Day 17 Cheddar to Caldicot
Quick facts:
Weather: H22 L 17 cloudy with 75% chance of rain and thunderstorms. Humidity 93%.
Depart: Gordon’s in Cheddar
Destination: The Lychgate, 47 Church Road, Caldicot, NP26 4HW
Planned Distance: 50.8 mi / 81.3 km
Planned ascent: 1,099 ft
Planned decent: 1,115 ft
Route: https://www.cycling4charity.org.uk/august-17
For actual stats please see Ralph’s Strava file.
Good morning, good day.
It is a bit overcast this morning but the torrential downpours and tsunami street flooding that happened last night seems to be over for the moment as we head out in the sunshine into the dark clouds.
Out first stop was the Cheddar Bikes shop where Zach and Simon helped get our tires back up to pressure and on our way.
We are heading towards Bristol and the huge Clifton Suspension bridge. I sincerely hope the weather is calm when we head across it!
A lovely bike path called the Strawberry Line past the Cheddar Reservoir then a quiet road to Ashbury flat crushed stone for miles.
I think it is generally sloping downhill too. It is incredibly well used by family-cycle-gangs!
We passed right in the middle of the Thatcher’s Cider manufacturing plant. An ultra clean, shiny, glassy set of buildings and warehouses. Ralph is keen on ciders.
Bristol and its waterfront was waiting as we rode into the downtown through quieter back lanes.
The waterfront had a Tall Ship “The Matthew” in port ready to take groups on a sailing adventure.
The SS Great Britain was on display as well as various boats and yachts. One that seems to be serving as a nightclub was called Miss Behaving.
We left the dock area, found an excellent cyclepath out of town as we pedalled under the Clifton Suspension Bridge while watching the tidal bore come up the estuary. It is scary to think of the engineering and building of that bridge.
Our next Bridge experience would be the “old” Severn Bridge, We became a bit concerned when we were detoured off NCN 4 which was our route to the bike and pedestrian lane on this huge bridge.
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-4
The gates were open, the weather was good and off we went bouncing along with the motion of the spans.
We were suddenly in Wales where we would enjoy the scenery for two days. First we had a few more miles to go to find Caldicot in the Welsh countryside.
What is a pedal in the countryside without a Welsh castle looming in a beautiful park? Caldicot Castle
It was 7 pm when we arrived at the Lychgate BnB. In Caldicot . It was a self check in with a note that we could leave the bikes in the reception area. Quick showers then downstairs to meet Kay who walked us through town, literally and historically, to join her partner Hillary at their home for a BBQ. Hillary and Kay are friends of Ralph’s dating back 20 years or more when they were work colleagues.
The BBQ was a communal affair. Their whole 8 apartment complex was invited. Sofie who just bought recently had a chance to socialize with the whole group. Sarah and Gareth were getting their new puppy, Ralph, used to other dogs and prople. Hillary and Kay’s permanent foster dog Herbert was accepting of this new fellow for the most part. Jim and Pauline shared the big bench with Sofie and Colleen sat closer to me. Colleen told me stories of her years living in Hong Kong in the early 50’s during her husband’s military posting. Everyone has such interesting stories.
We said goodbye and goodnight to this warm and generous community and Hillary walked us « home » to the Lychgate.
Thank you so much Hillary and Kay.
Goodnight all.
Safe cycling.
Lorraine