Woke up to a fabulous autumn morning, at the Wyke. Horses being led into paddocks, views for miles, autumnal colours, mists - maybe no mellow fruitfullness - but you can't have everything. Dog walked, I set off for a fantastic, flat ride towards Kinver. On one descent I managed (or rather the rickshaw managed, with me clinging on and grinning like a maniac) 25 miles per hour!!!!!!! Unfortunately, at the bottom of this exciting descent I arrived at the start of a massive climb, and ended up pushing my rickshaw. This pattern was repeated throughout the rest of the day. Very character forming and, hopefully, weight loss inducing. Eventually I arrived in Kidderminster, which wins the prize for the best roads so far (worst roads award, by the way, goes to south Cheshire. I did wonder if it was because everyone there drove a Bentley, until I realised that the Bentley factory is based there and they were all on test drives). We had decided to treat ourselves to B and B, so that I could have a bath and wash my hair, and by the end of the afternoon, and at the start of the rush hour, we landed up in Chaddesley Corbett, and thought we had found our night's lodgings. Sadly the lady was fully booked, but she "phoned a friend" who said she would have us. 2 miles down the road, in the dark, and conducting an "on air" interview with radio Cumbria whilst I pedalled, we arrived chez. welcoming B and B lady, who saw the dog and flew into a dog-a-phobic hissy fit, and refused to take us - citing her cats, her hens, and the proximity of the road as reasons why she saw fit to condemn us to a five mile pedal, in the dark, to Bromsgrove. Happily, we are now settled into a very comfy room in the Holiday Inn, for £20 more than Mrs WelcomMat of Overwood had denied us. Mrs Barbara Palmer, you know who you are!!!! So, thanks to Mrs WelcomeMat, I achieved my highest daily mileage: 35 miles. And thank you Sue, for the bath birthday presents, in which I wallowed tonight. Lurvly. Tomorrow, Stratford and beyond.............. Oh, one more thing: major crisis - all the flapjack's gone!
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tinainthebluehouse
- 2008-10-16 @ 22:51:11
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nikki57
- 2008-10-18 @ 21:24:41
Go Cate!!! How mad are you? I've just caught up with your blog and can only take my hat off to you and wish you all the best for the rest of your journey. If I was a bit closer I would come and throw something in your bucket but for now I hope the weather is kind to you and the roads ahead are nice and flat. With your new thighs of steel you are sure to set a personal best in the next London Marathon so Ben had better get off the beer and start training unless he wants to get badly shown up by Mum. Love to you, Frank and the four legged friend and keep on pedalling! When they first heard of your exploits Stuart and the girls said 'She's doing what???' but they send all their love and wish you good luck and a following wind. Hope you got the essential reinforcements of flapjack to fuel you as you head south. Love Nikki xxx
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Some bed and breakfast proprietors have no decency! Thankfully that can not be said of the respectable Blue House and Old Brewery - both would have welcomed you, the husband, the dog and camper with open arms and home baking! Speaking of which fresh supplies of flapjack should be with you on Sunday! Though at this rate of progress you will have finished the journey before we reach Henley. Love Tina x