The Final Countdown

Well we made it to Crediton, and we have just one day left.

Somehow we clocked 161 miles, although I think the original route called for 154. The first few were over rolling hills, after which we joined the A38 which was pretty flat and we added 73 miles in the first four and a half hours which took us to Bristol.

Bristol is the biggest city on our route, and it took a whole half hour segment to get across it, leaving by the Clifton Suspension Bridge before descending the next 20 miles or so to Weston-Super-Mare, where we faffed around the sea front before settling on tried-and-tested Tesco for lunch.

The next section was OK at first, but as we approached Taunton I was feeling pretty empty. This quickly becomes annoying due to the lack of speed that can be attained up hills, and the poor acceleration from junctions and summits. This then deteriorates to a sense of wanting to stop, and of being angry (for me this was directed at the GPS device, which didn't seem to be working properly causing numerous missed turns).

Eventually something clicks and all emotions and pain disappear. The only thing left is the knowledge that you have to get to the end, and that means to keep the legs movin, however slowly. Eating, drinking and rest breaks become instinctive. It ceases to matter how far there is to go. It's a very calm, very focussed state and it's only after that it becomes clear how tiring it is.

I've experienced this before, on the Bob Graham Round where not long after half way I knew we would finish so long as we just kept going, even though there were still 10 hours to go.

Well we now have 10 hours of cycling to go, and I know we can finish. Hopefully we can take things a bit easier given the shorter distance tomorrow (125 miles).

P.S. Sorry for the lack of photos from the last few days, will definitely get some tomorrow!