Last night, we heard the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The end of the Elizabethan era, which has lasted my whole life. An extraordinary life well lived*, and an inspiring example of power and leadership exercised through through compassion and service. She was such a fixture in our lives that we probably don't yet know how much we will miss her. I'm not a historian so others can write fuller tributes. But it is a big moment.
(* I believe King Charles also said this today, but, with respect, I said it first)
This morning it was time to say au revoir to my sister with thanks for lovely hospitality and company, as I headed back over the mountain to Portishead. She pointed out there was a much quicker way down the valley to Clevedon. But that would mean missing out some of the coast, so the mountain it was.
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| Clevedon pier |
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| Clevedon beach and bathing pool |
Today is my last day of this trip, since there's a good return journey available from Bridgwater. Very hilly to Clevedon, which is a nice little seaside town with a mini pier and a seaside bathing pool. Several cafes, but it wasn't quite elevenses time, something I later regretted. After Clevedon, pancake flat for the next 40 miles! Nice country lanes, with a few other cyclists and a tractor or two.
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| Shut! |
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| Strawberry Line |
Crossing the river Yeo was a problem. RidewithGPS had found a cycle path across the river, but it wasn't yet open. It looked finished, but it was very definitely shut. An eight mile diversion was needed, involving the A370, but on the plus side, I got to go on the Strawberry Line cycle route, which had a nice cafe at Yatton Station.
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| Where the zyder comes vrum |
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| Country Church, flag at half-mast |
More country lanes. Country Church, single bell tolling in mourning. A few flags at half mast. Nice riding except for nuisance rain in my face. The wind had changed from a south-easterly headwind in Wales to a south-westerly headwind in Somerset.
After a long time away from the sea, I came to the aptly-named Sand Bay, a long beach of sand dunes, a single crescent of beachside bungalows, and a Pontins.
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| Sand Bay, in the drizzle |
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| Approaching Weston: East Pier, with Cardiff in the distance |
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| Grand Pier |
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| Large bathing pool |
Just round the headland was Weston-super-Mare, a very large town bordering on city size, with a very large beach, wide and a long way to the sea at low tide. I know it quite well because our grandparents retired to Weston and we were regular visitors. It's got everything a holidaymaker, or retired grandparent could possibly want: two piers (one burnt down), two open-air swimming pools, one with high diving boards, donkey rides on the sand, shops, cafes, even a model railway exhibition! In the back streets I found a little bakery for lunch, which had all my favourite things.
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London prices but Weston portion sizes
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| Looking back across Weston sands |
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| Uphill boatyard? |
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| Uphill country park |
Directly after Weston there's a place called Uphill, which is not up a hill, but has a nice nature reserve path across the levels. Brean was next, where it turns out the NCN path goes 6 miles across the sandy beach. It was getting beyond a joke now. There's a warning sign and a road alternative, so I took that. Very windy now so it was hard work. Brean is a long thin place along the coast; not that you could see the sea. One side of the road is a series of caravan parks backing onto the sand dunes, and the other is various amusement parks and another Pontins.
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| Brean: cycle path on the sand |
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| Giraffic Park |
The tracks met again at Burnham-on-Sea, a traditional seaside town with esplanade and pier. And a seafront Wetherspoons, ideal for the thirsty cyclist. It was now so windy that it requited two hands to wrench the front door open.
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| Burnham |
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| River Brue |
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| Windy, winding lanes |
Only 6 miles to Bridgwater, lanes mostly sheltered by high hedges. And another annoying closed cycle path along the river Parrett,:more flood defences, but not a problem really. Bridgwater itself was full of rush-hour traffic: I didn't see its good side.
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| Route to Bridgwater: Shut! |
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| Highlight of Bridgwater |
The train route home involved going the wrong way first, to Taunton, then to Reading. I arrived five minutes late for the hourly train at 1750, but the train was ten minutes late, so I sort of ran across the bridge, carrying my bike up & down the steps. A 5 minute change at Taunton, and I was on a non-stop train to Reading. Cost for an on-the-spot ticket (not advance): £33, good value.
I'll post some maps and statistics in a day or so.
