The cold is getting old

Morning everybody, firstly I'll apologise for the slight delay in getting this done. I felt good last night and had the time, but I simply didn't do it before I went to bed.

I checked out of Stratford upon Avon college a little bit later than expected, due to seeing out of the window and not really being inclined to freeze, but I got going eventually. From there it was a pretty simple 8miles to Alcester for Nick Skelton's second post box...

Following a slight detour I got myself back on track taking some country roads through to Worcester, through Malvern, who had an unappreciated welcome for me...it's a big hill. I'd seen the hills on the horizon a few miles earlier and just knew that I would be going up them! From there it was a fun, if freezing, decline to Charlotte Dujardin's box in Newent, Gloucestershire...

The next target was Cheltenham for Alex Gregory's box, about 17miles away. Annoyingly enough this took me onto my first busy A-road of the day, but it was only for about 6miles so wasn't too bad. I found his box after a little minor messing around (one way system in a place I don't know)...

After that is was a matter of phoning my hosts for the evening and making my way to their house for dinner. Dave and Dee, my sister's fiancé's parents are great, very friendly and very accommodating.

I spent a bit of the evening contacting people for the next few days to confirm accomodation and company en route and it looks as though I'm good up to  Newport, Wales. Waiting to hear back about that, need to find somewhere in Weston-Super-Mare and Okehampton and then I'm golden to Penzance!
I'll be staying over in Penzance on the Friday night then getting the train back north on Saturday (I wonder if TCAA would donate the train fare or a helicopter ride for me? - I have put in quite a lot of effort suppprting them after all)!!

Today's ride is my longest of the challenge, about 95 from Cheltenham to Nailsworth then Ampney St Peter, from there to Henley on Thames before ending at my sister's place in Reading. Long ride but pretty flat...except the first drag up to Nailsworth!
Let's hope I get a bit of warmth today!

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