For the “Endurance” riders an early start, overnight rain, and 100% cloud cover combined to make the morning surprisingly cool after last week’s scorching hot weather. We took advantage of the lighter traffic to make headway out of Gloucester on the A48, turning into the lanes at Minsterworth. Out of respect for his companions’ sensibilities the ride leader avoided Lea Common and it’s foot bridges and Forwens Lane with its permanent covering of farm mud (and worse) so our only hold up on the way to Northwood Green was a “Trip Hazard” at Broken Cross level crossing that was explicitly drawn to the attention of cyclists. We were grateful for the warning as it turned out to be ironwork raised above the rails that could easily have created a double puncture or worse.
Although the weather wasn’t hot, we couldn’t pass Borden’s Well without topping up bidons with fresh spring water then smooth progress was made to the climb up Bream’s High St. where the leader hoped to show off the Coffee Shop’s collection of casquettes while an express round of espressos fuelled the group for the final push up to St. Briavel’s. Alas, it was closed and the offer of machine coffee in the Co-Op round the corner just didn’t have the same appeal.
Down, then, to the river Wye from Hewelsfield to Brockweir. We paused briefly at the Village Shop and Café, reopened after last year’s fire, but decided that we were so close to Tintern that we should press on. A tractor and trailer, followed by several selfies on Brockweir bridge, stopped progress so we lost no momentum in leaving the road for a short stretch of disused railway line along a sculpture trail to The Old Station whose limited menu of hot food provided all the sustenance we required.
Most riders eschewed the main road to Chepstow in favour of the attractions of Forge Road and its industrial history, with the mill ponds all now controlled by local angling clubs. How things change! Hedgerows proved too high to give more than glimpses of the Severn Crossings, unfortunately, so it wasn’t until after we regrouped and crossed Chepstow that we saw them in all their glory. Taking the down stream cycle path we had a good view of the recently christened Prince of Wales bridge and the abandoned loading ramp for the Aust ferry, as featured in that famous picture of Bob Dylan.
Through Aust we passed, frustrating the Captain that we didn’t stop at The Boar’s Head for a Dancey Trophy point rehydration stop. Bypassing Littleton on Severn and it’s White Hart also took him by surprise. Would the Adam’s Ale from Borden’s Well be the only ale imbibed today?
Continuing on NCN 41, the Captain was delighted when we finally stopped at The Salutation Inn at Ham, where other Club members were already well settled. Emma was hit by a saxophone, John by a violin, and Malcolm a trumpet in what we believe was an orchestrated attack. Theo was less lucky, being peppered with cod liver oil capsules, but luckily his wounds were super fish oil. Yes, the rehydration was bringing out the dad jokes! The ham (not a pun) sandwiches brought out two of the pub’s cats, scrounging leftovers, before, exhausted by the entertainment and wary of the distance still to cover, we left the pub in small groups for the final push to Gloucester.
128km @ 21kph
MT