I start the day feeling good. Rob and Dave are joining me so I wait for them in the hostel front garden, getting my bike ready for the ride. I used to share a flat with Rob and his girlfriend Sarah in Edinburgh and am looking forward to catching up. By perfect coincidence, Rob arrived just as I discovered the first puncture of my trip. I said hello and gallantly stepped aside to let him change the inner tube, I did make a half hearted attempt to pump it up but, in the end, let him do that too.
We set off up the rest of the bloody hill (no idea what it is really called) and headed out of the city. After a little foray into the back lanes of Somerset we tired of sudden steep evil climbs and made our way back to the main road. Rob navigated and I luxuriated in following along without having to worry about where we were. Rob and Dave had been warned in advance about my slow pace so Rob waited at the top of hills for me and Dave just cycled up and down them a few times (too much energy if you ask me). By the time we reached Wells for lunch I was beginning to catch up with Rob at least. We had a good meal in a pub that Dave knew that had something to do with Hot Fuzz before setting off for a look around.
The rest of the journey was fairly even free. There was far too much photo taking for my liking, especially photos of me grimacing at the top of some torturous hill. We stopped every now and then to look at the view or to check the route and by the time we made it Bridgewater Dave had decided that a 50 mile ride just wasn't enough and so, set off to Bristol armed only with the knowledge that it was that way ->
Rob and I cycled the last 5 miles to Cannington, I checked in and then we had a drink in the bar catching up on each other's news and watching a rather inept barman try his best to change a light bulb. He left to catch a train home and I had a pleasant enough meal whilst reflecting on the final part of my journey - I can't believe there are only 2 days left!
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