DAY 12 - ST BRIAVELS TO DUNSFORD

After having a lie-in compared to yesterday, I was up at 7:15 this morning. Though for some reason, I didn't manage to leave until gone 8:30.

After the mammoth final hill last night, getting to the castle, I was hoping that I would have a nice easy morning downhill. Fat chance! Almost immediately I was cycling up long arduous hills on my way towards Chepstow. I made light work of the first ten miles in the end and managed to get in to Bristol via the Severn Bridge, in good time. That’s when my day started to get frustrating.

I went to Evans Cycles and, was told that they would have to charge me for the work that needed doing and, I would have to leave my bike with them for the day. Needless to say, I declined.

Having gone out of my way there, I had to take a slightly revised route out of Bristol. Not long after, the road I needed to take was closed. I ended up going along a make-shift route that seemed to take me everywhere but the way I wanted!

It seemed slow going for the rest of the day and more hilly than I was anticipating. Eventually I managed to get through Exeter by 19:00.

Unfortunately, it was pitch black for the last hour of the journey and, with no street lighting to guide my way, I was cycling almost blind as I could only just make out the white lines in the centre of the road. When they disappeared, I got a bit worried, especially when going down some really steep roads. My bike lights are those that illuminate me, but not the road.

Eventually, I made it to Blytheswood Hostel where I met Patrick, the owner. He’s a really nice guy with a couple of dogs for company. I told him about my journey so far and why I was doing it. Then after I grabbed a shower and cooked my tea, he gave me £10 to give to the Christie after his wife died of cancer a number of years ago. Considering my room rate was £14 for the night, I thought it was a big gesture. It never fails to amaze me the generosity of some people, especially those that don’t even know me.

After a late tea, I was in bed. Today has been so looooooooooooong!

DAILY MILEAGE – 114.4 MILES