares for that bike! God is good as 30 yards down the road is a bike shop who repair it. Don't want to push faith too far so feel it prudent to get a couple of spare tubes for the m/bike. Off again and it turns out to be another loooooooong day arriving about 6pm. Please can we have a short day! We are all sleeping in a room the size of a large cupboard on bunks - cozy but it's very well cared for and equipped. Church Stretton and All Stretton are lovely - worth a subsequent visit. A good meal at a local hostelry with a walk back tp the hostel under a clear, starry sky - wonderful!!!!!!!!! Pretty decent night's sleep for all surprsingly.
Day 6 All Stretton to Chester - 55 miles
7.30 start - weather is good - and we encounter very few hills - some light showers on the way but overall a good day. We have adapted the route under Iain's guidance to make it a little more direct. We arrive at Chester T/L at, would you believe it, 1.30 !!!!!!!!! but we can't book in till 3pm aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!! Blow it let's get in early and pay a little extra for the privilege. A good meal (yes at a local hostelry) and then a walk around part of the walls for me and Ian while H crashes out. I can even make church tonight, or so thought, except that the ones that show 6.30 service are not open. So after a couple of fruitless attempts to locate a service, I finish my wall walk and crash out at the T/L. A good night's rest and, whoopee - a day off tomorrow. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Question - Do padded Lycra shorts have to be surgically removed with or without anaesthetic. Actually tis not too bad really.
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