It's not every day you meet a cycling legend, but this morning we stumbled across 77 year old Bill Best, by the road side trying to repair a puncture. Bill's cycling accolades include competing in the Milk Race, winning the London to Brighton, cycling 4500 miles across America and riding every Alpine Pass featured in the Tour de France, then riding 700 miles home with a leg broken in 3 places. He's also completed our LEJOG challenge, but also rode back the other way, all in 12 days. He really is the Yoda of cycling. He completely put us to shame and once we'd patched up his wheel, it was a pleasure to ride for a few miles with him.
The action came thick and fast with our first crash coming soon after - Greg falling foul of an awkward gear change and coming off as he was attacking a hill. Now Greg can proudly show off his very own LEJOG scar. Two other minor falls gave Greg his hat-trick! Today also saw us tick off our third county as we powered into Somerset. Our lunch break gave us the chance to sample the local Somerset brie as well as the cricket teams, who were playing in their beautifully quaint pitch in the valley bottom, surrounded by fields and complete with babbling brook.
A final push after lunch up the steepest hill we've seen gave us stunning views from the top of Exmoor over the Bristol Channel to Wales. We'll pass the 200 mile mark tomorrow as we reach Bristol and it really feels like we're getting somewhere now!
Looking good, guys (and support staff!).
ReplyDeleteNot far now - just over the hill, but enough references to your Dad!
Keep pedaling. The beer is waiting.