Cycling LeJoG 2017: 07/09/17

Sunday 9 July 2017

LeJoG Catch-up day

Today's ride took us to just short of Taunton, to catch up to where we should have been last night. It started with 8 miles alongside the Grand Western Canal, which was beautiful and very peaceful. We had lunch by a bridge, in the company of lots of ducks, who had to do without sharing our lunch, but had theirs provided by a local lady who came along to feed them.

After we reached the end of the canal, we meandered through the lanes, and ended the ride with a drink at the pub where Steve met us with the car. It meant a much shorter trip back to YHA Minehead, and a much more relaxed evening!

We're trying to sort out a plan which will get us out of our accommodation by 9.00 am each morning. Please pray that we'll succeed, because we do need to the extra time to cover all those miles. Pray too for our safety - thank the Lord that the only accident so far was Nathan's on Thursday. Also for good nights sleep - and that we manage to pick up all our belongings each morning as we leave our accommodation!

As I've been pedalling, these words have come to my mind these last few days:

The Road goes ever on and on

Out from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

Let others follow it who can!

Let them a journey new begin,

But I at last with weary feet

Will turn towards the lighted inn,

My evening-rest and sleep to meet.

(JRR Tolkien, The Return of the King, Book VI, Chapter 6)

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

(Traditional Gaelic blessing)

So far, God has blessed us with fair weather - may he continue to do so.

Bridge over the canal by our lunch spot

Lunch! (1)

Lunch! (2)

The ducks got waitress service!

LeJoG Day 4 - More hills!!!

It was far too late to think about blogging last night, by the time we'd got ourselves into the hostel and eaten. Minehead YHA is about 25 miles across Exmoor from where we finished our ride yesterday, so it all took time. And when we got here, we found that we had to unload the car from just down the road and carry everything up here, so it all took even longer! But we're staying here for two nights, so it was worth the effort.

We cycled through some more beautiful countryside yesterday, but still with lots and lots of hills! The last few miles, though, were along a disused railway and then a canal towpath, so they were nice and flat. By the time we finished, we were 19 miles short of where we had planned to end the route, so we've got some catching up to do today. Nathan was struggling because he was so tired - his leg is healing well, but either that or the muggy heat was taking it out of him. We've been very lucky with the weather, but yesterday there was next to no breeze so it felt very close.

After tomorrow (Monday) our planned routes become longer, which means we really do need to become more efficient in getting out in the mornings, and sorting ourselves out in the evenings - not a natural Errington trait!