Day 4 - Cheddar to Home

*Pic - The boys crack the 100mile

The day started abysmally with the BBC announcing severe weather warnings for the immediate area - and they were not wrong; torrential rain, wind gusting to 50 mph and the temperature only registering 7C. After consuming one flapjack (we were too early for breakfast) the boys set off to be faced immediately with a long steep climb of over a mile over the Mendip hills. Could the day get any worse ? Reaching Bristol we managed to get lost on the ring road, the only solace being that now the route was going to exceed the 100 miles a huge milestone in cycling terms, like running a full marathon. On leaving Bristol, the weather started to ease and incredibly a patch of blue sky was directly overhead. The wind was strongly in our favour and the pace was incredibly fast averaging over 22mph on the flat. The lads managed to keep under this patch of blue sky almost like riding a wave for over 60 miles until Evesham. Just before Evesham the rain came down and it was time to stop to eat the first real food break for over 6 hours. We had lunch in a pub and had the Sunday roast. Simon managed to fill his plate so full that you could literally not get another pea to balance on the plate. As Evesham is about 25miles from home, Simon a.k.a. 118 turned up with his boys to lend their support. The rained eased briefly and a decision was made to carry on to Alcester, this was very familiar to all as it was training territory for all of us and the final leg no GPS directions were required.

At Danzey Green the magical 'Ton' or 100 miles was broken in the pouring rain. Only 5 miles to go to the finish at the Bluebell. Arriving at the junction of Cut Throat Lane we were met by 2 bikers from the Bluebell who escorted us all down to the Bluebell where all the friends and family had gathered including a big banner for a fantastic and emotional return. Rupe was there with a fantastic roast and all the kids collecting coins for the |charity. Total mileage 104 miles, a mammoth day !

GPS track of Route