The YHA hostel at Coalport is in a lovely old building, an old cider factory which is opposite an old china factory (now a museum). The china factory building has a kiln reminiscent of a Kentish Oast House. I was so exhausted, cold and tired last night that I didn’t notice how nice it was and it was difficult to update my blog, what with a lack of Wifi or cellular data signal.
The hostel sold food, which was delicious (there was chocolate brownie and ice cream for pudding), after which I just fell asleep.
I got up early, before anyone else and, with nobody else about, it felt as if the hostel belonged to me! I had a great breakfast, a big fry up, and I realised as I looked around that I had brought my children here to visit years ago. With all the nostalgia for times gone by, long before even I was born, I’m doubtful about how idyllic life was then. It’s picturesque now, but the people of those times lived with such rigid class distinctions, and they had to see their beautiful crafts being mechanised – facing unemployment with no safety net. The kind warden had promised to give me some publicity on the YHA website, thank you so much.
After two steep climbs out of Coalport the Garmin urged me to do them both again! I thought that getting out of Telford looked so complicated that I’d be better off following the river – or winging it by going directly north with my compass. The compass took me to the A442 via a terrifying dual carriageway – it was like going onto a motorway, albeit one with a good cycling path on one side. It did take a long time to get out of Telford though.
Once out of Telford, getting to Market Drayton was easy and fast (except for some roadworks which even blocked the cycle way). Market Drayton is a pretty little town with half timbered buildings and, unfortunately, too much traffic.
I got there early in the afternoon, and unfortunately the pub where I am staying hadn’t opened yet. It was really just a day of pushing on and muddling through Telford, and uneventful other than the roadworks – I daydreamed in the monotony and forgot about taking photos (other than the pub at the end – so my apologies.)
Lesson learned of the day – I tried to get a coffee from a McDonalds Drive through, but they don’t seem to like bicycles.
If you haven’t donated to one of the charities yet (Refuge or Women’s Aid), and if you can afford to do so, please donate. The work that they do is vitally important.
Stats
25.9 miles (354.81 miles total), 1,225ft ascent, 1,050ft descent
LEJoG 82 