This will be an easy ride, I thought to myself. I know the area. On the other hand though, I resolved to put my trust in Garmin today. But as I approach the long, easy, descent into Cheltenham I was disconcerted to be redirected – sidelined – up and over Leckhampton hill.
As I continued, the arrow on the Garmin kept reassuring me that I would shortly be able to go left and onto Leckhampton Rd – only for me to be confronted by a ‘No Through Road’ sign. Thinking that there may be a problem, I panicked – and decided to descend on a rough lane that soon became a tiny, steep, track little more than a foot wide. It would have challenged a mountain bike (although I did see several mountain bikers – I wonder if they were feeling challenged too).
Eventually, I reached Cheltenham – but oh dear. The Garmin was giving me endless orders to make a U-Turn. It was very discouraging. Once again, I decided to ignore its commands and hoof it to Tewkesbury in my own way (down the A4019). It was lovely to be on a fast road again, and even more so when I saw my son (Pascal) coming to meet me in the opposite direction.
Going through Tewkesbury we dived into The Hide Cafe where Liz and Chloe fed us with delicious sandwiches – and the best cups of coffee that we’d had in many days. Easily the highlight of Tewkesbury.
After turning off the A38 to take little roads into Worcester, we took a detour to visit the river at Twyning – the last time I’d been there I was a teenager in the fifties, and it was a favourite spot to go swimming (I used to ride there on my bicycle – some things don’t change at all!). It doesn’t seem to have changed much. From there to Dunstall Castle – a folly by Robert Adam in a Capability Brown landscape, and currently in the care of the National Trust.
No rain, and ideal conditions – it made for a blissful ride all the rest of the way to Worcester. After checking in to the Severn View Hotel, we went for cups of tea at Boston Tea Party, where they very kindly gave me a delicious (and enormous) chocolate brownie as a gift!
I was also encouraged to receive an email from Danny Brothwell – offering to ride with me tomorrow. Hopefully it will make it a lot easier to find my way out of Worcester!
Stats
35.6 miles (290.45 miles total), 1,225ft ascent, 1,650ft descent
LEJoG 82 