The day started with high spirits after an amazing nights sleep at a friends house in Bristol which we were extremely grateful.
We then set off through the maze of Bristol and finally made it on to the A38 towards Taunton. Setting a very good pace along the flat with a lovely tail wind yet again. Into the north Mendips where the top speed was reached by Rich of 53.4mph.
We then got into Bridgewater before midday where we met another friend at a supermarket stop on a search for yet another strapping device to fix another breaking body.
Simon then reminded us that there was actually quite a long way to go. So back on we got and back to our flying pace as we have now worked out how to work as a team and be efficient. After Taunton we turn and start aiming south west towards Bude still with 70 odd miles to go. Sadly the route comes close to Exmore and thus hills are in abundance. As we head up one the all too familiar smash of Charlie's bike as her deraillure snaps off again.
Solution Tom & Rich peg it the 11 miles back to Taunton and pick up the part and back to the now slower group and replace the part so Charlie has some gears again. HOWEVER, Rich's bike died as we got back into Taunton, this resulted in 1 hours labour done for free I might add by the guys in "the bicycle chain" in Taunton.
Result was that at 5pm Tom and Rich had 80miles to go with some of the hilliest terrain yet, Tom & Rich were still 25 miles out when night fell and the cold set in. The final straw was getting a puncture at 11 pm after 14 hrs in the saddle. For some reason this really put the bit between our teeth and the last y miles were knocked out in a flash even if Tom was having his drowsy moments from the antihistamines.
We finally got in at 11:30 and it was great to see the team waiting up for us with copious amounts of cheesy pizza.
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