Gloucestershire/Worcestershire (Day 4)

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Another fine morning, just starting to get a bit cloudy as I pop my head out of the tent. The cows are just as interested as they were yesterday. It's the Spicy Italian Pasta Salad for brekky. Who knew petrol stations could provide perfect breakfasts? It's funny how concentrating on the obvious, like getting from A to B can easily distract from other realities. I'm just noticing that my water supply is non-existant. Well, theres enough for brushing my teeth and then that's it. My phone keeps beeping with a low battery warning.

I've had a lay in again, so it's after 10am before I'm up and about. I wander about in search of someone to thank for last night. I did have an ulterior motive aswell, as I hoped to get my water bottles filled up.


Working on his roof, I stumble across Bryan (he's the chap I met last night). I thank him for a place to pitch, and he asks about my ride. Before I know it I'm following up to his house as he would like to donate some money. Excellent!!! Talk about generosity. Now if I manage to get some water this will have been an unbeatable mornings work. I meet Bryan's wife Maggy and family, and am asked if I'd like any breakfast. Ouch! I was a little full after the pasta, which was a bit annoying, as I'd have much preferred something more traditional. I would settle on a cup of tea (and biscuits!).

"Keep the full pack" Maggy says handing me the Digestives, "save them for later". My phone beeps again. I apologise on behalf of the noisy contraption. "Why don't you charge it while you drink your tea". And so as we sit chatting, I tell them all about the ride I'm doing. They kindly donate to all 3 of my charities. As I get into some detail about the ride so far, and what I'm likely to experience over the next few weeks I see that Maggy shows some concern. She's very mother-like, and hopes everything goes well. I then get offered the use of the shower, to which I would have had to be mad to refuse. 20 minutes later I'm back downstairs. Maggy presents a packed lunch that could put most to shame. Plenty of fresh sandwiches consisting of chunky bread with thick cheese and tomatoes, apples and bananas, chocolate bars, not forgetting a pack of digestive biscuits and 3 (what were once empty) filled water bottles. Oh, and a phone with some charge on it now!

I left Aust in the best possible mood and situation. Totally revitalized, clean, plenty of food to help me through the day and my enthusiasm had been completely restored. Bryan & Maggy had played a great part in this story, and although I wasn't expecting such kindness from strangers again, it does help to know that there are people like that out there. Thanks guys, you were amazing!

The camera timer comes in handy every once in a while.

The beast, fully loaded. All 30Kg / 66lbs of it.

The next couple of hours go extremely well. The B4461 takes me back onto the A38. After 25 miles or so I have a break. A sausage roll and sarnie later and I'm back on the bike heading north. I carry on through (or round at least) Gloucester. I don't really remember much about this stretch of the journey. I think this blog really reflects how I was feeling at the time. The longer the entry, the harder the day was. By comparrison, todays entry will be shorter than most.

After Gloucester I pick up a pack of overpriced batteries from a petrol station as my camera was dying. Before one of the few hills of the day I jump off the bike, and push. A jogger passes by and disappears over the brow. The wind has been picking up, and is now becoming a nuisance. Despite the weight of the bike, I'm unable to freewheel down the other side of the hill, due to the force of the wind. Eventually I pass the jogger, but I hardly speed pass. Im guessing I walk about 3-4mph, so jogging would be in the 6-8mph area. Now, Im averaging 10mph in decent conditions, so to drop below this does get a little upsetting. 10 mins later I'm stopping for a bite to eat, and to check my phone. By now I've had to resort to keeping it switched off for 12hours each day. The jogger passes again. It's quite depressing to know that I'd probably be able to do the next 10 miles just as quick on foot as it would by bicycle. I suppose you have to take the rough with the smooth.

It's teatime when I finally make it into Worcester. I am quite tired, but the map shows half a dozen campsites dotted along the next few miles of the A449, so I'm quietly confident it won't be very long till I get to stop for the night. I actually cycle right through the centre of Worcester. Up until now, whilst mostly following road signs, I find I'm almost always directed along ring roads and by-passes and miss out on the city centres. It doesn't help that my map usually illustrates each town as just 2-3 roads.

Worcester

Looking at the map, it seems as much of the next few days will be spent on dual carriageways as on single A roads. I've not done too much dual carriageway cycling. In fact, only a 10 mile stretch from Tadcaster to York along the A64. It was hairy at times, but thankfully alot of it was on cycle paths. So I ploddy ploddy forward, onward towards Kidderminster, without a single campsite sign. Almost an hour later, and I'm still in the same boat. I have to resort to the "call home", and hopefully get some proper addresses.

The first one is quite complicated. Along the A4025, then turning up Lincomb Lane I follow country roads for the next 20 minutes. I end up doing a full loop, before getting back on the main road without any luck. Further along the A4025 is another site. An actual enterance, so I cant get lost here. Winding on down through the trees, the road finally ends up at the reception office. Five minutes later I'm biking back to the main road. This particular "campsite" doesnt "do camping". Hmmm. I suggest the adding of "static caravan" and the removing of "campsite" from their business name.

A short while later I'm in the centre of Stourport-On-Severn. Strange place. Much like the oddness that goes with the darker side of most seaside resorts, but slap bang in the middle of the country. It's not like the Severn is an estuary at this point. It's only a river. I can't understand why there's a seasidey vibe here. Perculiar. So, despite my desperation I pass on the 3rd possibility of the night. The site is down by the water, but very busy, and the noise of the amusements and fairground rides is enough to give you a headache. My last chance is on the other side (west) of the town. Trees line each side of the road, and the heavy shadows make the last climb of the day even that more depressing. A gypsy camp comes into view. Please no...surely this can't be what was listed. Luckily my turning appears just before. Caravan Club. Members Only.

Nearly 9pm, so I go up to the house to find someone. The guy tells me that they dont do camping, but after I explain everything he allows me to pitch at the other end of the site, but there are no amenities whatsoever. By this point I don't really care. I need to rest. I'll deal with hygiene and comfort tomorrow. I put the tent up in record time. A quick once over with a pack of wetwipes then I'm ready for bed. The noise of the fairground rides in the distance isn't enough to starve me of sleep.


Todays mileage: 76.5 miles.
On the road for 9 hours, with 8hrs riding time. (Approx 11:45-1:45 / 2:00-4:00 /4:30-6:30 /6:45-8:45 = 9.5miles/hour) [Total mileage I've done = 308.5 / Total time on the bike = 31hrs10 / Average speed = 10mph]

The aim: 60 miles would get me just north of Worcester, again where the campsites were dotted on the map [Total Mileage I aimed to have done = 295]

Woulda-coulda-shoulda been: 65.5 miles. Had I known I would eventually end up in Stourport (which was a little off my original route, I could have saved 11 miles.

Villain(s) of the day: .

Hero(es) of the day: .

Cost: £3.99 (Batteries = £3.99). A very cheap day, without having to pay for any food/accomodation. [Total cost of ride to date = £60.32]