Day 72 - Abergaveny UK - 135 kms ! Real tough in Taffy land !

The damned if you do / don't scenario hit us like a hammer following our choice to book ahead to ensure that we did not have a repeat of St.Austell 2011 experience (no accommodation !).

Some Zags instead of Zigs, the pain of getting around Bristol and the hot weather turned the day (planned to be 90 kms) into a 135km ordeal !

We had 'kissed' and made after an overnight lovers tiff re the TV with H requiring the TV be turned off (while i was watching) so he could concentrate on writing his notes despite having sat immobile for an hour previous with his show ..... important in the scheme of world events !

We left some more great hosts in Worth near Wells (b&bs are the way to go !) and headed off cross country climbing out on steep lanes passing through the lovely tourist village of Wookey Hole.

Connecting with the the old Bristol road we cycled amidst familiar features having stayed nearby in 2011.

In fact so familiar that at one point H yelled out as we passed an outlying pub "didn't we turn right here last time' !

The fact that i was 50 meters in front at the time meant I missed his comments and lead us on a steep downhill for 5 kms before recognizing the mistake !

This meant not only a big climb back but a good 45 mins waisted that turned out to be significant as the day progressed.

We worked our way in the heat (hard to believe I know !) along busy roads to the Long Ashton estate (now public land) that allowed us to cycle through the immense property to the spectacular Brunel designed Clifdon bridge in Bristol an amazing achievement for its time.

Getting around and out of Bristol was a repeat nightmare from 2011 with our route going straight through heavy industrial areas with high volumes of trucks and then zig zagging in a never ending approach to the Severn Bridge and our entry point into Wales.

I'd planned a days ride to our destination of approx 90 kms yet by 5pm. we had not only not crossed the bridge but had already racked up 85 tiring kms in the heat !

H was tiring quickly seeing ice creams on every cornerand riding on remote as we made our way over the Severn bridge taking in its wonderful views and then climbing out of Cheptsow to remove ourselves from the traffic that wed been exposed to for most of the day!

The next 1& 1/2 hours were sapping with even small climbs along the beautiful narrow country lanes tiring - H having a look that suggested i should just bury him where he collapsed !

We entered the lovely Welsh town of Usk about 7.30p.m. still 20 kms short of our destination and set about raiding the local store with sandwiches and drinks to restore some much needed energy levels.

Feeling partly restored we were able to marvel at the beautiful Welsh scenery on this long summer evening - the country lanes with tunnels of emerald foliage, the sun setting across the imposing Brecon Beacons and a magic purple haze that seemed to swallow the whole countryside on a lovely summers evening.

After a long day we finally arrived at our b&b just short of 9.00p.m. having covered a tour best / worst of 135 kms something we celebrated with 2 jugs of icy cold water !

So now in Wales at lovely Abergavenny an appropriate start point (bike riding's central) or as we work our way through mid Wales towards the coast then Chester with now only 3 weeks cycling left of the UK leg and our adventure !