Day 4 - 23rd May - Glastonbury to Monmouth

Ended up cycling 70 miles and 2,300 feet of climbing - while it was much less climbing than the previous three days it didn't feel like a piece of cake.

The morning was overcast with some light drizzle before it became hot and sunny later in the afternoon.

All went ok initially and managed to cycle through a film set (only a cider advert) in Axbridge before the Shelve Shute tunnel threw my GPS off. While being pretty sure I was ok route-wise, I cycled  off along the Strawberry Line for a mile or two before I noticed an 'off course' message on the GPS. After yesterday's carrot cake curved ball, it was a case of re-trace until  course located again but to cut to the chase I then ignored it and went back to the tunnel. The Strawberry Line cycle way was sign posted to Clevedon which was my first target so headed off again. I reset the GPS after a while which thankfully saved the data (hence, route record for today is in two parts).

The cycleways were great to get off the main routes. Heading through Avonmouth prior to crossing the Severn was particularly unscenic. The bridge crossing itself was a major milestone in the journey by which time the sun had re appeared.

Chepstow was afternoon break which necessitated losing a great deal of height then gaining it again with stomach loaded with cheese toastie, flapjack and coke. It was hard graft out of Chepstow and past the horse race course but thereafter it was stunning along the Wyre Valley. The roads were gently rolling and decent condition and would be even better on a road bike. Tintern Abbey was bathed in sun shine and it wasn't long after before Monmouth was reached shortly after 5.

It was another 7 hours plus in the saddle. The knees were feeling slightly warm and wearing both pairs of cycling mitts prevented any soreness in the hands which had been growing the previous day. So another day ticked off and onward north to Bishop's Castle the following day.

The day's route is shown via "Relive" below-

part 1

Part 2