Day 4: Clevedon to Worcester

July 19, 2023

Great day! When I was having visions of riding LEJOG, days like today were exactly what I had in mind. Flat quiet roads, beautiful scenery, sunshine… and tailwinds!

Up and Atom

I was on the road a little after 9am and, for the third day out of four, forgot to fill my water bottles. Donut. Despite that, I heeded the sage advice of Curt Langan and pressed on for an hour or so before eating properly. It really helped to get some ‘cash in the bank’ before eating. What wisdom that man has (is he a wizard?).

I rode through Clevedon - looked like a mini Harrogate but by the sea - and then pressed on to the outskirts of Bristol where I had my traditional Full English. Nice breakfast - better than it looks in the picture - but the worst coffee I have ever had in my life!

The cafe could easily have been somewhere in Flint or downtown salt-of-the-Earth Doncatraz. Genuine greasy spoon. Also, props to the woman eating breakfast while still wearing her nightclothes and pink fluffy slippers!

As soon as I left, there was a hiccup on the route. The National Cycle Route was completely blocked with no explanation or detour. Great. I worked out a 15 mile alternative route - up a big hill - before getting back to the planned route. Not too much harm done (unusually for my off-piste expeditions).

Avon and Gloucester

Ok, these counties weren’t that hilly but boy were they beautiful. Amazing country lanes and perfect villages. So tidy, well-kept and litter free. The care that people took to maintain their homes and villages was very clear. A really lovely place to ride generally.

Also, I had lots of people say hello, cyclists going the other way waving etc. Normality had returned!

Cafe stop #2

Went to a nice little cafe in a place called Berkeley, where I ordered baked potato with smoked three bean topping. Don’t see that every day, but it was lovely.

My memory of this place will be trying to sneeze but somehow getting it wrong and making a completely ridiculous sound. Everyone in the cafe stopped and turned around; embarrassing for a 10 year old let along a 45 year old man! It did however start a chat with a nice couple who were interested in my bike and my ride. They clearly thought I was bonkers.

Clocking off the miles

Largely quiet lanes and some canal riding, but much prettier stretches of water than the route in Somerset. Lots of barges and locks. Also a lot less gravel on the cycle route (only a few stretches). It was so nice though. The views over the hills were lovely and the little villages were just so cool. I just wish I was doing a pub crawl rather than a tour - so many characterful boozers!!

A nice old lady… who could probably beat me in a race

I saw a woman who was, I suspect, in her 80s ride over the brow of a mean climb. Impressive, I thought. She then out descended me (not difficult!), and clipped along with me chatting. Interesting lady. Her mum was Dutch so she rode over there once for the hell of it. She has also visited Gloucester’s twinned cities in France and Germany on her bike, completed London to Paris once… and rode Ride London a couple of years ago! That’s 100 miles… monster! She said she’d look my ride up on Strava, so perhaps further details to follow.

And to the campsite…

The campsite is lovely. I met a nice bloke at reception and he chucked me a bone by letting me stay on a sheltered patch of grass just by reception rather than half way up a slope 300 meters away. I pitched up, had a shower and rode a mile to a pub as there is not one on site.

I’ve just ordered burger and chips at the pub… for £17!!! Southern England, I love you but will never understand you.