Day 15 - Over the bridge and into Wales

                                          

The Avon from the cycleway running along the M5

I knew today was going to be one of the longer days on the Trail and I must admit to finding it the hardest yet. Starting in Tickenham, just near Cadbury Camp, an old fort in South Bristol, it was a day where I needed to bridge three rivers, as well as get across Bristol. This meant a lot of road walking and my poor feet are paying the price  - well, the right one is; the left one still seems quite happy with whole affair.

My route took me over and under the M5 three times and then I was walking alongside it for half a mile as we bridged the River Avon. As with most towns and cities, Bristol has its share of good and bad areas and I walked through a fair few of them. If you want some travel advice, give Shirehampton Social Club a wide berth. Walking past its beer 'yard' frightened me more than the lamb did the other day.

I met Phil in Henbury after 13 miles - sensational van parking -  and wasn't yet at halfway. By the time I reached the Severn Bridge to cross the Severn (obviously) and the Wye, I was over 20 miles. It is the first time I have walked the Severn Bridge and I found it a tad scary. I never measured its length but Liverpool v Arsenal was 0-0 when I started and Liverpool were two down when I reached the otherside. Mind you, the way Liverpool are playing, they could concede two goals whilst I was crossing Runcorn Bridge. (I know they came back. A bit).

It wasn't a windy day but the bridge still felt like it was swaying and shaking. It also made a ghostly 'whooing' noise as the breeze whistled through. Only one cyclist passed me during my lonely vigil and the Samaritans signs didn't help, either. Reaching Wales felt like a significant milestone but the signage (below) was a trifle underwhelming, to say the least. 

After 9.5 hours and 26.2 miles, I was reunited with my carer in Chepstow and transported to Innage Farm, a CL about a mile and a half south. There is no electric hook up so everything is working on gas, which feels like proper camping. The shower in the van was great. Unfortunately, we are parked at a slight angle so Phil had to fit in draining the shower tray in between making my meal and cleaning my boots...

On boot removal I had discovered a small blister on my right big toe joint and some dysfunction on my little toe. My nurse suggested that little toes are irrelevant and can be easily removed, so I have given him the rest of the evening off and have self medicated with compeed. It will be fine.

I am being joined tomorrow and for the rest of the week by Andrew and Steph Hill as we start our trek up the Welsh borders on Offa's Dyke Trail. Andrew will be walking through to Montgomery with me and it will be great to have some company, rather than me talking to my rucksack. Andrew is a birding expert, so am I expecting to be Bill Oddie-like come Friday (which reminds me I came across some lapwings today).

A slightly shorter day tomorrow at around 18 miles as we head to Monmouth. But the weather is taking a turn...

Croeso i Gymru!