Thursday 12.06.25

Berkeley - Tewkesbury        60kms     1,300'

Well, the good news is that we are safely arrived in Tewkesbury staying for two nights with my sister, Wendy. 

Wednesday was a beautiful day but the navigation around Bristol required very careful observation so lots of stops and starts. Not the prettiest of routes taking in the docklands of Avonmouth.  Once clear of all river and motorway crossings, the countryside was much appreciated. However,  we had used up a lot of time, and Berkeley was still a way off. Having checked alternative stopoffs, of which there were  none, Berkeley it had to be and a very charming hotel it was too. It was also encouraging to realise that the old legs and lungs are becoming a little more efficient.

Today (Thursday) got off to a cracking start. Excellent breakfast and we were packed and ready to go pretty smartish. (we are getting better at that too). Mistakenly, we thought this was to be a flattish day. Should have known better! It is true that we spent some time on a canal path, but after " no mow May" the overgrowth was attacking us at eye level. It began to drizzle and blow a bit as we rode beside the river but that was the baby of what followed! The storm arrived with torrential rain and what seemed like hurricane force winds. Our only choice was to sit it out underneath the trolley bay of Sainsbury's in Gloucester - not a bus shelter in sight! After some 3/4 of an hour, it began to abate so we set off again and in another hour or so, the sun was shining.!? To add insult to injury, our FLAT route had developed  carbuncles. While white van man excused himself for nearly killing Alan in a head on collisions on a blind bend on a single track  road, explaining that he was only going 30mph and the limit was 60mph. Good job a second white van coming in the opposite direction didn't share the same view of road etiquette. 

Great accommodation tonight! Washing already whirring in the machine and a lasagne in the oven. How good is it to have a sister, especially one who lives in a lovely house in Tewkesbury.

P S  Winged one of many road closures to find THIS as the reason!!