We stop in Gloucester to buy sandwiches, crisps and fruit, before heading out into glorious countryside, peppered with pretty roses-over-the-door cottages in sleepy villages. No village shops or pubs though where we could buy a coffee. We see a sign which indicates that there is a pub down a country road which would take us off our route - but the sign doesn't indicate how far away the pub is. We follow the road for about half a mile then decide to turn back. The pub could be a couple of miles away, which is nothing in a car, but all extra mileage for us if off route. I'm really disappointed.
A little later we decide to take a break on a grassy bank, under the shade of a tree. The sun is already warm. We pedal on and are now just outside Tewkesbury, though won't be going through it. Ah, Reg, here's a small petrol station - they sometimes sell coffee nowadays! And this one does - only Nescafé instant, but there is real milk (not powdered) to go with it, and Reg can have a cup of tea. There's no-where to sit, so Reg sits by the petrol pump and I spot a plastic crate which I turn upside down.
We cycle on for about 5 minutes after this and spot the Tewkesbury Garden Centre, where we could have enjoyed a cuppa (and cake no doubt) in comfort. That's life; it would have taken too long to research all the cafes and pubs on our route. In any case we rarely see cafes in the mornings (or afternoons for that matter) and the pubs are often still closed when we pass by.
Later we stop in the shade on a grass verge in a little village to eat our lunch. A man walking his dog asks where we're going. When we say,
"John O'Groats - but not today!" He thinks we're joking. He chats to us a bit more then walks on, and we hear him say to his neighbour,
"Those two are on their way to John O'Groats!"
As we cycle off, the neighbour who is painting his fence tells us that his sister cycled Land's End to John O'Groats last year, and said how hard Devon and Cornwall were. Yes, they were!
Almost opposite where the man is painting his fence is the beginning of a cycle track which forms part of our route. However, it's overgrown by tall grass and foliage - you could just about walk down it, but cycling would be impossible.
"It gets better once you get beyond the trees," says fence-painting man.
Unfortunately, though, it doesn't. Reg decides we'll walk it - it shouldn't take long, as it's only a short path. If we don't Reg has to spend valuable time finding another route. We manage the path in about 15 minutes.
Finally we arrive in Worcester and stop in a pub for a cold drink and a rest. As we wend our way along the canal path once again, it starts to rain quite heavily. We don our new extra lightweight jackets which we bought especially for the journey - but not our waterproof trousers. I hate wearing mine as they restrict my cycling. We're on the last leg of today's journey, so if my leggings and Reg's shorts get soaking wet, it doesn't really matter. It's a rest day tomorrow so we'll need to find a launderette anyway.
A little further on, and it's still bucketing down.
"I'm going to stop and put on my overshoes,". I call out to Reg. Although my shoes are waterproof, they take forever to dry out when they get really wet, so the overshoes will protect them. Reg waits patiently while I carry out this fiddly operation.
We continue to ride along the canal path in heavy rain, with quite a few cyclists and walkers coming towards us on the path. This makes me quite nervous as I'm cycling on the left, closest to the water's edge. I decide to move nearer to the bank. A steely faced cyclist is coming towards me. Will he move towards the water to overtake me? He stops in front of me and says nothing.
"I'm sorry," I explain. " I'm not very good with water." The man cycles on, speechless.
We leave the canal and are in countryside once again, finally reaching our hotel.
The young receptionist asks where we're cycling to, and .we explain.
"Lands End?'" She says. "Where's that? Is that around here?"
We're shown the wedding reception room as the place to put our bikes. The chairs already have their covers and bows on, ready for a weekend wedding.
We have a "room at the top" of the 3 storey hotel, and no lift. But I can forgive anything because there's a bath! Bliss! Bliss too to eat in and have an early night.
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