One of the joys of doing the LEJOG was the people who came out to see us along the route, some of who cycled with us. The first of these were Ian and Gill, some of our oldest friends, who we've known for over three decades. We all met up at the starting point for the day's cycling in Tewksbury, Ian jumped on his bike, and Gill headed off in the car to meet us further up the road.
We had a really great run through the west and Midlands, through towns such as Worcester, along the banks of the Severn past the cathedral; through Droitwich - somewhere that morning a pigeon managed to poo all over me; which was utterly gross! Thankfully my wife and Gill were waiting for us all at the castle at Hartlebury, where I could clean up, clean the bike and change my clothes!
Long miles then followed along the banks of the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal, before lanes took us up the western side of Wolverhampton - where we cycled with some other chaps we met on the road with the most rich and engaging black country accents! Wolverhampton airport (who knew?) came and went, before our next stop for a late lunch at the garden centre at Albrighton. Here, Ian and Gill left us - and so did Stewart who went with them for a late flight to Northern Ireland for his father-in-law's funeral. He flew out of Birmingham airport, while I got back on the bike and bashed out another 40 miles - the only part of the trip when I had to ride solo!
The fast downhill running over the silky tarmac on the Lillieshill Golf estate, with a beast of a tailwind was quite exhilirating. Blasting up through Market Drayton, I managed to get all the way to Nantwich, a place I remember visiting as a boy. My wife was less than impressed, having had a dreadful drive in the van through all kinds of wangly lanes to find me - but we put down the pin by the lake in Nantwhich to resume the next day without Stewart - but another friend from church - Charles arrived that evening to ride for a couple of days with us. He was kindly driven down from scortland by David an old friend and former neighbour of Stewart's. The nexrt day was going to be a really tough one - but we didn't know just how rough it woud be!
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