Monmouth to Cardiff - Day 15

Fewer miles today after yesterday's 55 miler we chugged along for 42 miles.

Shirt sleeve weather from 8:30 a.m, an unheard of treat and an impossibly beautiful run via Raghlan via Usk to Newport.  

Now what have you lost?

Fabulous hazy countryside

We have decided that everyone should travel the road Monmouth to Cwmbran and then down the Monmouth - Brecon canal.  The roads are narrow and travel through great green swathes but the views are truly spectacular.

On the way up to Coed y Paen & Llandegfedd Reservoir.
The top of a good climb which was followed by 1:6 climb

Water lilies along the Monmouth- Brecon canal

Volunteers are restoring locks along the canal

As we headed into Cwmbran and saw the hills all around it looked like we might have a difficult afternoon ahead of us.  After some fiddly negotiation around the north of Cwmbran we tracked down Route 49.  A canal, what does that mean?  Cycling was great all the way down to Newport.  We stopped and chatted to the volunteers who were chipping away and bricks and mixing concrete with total abandon.  Good job lads!

On down to Newport in search of a cup of tea we pulled into The Riverside, Newport's fab new Arts Centre.  There on the menu board was lunch - Large Salad (we remember salad; fresh, green, red, yellow, healthy).  Pytsje (pronounced Peacha) and her colleague were the world's best hostesses and loaded a huge bowl of salad with tomatoes, olives, rice, new potatoes, lettuce, rocket, mixed beans and pulses - getting the picture?  This was topped with slices of FRESH baguette and turkey.

We recommend the journey from Monmouth to Newport to finish at The Riverside - it's a MUST DO!

This route in to Newport certainly beats the M4 that goes
over the bridge ahead of Jake

The pillars are reflected in the canal
The rumble above is considerable!

Huge sculpture outside The Riverside, Newport

The Transporter Bridge, Newport

Kersoe to Monmouth - Day 14

Always thought that this would be tough - leaving home to crank ourselves up again still feeling tired.

So, how fantastic to have a couple of cyclists to accompany us for the first 20 miles or so.  Jake's cousin, Harry, came along for 20 miles and our mad cycling friend, Fred, helped us churn out the first 15 miles.  Quick side note:  Fred is mega, let's cycle the Pyrenees and do 100 miles a day at stupid speed fit.  Harry is 16, play hours of tennis at county level fit.  An added bonus was an early morning visit from Gege, Fred's wife.  It was just the boost we needed.

Harry, Jake, Fred, Philip & Gege

It was drizzling but we were on familiar ground and the 20 miles until we were three again seemed to whizz by.  Poor Fred, he probably hasn't cycled that slowly for years but at least we didn't tire him out before he sets off for the real mountains.

Bye, bye Fred - thank you!

Bye, bye Harry - thank you!

Having endured intermittent drizzle whilst in company, the weather perked up as we wheeled towards Ross on Wye and the promise of coffee where we struck up a conversation with a local cyclist before heading into the Herefordshire wilderness.

A busy thoroughfare in Herefordshire

We passed through Llangrove, with their commemorative water pump and Bruin the dog accompanying Sue Chivers and the most stunning views just down the road.

Sorry Sue, Bruin is much more interesting

Jake admiring water pump commemorating Queen Victoria's
Golden Jubilee

Fabulous view back towards Ross on Wye & beyond

From Ross to Monmouth and a great cup of tea at Coffee # 1, with excellent directions to the Travelodge further down the road.  Day 1 of part 2 completed in sunshine, in good time, bikes sleeping soundly.

Night, night.

A 'real' day off!

Wow, at home with access to a washing machine - this is the height of excitement!

You wouldn't believe how much we can cram in 4 panniers!

There was also the small bike matter of new handlebar tape for Jake's bike.  Let's just whisper this, in his exuberance to be greeted at Bredon Hill Middle School, he stormed round the car park roundabout and ... one kerb hit, one massive crash, Jake tumbling across the grass and handlebar tape duly shredded.

Not what we wanted to see - thankfully no major damage
to bike or Jake

Knowing that Paul at Vale Cycles was busy building a bike to a tight deadline, we were helped out by Echelon in Pershore - thanks guys!

Not sure where the rest came in but we did make it to bed earlier.  Jake spent all day on bike or scooter and building ramps for the scooter - no rest for the wicked...

Homecoming number 1 - Day 13

Thank goodness this was a short journey.

A hideous headwind made progress along a very soggy, sandy Greenway very hard going.  The Vale of Evesham could just as easily have been hills for the effort we had to put in.  The ride from Badsey into town was horrendously busy with big lorries and vehicles doing silly speeds.

By this time, Jake could no longer change gear and his little legs were a blur, producing minuscule forward progress - much to his annoyance.

St. Richard's C.E First School was the first stop.  It was great to see everyone.  Mrs. Spencer had arranged an assembly for years 3 & 4 and supported by Philip, Jake stood confidently and told them about our trip and the 2 charities.  There was a collection for the charities from all year groups.  For Jake though, best of all was to see Lizzie Kelly who has kindly been sending the team encouraging texts along the way.  We even had a family donation from her and lots of hugs!

Nearly home

Yes, honestly, nearly there

Jake talking to Years 3 & 4

The team collecting money - Thank you very much!

 From St. Richard's a quick stop at our favourite local bike shop, supplier of Nic's & Philip's bikes - Vale Cycles.  Paul duly looked at Jake's dodgy gears and fitted a new cable in a flash.

About to take our leave

Then off to Jake's school - Bredon Hill Middle School.  We were a little late due to the mechanical difficulty so what an emotional treat to see all of Year 7 and staff gathered at the gate to cheer Jake home.

It was a fantastic welcome, very unexpected and hugely appreciated by a very tired team (photos to follow hopefully).

Jake was quickly back into his stride and left the oldies drinking tea and went to watch his classmates play tennis in their P.E. lesson.

A great end to part one of the journey!