Day 6 - Chew Magna to Gloucester

We started at 9 am and limped into Gloucester at 8 pm - 63 miles today (and 150 stops to read the map says Vanessa).

The day started with the obligatory high hills and beating sun. I covered myself in half a jar of sunscreen. The route we chose was a bit complicated and as a result it took us longer today. But the scenary was beautiful!

Steve's always happy near a railway track

Liz has been on Brian's mountain bike for 2 days now and she is amazing - no whinging, she just gets on with it. I can tell she is suffering sometimes but she never complains.

The other person who never complains is Hugh. The rest of us are whingers.

When all hope looked lost we stumbled into a splendid pub in Ham called The Salutation which has just won Gloucestershire Pub of the Year Award 2010. The landlord opened it up especially for us (we looked that desperate) and supplied us with tea and thick cheese and onions sandwiches. Once revived we headed off again into the searing sun.

 

At the pub.

Ten miles later Graham got a puncture. Luckily I had a spare inner tube that fit his tire, because his spare was flat!

 

Fixing Graham's puncture.

 

While the men fixed the bike, Vanessa and Liz had a nap.

We finished the day by cycling on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal towpath. It was 16 miles long and it took us almost 2 hours. Steve may never recover (we almost lost his friendship!). The path was bumpy, rocky, craggy and slow - but ever so beautiful!

Please tune into BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire at 10:10 am to hear me give an interview about our charity cycle ride. Let's hope we find a quiet cafe on route which has mobile phone reception before 10 am.

Tomorrow is our last day, which is somewhat bittersweet. We all want to finish and yet the journey has been so wonderfully memorable.