Four Bridges...

Our bikes spend the night in Bridgend Wetherspoon's conference room. We depart at 7.00 once we have manhandled the bikes down in the lift! The early start means missing the rush hour and the Olympic torch melee as it will be running right past Wetherspoons! Coastal mist stays with us all the way to Cardiff, where we find a very accommodating 'greasy spoon' for brekkers. Refuelled, we head on eastward towards Newport with its unique Transporter Bridge. I stop to photograph it, the lights change to red, and so Mike gets on board just as it is departing and I dont. The operator kindly waits for me saying as I get on "your husband offered me money to leave without you" - as if!
On the levels after Newport, we pass a pair of Mute Swans with a family of 4 cygnets. They are the first we've seen this year and hope there are some to greet us on the Exe.
Next we whizz over the Severn bridge. I look down into people's gardens. How awful it must be living right under this terrible noise. In centre span we can feel the bridge flexing.
On the busy dual carriageway just into Blighty a car pulls over, the driver very excited to talk as he is planning to cycle end to end. Then it's onto the sweeping Avonmouth Bridge, with the thundering rush-hour traffic alongside the cycle track. Nearing Clevedon a cycling commuter wants to talk too, with the unique chat up line - "what an attractive front brake system you have!" We finally reach our friend Mike's house for a welcome coffee, shower and delicious evening meal.


Tour miles to date: 995

Location: Bridgend to Clevedon