Day 3 Ian and Hannah leave

What a day...we had it all going on....

We were met by Brother Phil Noakes who lived locally and was a keen cyclist so he said he would come down and lead us through the first 5 or 6 miles before he went onto work......

We were heading for the Severn Bridge and Wales.....just short of the bridge however David had a big blowout and his tyre and inner tube were wrecked...despite spare tyres being on the list, nobody brought one with them so we now a had a problem on our hands.......fortunatley Ian didn't live that far away so asked his wife to get a wheel out of the shed and bring it to us.....what a star.

We made it accross the bridge, all be it frangmented, the view was fantastic

 

We stopped for food just after fixing the tyre just over the bridge where Ian's family was waiting for us with lots of food.

A really kind lady whose house we parked outside brought tea and coffee out to us.
AFTER FINISHING OUR TEA WE GOT BACK ON TRACK. UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE NOW ABOUT 2 AND 1 /2 HOURS BEHIND SCHEDULE, IT WAS LUNCHTIME AND WE HAD AROUND 90 MILES LEFT TO DO.. SO WE PRESSED ON.

TINTERN ABBEY AND THE VIEWS WERE STUNNING BUT HEAVY ON THE LEGS. ONCE WE HIT THE MAIN A ROADS WE GOT INTO A RYTHM AND MOVED ALONG TOGETHER RACKING UP  THE MILEAGE.

UNFORTUNATELY THE TIME CAME TOO SOON FOR US TO SAY GOODBYE TO IAN.

IAN WAS GREAT COMPANY AND ALSO A GREAT HELP USING HIS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF 2 LEJOG'S AND HIS FITNESS TO REALLY HELP SUPPORT IN ANY WAY HE COULD. THANKS IAN, VERY MUCH.

AT AROUND THE SAME TIME AS SAYING GOODBYE TO IAN WE HAD A CHANCE MEETING WITH SOMEONE ELSE  DOING LEJOG BUT HE WAS DOING IT ON HIS OWN, NO SUPPORT AND ON A FIXED SPEED BIKE....FOR THODE WHO DON'T KNOW KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, HE CAN'T FREEWHEEL DOWN HILLS, HE HAS TO PEDAL ALL THE WAY AND HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY GEARS. HERE'S A LINK TO HIS BLOG.

AFTER GOING OUR SEPERATE WAYS WE HAMMERED THROUGH MAKING QUICK WORK OF THE MILES AHEAD. OUR NEXT MAJOR STOP WAS HEREFORD MEETING HALL, JUST FOR A QUICK BREAK, HAD A CHANCE MEETING WITH THE RECORDING BROTHER, GOT TOOLED UP FOR SOME NIGHT RIDING AND OFF WE WENT AGAIN.

WE WEREN'T FEELING TOO BAD BUT NEEDED TO RIDE INTO THE DARKNESS WHICH WAS A LITTLE HAIRY AT TIMES AND COLD TOO.

FINALLY WE ARRIVED AT SHREWSBERRY MEETING TIRED BUT NOT BROKEN. DAVID'S PARENT'S MADE A REEL FUSS OF US AND YET AGAIN WE WERE SPOILT.....AND LOVING IT.....JUST WHAT WE NEEDED....QUICK WASH AND GOT OUR HEADS DOWN....

As a footnote this was Hannah's night of departure but this isn't the end of the story for Hannah's involvement as she will be back on Thursday, in the mean time Mike will be supporting us, he has some big shoes to fill, Hannah has done a superb job of looking after us, thanks Hannah