was the day that took me into Wales, and out again. From Clevedon, the route follows minor roads which shadow the M5, and then you actually get onto the M5 to cross the River Avon.
This
was the day that took me into Wales, and out again. From Clevedon, the route follows minor roads which shadow the M5, and then you actually get onto the M5 to cross the River Avon.
The cycle path alongside the carriageway felt quite safe. Pity about the signposting for cyclists on leaving the bridge.
Nearly
two hours later, and I reached the original Servern Bridge on the M48; quite a day for doing motorways on a bike. The weather was beginning to build, and there was a fierce north-easterly coming straight down the valley and hitting the bridge broadside. At one stage, it was too windy to cycle, and I had to get off and push. I also had to take my hat off, to avoid losing it.
But it's an amazing bridge.
And here's my first Welsh signpost. The road had a very decent cycle path separated from the carriageway.
Now my route headed north, straight into an increasingly fierce wind, but up the beautiful Wye Valley. This was Tintern Abbey, but I didn't give myself time to stop and look around.
Another bridge, on a rather less frenetic scale.
By
5.00 in the evening I crossed back into England and reached Hereford. A campsite 3 miles north of town at the wonderfully named Moreton on Lugg offered me a caravan for the night, so I had some shelter from the coming storm, and it would avoid me having to pack my tent up wet in the morning.
I had taken a decision again to deviate from the planned route by staying on the busier A49 out of Hereford. The weather was strongly against me, and I guessed the A49 would be less hilly. I also hoped to get more aerodynamic help from lorries whooshing past than I would on the more scenic route.
Another evening of fish and chips :-)
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