Day  6 /16           Saturday.  Aug 26.

Hereford to Shrewsbury

Distance:        102 (Km) 

Time:       5:37

Average Speed:   18.1          (Km/ hr) 

Ascent:    689               (m). 

Heart Rate:          105. (beats / min). 

Cumulative Distance:  550           (km) 

Cumulative Ascent :           5666 (m) 

Punctures so far : 0

A relatively flat day, not dry and meeting up with an old buddy.

Up early, breakfast in the room and bike saddled up for the off at 6:45. I had a deadline to meet and I wanted to allow time for mishaps etc.

Returned to the cycle track that I came in on yesterday evening and within 3.5 km I had cleared the quiet  early streets of Hereford.

I spent a few kms on Hereford’s Roman Road of old, straight military roads built to last. Put down on a foundation of gravel and stone, cobbled or natural paving slabs, with a pronounced camber to drainage channels on either side and 13 feet wide. Some are preserved in this condition around Roman Britain.

Turned northwards through an agricultural area of grain and maize. Good views all about with little climbing to distract.

Some drops of rain flying about but not enough to need rain gear. But at 25km it suddenly got heavier and all protection was on. Luckily enough it cleared off quickly although rain was forecast for the area around noon.

I passed by the entrance to Hampton Court Castle a 15 century royal castle with spectacular gardens and a famous maze.

Passed through colourful Leominster, still very quiet and calm except for one lady driver shouting ‘Road Hog!’ at me on a short bit of a one-way street.

Soon I left Herefordshire and crossed over into Shropshire at Woofferton. Just before the village is the Woofferton Transmitting Station built during WW2 for shortwave transmission. In 1990’s it was privatised from the BBC’s World Service.

At 50km I cycled down into Ludlow once a walled town built around a hill. A really quaint town with over 500 listed buildings. I didn’t get a good view of the castle on the top but I cycled around just inside the curved walls. Ludlow is described as ‘the loveliest town in England’. A gastronomic centre with an abundance of antique shops. But I just had to cycle on.

After Ludlow my route took me onto the normally very busy A49. For long stretches I had the benefit of a cycle path, but parts I spent on the main carriageway were relaxing enough.

My target was to be at the Dragon Inn in Little Stratton at 1pm to link up with Alan Ferriday. Alan and I were part of the Cycle across America in 2008 and lives just about 30km from Shrewsbury. We had made contact over the last couple of weeks and he planned out a much calmer route into Shrewsbury than the A49.

We met in the Green Dragon ahead of the appointed time and shared cycling stories over pork pies and some shandy. By 1:30 it was time to move on (30 km to go) and we set out in pleasant sunshine with Alan leading the way. All was fine as we passed through Church Stratton with all its flags, but in All Stratton dark clouds moved in, rain gear was on and down it poured and poured. It rained for most of the trip into Shrewsbury. 

Some of the narrow roads we were on must have had a heavy downpour earlier on as any hollow in the road was flooded. Nothing for it but to plough straight through. Feet especially were soaked but energetic cycling maintained body heat.

Indeed Alan had designed a calm route into the city with very few turns till we arrived at Shrewsbury Abbey. From there on it was a matter of dealing with an intricate one-way system, many times over cobbled streets but finally Alan’s route brought us directly to the front door of Prince Rupert Hotel.

We were like two wet rats at this stage (2pm) and resorted to hot coffee to restore circulation. Spent another while chatting about this and that before Alan had to set out on a 30 km cycle home….at least the rain had stopped.

It was great to meet up with Alan again and I’m so grateful for his guidance on the approach to Shrewsbury. Thanks Alan; couldn’t have done it without you.

Once I had showered and recovered I had a bit of a stroll around the centre of the city. Some well preserved buildings along the streets and a bit of a buzz about with its Folk Music Festival for the Bank Holiday weekend.

An enjoyable day of cycling ( the first rain) and enjoyable camaraderie with Alan.

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