Day 7

Day 7 presented us with our longest ride so far - 83 miles. The day started with a mixture of sunshine and showers, in a ratio of about 25% sunshine, 75% showers. The route took us around Hereford, via Leominster and through some classic Herefordshire and Shropshire farmland. Undulating fields of yellowing wheat were interspersed with fields of satisfied looking sheep and cows grazing on the lush grass (its all the rain). We rode past countless old English "black and white" houses and farm buildings and the sight of buzzards soaring over the fields was another theme of the day.

As the morning wore on the rain started to increase but we were eating up the miles and by the time we got to our lunch stop at Bishop's Castle we had already completed 45 miles. Rembering the advice of our Nutrition Director we had to take on fluids of course, and the oldest licensed brewery in the UK - the Three Tuns, seemed the perfect place. The Shropshire blue cheese in the ploughmans kept up the local produce theme but the spotted dick and custard for pudding made it a bit hard to get up the first hill in the afternoon session.

The rain cleared up while we ate lunch and we had a dry final stage of the ride through Montgomery, Welshpool and on to Oswestry where we were greeted by a special banner and an even more special LeJog mince pie!

Special thanks to Nan and Grandad for a lovely welcome, meal and beds for all - what luxury.