Day 4 - Mud, Sweat and Beer

Not the best view to start the morning with, but it is still dry.
We have decided not to risk eating a travelodge breakfast but to cycle to Taunton, 15 miles away, then see what we can find.



We fairly entered Somerset and got to Taunton at around 9:30 before decent people were up,



so finding a Cornish pasty shop open we had breakfast.









We passed this beautifully decorated bench, at a pit stop before the big hill of the day.




Which gave some fantastic views.




And looking in the other direction some distant views of the recent flooding.



Not all the navigating took us along Tarmac roads. This track covered the bikes in mud and meant that Ray had to poke the mud away to allow his rim brakes to work.






We then met up with Ray's family and had lunch



at the beautiful market town of Axebridge.



We then took an old railway line know as the Strawberry line north to Yatton, and thanks to I.K.Brunell for the perfectly flat route. Being a Sunday afternoon it was very busy with other people walking and cycling.



It was particularly fun going through a pitch black tunnel, and passing old stations.
We then passed threw the Thatchers orchards where they grow their cider apples.



I thought that my knee was doing well today, bandaged and pain-killed until Ray got annoyed with the last big hill of the day and disappeared into the distance.

We then could see our destination, and out route for tomorrow and had great views of the Severn and the new and old bridges.




In a couple of nice downhill we found our accommodation and eatery for the evening.







We did 65 miles today mostly following this route.
http://g.co/maps/mjc8a

Cheers
Paul

Riding the length of the UK so you don't have to ;)
You can sponsor me at
https://www.justgiving.com/Margaret-beattie