Day 4 150km Tintern to Shrewsbury

Day 4

Tintern to Shrewsbury


Today was another long day 150km. We started at 8:30 and arrived at the hotel in Shrewsbury about 3:30pm. The morning was very hilly; we started out along the Wye valley to Monmouth. Then climbed out of Monmouth to Lentwardine. It was mercifully flat from there and just as well because at about 90km I just lost all power. Not strength so much but I was physically and mentally exhausted. We had a bit of a break and carried on for another 20km before I needed to stop again. This time recharged with a banana and a power gel I managed the remainder, over the Shropshire hills into Shrewsbury. But it was a very tired Craig that dragged himself into the hotel. Fortunately tonight is one of the nights we’re in a 4* hotel. The Mercure Albrighton which is fantastic.

There was a wedding on when we arrived which we had to wade through as they’d spilled onto the lawn. We met Beth and Mo, I bathed and changed and then we hit the pool and spa. What a luxury. Beth laughed at a our comical cyclist’s tan lines; from the elbows and knees down we’re all really brown and pasty everywhere else!

I have wifi access here so I can post a bit more. In review, Day 1 was hard but we took our time. We climbed the equivalent of 1500 vertical metres. Day 2 over Dartmoor was the hardest, 2007 vertical metres of climbing. Day 3 was largely flat apart from a 200m rise over the Mendips and today started off rolling hills and then flattened out before the Shropshire hills. There was a fantastic 10km downhill from the top of the hills though. Today has been the most scenic, through the Wye valley and passing by the Long Mynd and the weather has so far been kind to us. Tuesday was hot and sunny, but we started late, then every other day has been largely still and overcast, cool, breaking to sunshine later. Perfect for cycling. Long may it continue.

Apart from Wednesday when we had virtually no flats, it was all up or down, so we all rode at our own pace, we’ve ridden well as a group and today Werner and John pulled me through when I was struggling. John doesn’t seem to tire at all, but than he is only 52kg ns has a full on carbon bike. I’m surprised he doesn’t float away (he does when we hit a hill), but I’ve largely held my own. He did reveal today that he intends to do the end to end again next year, in under 80 hours, the CTC Gold standard.

Beth has been superb as our support. We’ve got into a routine of meeting her about 50km into the ride and she brings pasta pots and bananas and we can refill our water bottles.

Hotel wise, I’d recommend them all except perhaps the Globe at Sampford Peverell. It was nice enough and the staff were friendly, but a bit pricey for what it is and the rooms were full of flies from the farm across the road. Myrtle Cottage at Sennen was great and I’d recommend it to anyone down that way, likewise the Wye Valley hotel at Tintern, where Alan, the chef really looked after us, maybe because his father did the end to end in 79 hours at the age of 55. So maybe he knows how we’re suffering. The Nebula at Liskeard was nice, roomy and comfortable. The Mercure here in Shrewsbury is fabulous and they’ve done us proud. It’s the cheapest stay we’ve got en route and possibly the best. Three cheers for Ian the manager. Definitely recommended.

A third of the way there and its starting to hurt.