Tuesday 31st July 2007. Leg 3: Crockernwell to Winscombe.
Croissants and Danishes and coffee courtesy of the campsite owners. Verrry yummy.
Off a little earlier, at 9.45 a.m.
Lunch 12:00 at Upton Pyne under the oak trees’ dappled shade. (I’ll have an apple-ade in the dappled shade, please)
Then pressed on to make Tiverton services by 16:00 hrs. Burger King raised our spirits. (Never thought I’d see the day when I would utter that phrase).
Wellington 17:30. “Best medium sized town in the West” provided a toilet stop (armour-plated loos, free of charge). Cycle-paths!
But we ground to a full stop at 6 p.m. in the searing heat on the grass verge after another pull up into a place called Rumwell, just outside of Taunton. Georgina was just unable to take the heat and the prospect of another 30 miles cycling yet to come. A gentleman came out of his house and, seeing Georgina’s distress, fetched Georgina a glass of iced water. This was gratefully accepted. A little later his wife kindly donated a wet handkerchief to protect G’s neck from the sun. You cannot put a price on such simple acts of kindness. At the time they made the difference between success and failure. On again, refreshed.
Towards sunset, we were on the easier ground of the Somerset Levels.
The last hour was cycled in the dark (we almost had the full complement of lights, but Georgina had to use a head torch). Were met close to the campsite by Matthew and Jonathan. They chivalrously offered to cycle our bikes the last 2 miles (including the final steep hill), but we declined. Arrived at Winscombe at 23:00.
Knackered! Thus ended a gruelling 80 mile leg.
Distance covered: 79.9 miles
Moving time: 09:08
Average speed: 8.7 mph
Maximum speed: 38.1 mph. (not reset)
Croissants and Danishes and coffee courtesy of the campsite owners. Verrry yummy.
Off a little earlier, at 9.45 a.m.
Lunch 12:00 at Upton Pyne under the oak trees’ dappled shade. (I’ll have an apple-ade in the dappled shade, please)
Then pressed on to make Tiverton services by 16:00 hrs. Burger King raised our spirits. (Never thought I’d see the day when I would utter that phrase).
Wellington 17:30. “Best medium sized town in the West” provided a toilet stop (armour-plated loos, free of charge). Cycle-paths!
But we ground to a full stop at 6 p.m. in the searing heat on the grass verge after another pull up into a place called Rumwell, just outside of Taunton. Georgina was just unable to take the heat and the prospect of another 30 miles cycling yet to come. A gentleman came out of his house and, seeing Georgina’s distress, fetched Georgina a glass of iced water. This was gratefully accepted. A little later his wife kindly donated a wet handkerchief to protect G’s neck from the sun. You cannot put a price on such simple acts of kindness. At the time they made the difference between success and failure. On again, refreshed.
Towards sunset, we were on the easier ground of the Somerset Levels.
The last hour was cycled in the dark (we almost had the full complement of lights, but Georgina had to use a head torch). Were met close to the campsite by Matthew and Jonathan. They chivalrously offered to cycle our bikes the last 2 miles (including the final steep hill), but we declined. Arrived at Winscombe at 23:00.
Knackered! Thus ended a gruelling 80 mile leg.
Distance covered: 79.9 miles
Moving time: 09:08
Average speed: 8.7 mph
Maximum speed: 38.1 mph. (not reset)
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