Day 4/16           Thursday.  Aug 24.

Silverton to Clifton (Bristol)

Distance:        136 (Km) 

Time:  8:12

Average Speed:          16.6 (Km/ hr) 

Ascent:               1013 (m). 

Heart Rate:          111 (beats / min). 

Cumulative Distance: 361   (km) 

Cumulative Ascent :           3946 (m) 

Punctures so far : 0

Another long day although finished with the hills of Cornwall and Devon. Another reason.

Set out early again at 6:30 before the house was up. The morning was a bit cool but forecast was good. Very quickly onto narrow country lanes but free of climbs so I could warm up.

Crossed the M5 many times during the day…it was an ever present drone in the background for the first 100km. Mostly it was free—flowing but once just after Bridgewater the south lanes were at a standstill.

Just after passing through awakening Cullompton (named after our St Columba) a slight drizzle drifted in and I resorted to the rain jacket. Conditions didn’t get any worse and soon it was off again.

Just outside Cullompton the road began to rise but ever so gradual. It went on for 16km but Garmin  didn’t bother to jump in and credit as a major. It was like the road up to Holyford and Milestone. So I left Devon on a high…..after the top I was now in Somerset.

Still had those narrow lanes hemmed in by high earthen banks, no verge. I met this tractor and trailer of potatoes on a corner on one of these lanes. Our speeds were safe but I had to find a gate to stand in to let him pass. Further into Somerset I noticed that these country lanes are beginning to show a considerable verge.

In time I entered into large Taunton on the river Tone and famous for its cider. I was on a mission here and needed to locate a Post Office. Finally I was directed to the premises of WHSmith in the centre of town, with a Royal Mail counter at the back.

I had gone through all my gear last night and decided to send some non-essential/ comfort items home thereby lightning my panniers by 2.5 kg. All packed up and on its way. This had added some time to my day.

But then the trouble started. Garmin, with no climbs to occupy it, startled to play ducks and drakes with me. Trying to get back to my route took some time and added 10 kilometres to the day. I had been on the correct street but going the wrong way. So it sent me on a few lengthy routes to line me up facing the right direction. I became quite frustrated and in all I lost a good 2 hours and cycled that extra 10km. 

Finally I got onto the Bridgewater Taunton Canal trail. This canal was the start of a project to connect the Bristol Channel to the English Channel. Never completed. Again as I neared Bridgewater I dropped down onto its trail.

Soon after Bridgewater I spied the Mendip Hills ahead lying between me and my destination for today. They would have to be crossed. Nicely enough the old road availed of a gap and weaved it’s way through with no serious climbing involved and soon I was dropping down onto Winscombe. In this gap the M5 veered off to the west and left me to enjoy the silence of the countryside.

In Long Ashton (suburbs of Bristol) I went in through the ornate gate into the large park ‘donated’ by the Smith family instead of paying inheritance taxes. It holds a significant balloon festival each year. 

Exiting the park (including the stiffest climb of the day) I was straight onto the Clifton Bridge completed in 1864 across the Avon Gorge. It has a span of 214 m and is 75m above the water. The first modern bungee jump happened here in 1979. I have cycled under it twice but this was my first crossing.

This brought me to Clifton Village an old and affluent suburb of Bristol built by the profits of the tobacco and slave trade. Also my location for tonight. 

I arrived in just before 6pm after a long day on the road. Have a good appetite now. Tomorrow will be shorter anyhow.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.