The ride then wove it's way between fields. The cows and sheep meadows becoming more frequently interspersed with fields of cereal crops.
Pretty villages and this fantastic little house perched on a triangle of grass in the middle of a T-junction.
Whilst waiting for Gazza to appear at the top of a hill I chatted to a man who was painting a phone box. He told me how it was given up by BT as only one call a year was made from it. Their village had bought it and taken it over. There was no phone inside but they intended to use it for parish notices and local news! How Cool is that. It wasn't the only phone box I saw today getting some TLC. A true British Icon in my opinion and how nice to see them being preserved.
On we rode through fields and pastures until we reached the familiar sight of one of Sustrans flagship cycle routes, the Bristol to Bath cycle-route.
Sustrans is a charitable engineering company responsible for building and maintaining the National cycle network. They are a charity I support each month and have done a fabulous job creating cycle routes for all across the country. This route was really well used with people of all ages. Alongside the path runs an old steam train taking people of pleasure trips up and down the restored line.
A quick stop here to stock up on cake, (I'm not letting the side down IT, keeping cake intake high, I promise)
Also to send a Tweet to Dan timed to appear during his dissertation project presentation and then we were back on our way.
Having skirted east around Bristol we arrived at the Severn Bridge crossing. There is apparently a public footpath across the bridge (the old one to Chepstow) so no tolls to pay. Having expected high winds it was surprisingly calm. The only movement coming from the bridge itself every time a lorry went past.
So we briefly entered Wales before heading north through Chepstow and back to England and up the Wye Valley. This was my first experience of this part of the world. It's stunningly beautiful and highly recommended. We spent much of our time running alongside the river Wye. Passing through Tintern Abbey amongst other villages.
Running alongside a river? Wait that doesn't involve hills, oh ok then here we go, off up and over a seemingly random hill to a village called St Briavels. This involved the longest most painful climb yet I think and everytime I turned a corner expecting to see the summit it just turned and kicked up again, and again and again. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry and by the time I did reach the top I could laugh out-loud and i did, hysterical laughter at the ridiculousness of that hill. I lay on the verge and waited for Gary to walk up. He had of course done the sensible thing.
Yes it was a god view I'll admit but I didn't really need to be able to see northern France I was quite enjoying the Wye valley for heavens sake Mr route planner!
Another county passed and before we knew it we were into Herefordshire.
We are staying tonight in a room with a turret at the Sunnymount hotel and took up their recommendation of a meal in the Gurka restaurant. If you are ever in Ross on Wye it's a must. The most delicious food so far on this trip. Coconut Lassi without the calorie guilt. Perfect.
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Location:Homs Rd,Ross-on-Wye,United Kingdom
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