............ Lands end to John o'Groats cycle ride 2014 .........: Day 6, Friday 5th September 2014

Bath - Orcop

There we were keen to be off as usual running late at 9:10, up to the main gate

ready for our group photograph

Group photo done were were off only to discover in the 50 yards from the tent to the gate Jo had picked up a puncture in her front tyre. Below a handy water tub to help locate the puncture, even though we put in a new tube you still have to locate the puncture incase the cause is still in the tyre.

Puncture mended we made good progress with sustrans head quarters Bristol the cycleways are many and in great condition, we followed the Bristol & Bath Railway for around 15 miles all off road and through pleasant surroundings.

Bristol & Bath Railway

The old sidings

Great cycleway and very well used

Warmley railway station cafe looked very tempting,

some amazing structures along the way

15 foot tall pencils for example

we found an old railwaymans hut for lunch with an absolutely beautiful view

pretty soon we were approaching the Severn Bridge

We followed the cycle ways until in the distance we saw the towers of the severn bridge starting to appear in the distance, as we approached the bridge from a side road we came across two transit vans of police men all wearing light blue baseball caps, we rode onto the bridge deck through a pedestrian gate manned by a policeman he seemed to be watching cars going over the bridge. We stopped for photos below is Jo T smiling for her photo on the Severn Bridge.

Below Jo T not so happy after a lorry went passed and the bridge deck moved.........

Jo T staying close to the handrail.

Andy still laughing at jo T

Jo W with Jo T who wouldn't move from the handrail

Andy with a view of the other Severn Bridge

Jo W and Beaky taking a selfie

Photos taken Jo T, Jo W and Beaky set off Andy waited to get a few shots of the bridge

Photos taken Andy set off to catch up, as he approached the middle of the bridge a policeman stepped out and stopped him and asked why he was taking photos of the bridge. Andy explained he was riding from Lands end to John o'Groats and the photos were a record of the journey, "do you have any ID on you?", "no" replied Andy desperately checking his pockets, The policeman took his details and passed them over the radio for the checking, as he did this Andy looked down and the policeman was stood in the middle of the Severn Bridge in his socks, he explained the NATO summit was being held in Cardiff and president Obama, Chancellor Merkel were crossing the bridge and he was there for 12 hours a day. Name check cleared Andy was allowed on his way, He thought of asking for a selfie with the bootless copper but thought better of it and went on his way to catch up with the others. Catching up didn't take long as a policewoman had stopped them at the end of the bridge asking if they knew him and let them know they had detained him temporarily.

As we approached the roundabout at the end of the bridge police outrider sealed off the outrider and several cars with blacked out windows drove past, We rode on our focus on the sign for Wales another milestone.

Andy & Jo T surprised to be at the welsh border so quickly.

Beaky and Jo W on the Welsh Border

Jo T with a plaque for the opening of the Severn bridge.

Excitement over for the morning we rode on for a few miles looking for a place to stop for lunch when we came across Chepstow racecourse, so we pitched up at the burger van ordered a brew and sat at his tables to enjoy our lunch.

While we are riding Lynn and H move all of our gear to the next campsite, set up the caravan to feed us, go get the shopping almost daily as we didn't have a lot of storage space, and time permitting they pitch our tent before starting to cook our tea.

Here they are on a rare occasion having a rest and a well earned brew just before we arrive.

below you can see Lynn and H have the table and chairs ready for our arrival, ready for firstly our recovery drink (chocolate milk shake) and then a hot cuppa.