Just rolling

Day Five and we’re still going strong. Today was a relatively flat 55 miles, a simple task on paper, but after puncturing twice and having my panniers fall off halfway up a hill, finally getting to Bath seemed like a real achievement.

Meanwhile, all our legs are now rock-solid, we laugh in the face of most hills, and we motor along at 16mph on the flat—with panniers. Two days ago we cycled from Treyarnon to Okehampton, a mammoth 57-mile ride that included over 4200 feet of climbing. Yesterday saw us ride over 50 miles from Okehampton to Taunton, where we stayed in a nice B&B called Lowdens House.

Tonight we are staying over with James’ aunt and uncle in Bathford, and are revelling in the luxuries of a three-course dinner, laundry and comfy beds (all free of course).

The days may have been getting easier, but the challenges aren’t coming to an end. Tomorrow, we have 60 miles ahead of us, our longest day yet, and it will also include the delights of cycling up and over the Cotswolds. James (or Fat Jan, as we now know him) is charging his headlight batteries “just in case” we have an evening arrival….