Distance: 92.3 miles
Miles to Go: 552
Average Speed: 13.5 mph
Time in Saddle: 6 hours 48 mins
Lunch: The New Inn, Baschurch
Route Profile:
Report:
Today was a day to test our mental as well as physical endurance! It all started so well as well.....it was our first gloriously sunny day. As we left Leominster, we headed out through Cobnash through Wigmore, Leintwardine and Purslow towards our mid-morning break at Eyton.
Unfortunately, the wheels quite literally started to come off about 10 miles short of the scheduled break point, coinciding perfectly with rain...one group somehow ended up missing the support van completely, and the other strayed from the route and ended up in Bishops Castle, about 5 miles due west!
Shortly afterwards, during a particularly aggressive descent, Rich somehow managed to get his rear derailleur caught in his rear wheel, sending him into a violent skid. Rather heroically, Rich managed to control the skid and avoid causing a rather nasty accident. However, his bike was completely destroyed and the support crew were called upon to come to the rescue to switch him over to a spare.
We hit our lunch time spot at around 2.30-3pm & had a much needed re-fuel. Lovely to see Olive Durnall & Dillon (Mark & Stella's dog) who came along to wish us well.
Conscious that we still had another 40 miles or so to see off after lunch and with the clock ticking, we set off at 3.30 pm to head towards Chester.
The afternoon was pretty flat, weaving through lanes from Baschurch to Ellesmere, skirting past Wrexham (through the Wrexham Industrial Estate, passed the Durnall's factory....Mark took the opportunity to say hi to his brother Garry, and to use the facilities!) and on to Chester. Both groups arrived between 6.30pm-7pm - exhausted after day 5 - which proved more emotionally than physically tough. Good to see Garry Durnall and family, who all popped by to wish us well.
After a good meal, motivating team brief (accompanied by a couple of bottles of red wine) we all headed to bed.
County Check: Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Gwyneth & Cheshire.
Wow sounds like you guys had a tough one yesterday and massive well done for controlling that skid Rich, Rafa would be proud!
ReplyDeleteHalf way there then, keep up the good work. We wish we were still there, though easy to say that as I sit at my desk!
Lots of love and luck for Day 7 from Sam and Team B x
ps Wrote a blog for my web site. it's no masterpiece but hopefully will raise awareness amongst the readers. Everyone thinks I look special needs in my white helmet, haha
http://coolermag.com/blogs/sam_haddad/pain-is-inevitable-suffering-is-optional/
Sounds as if you are having an interesting andchallenging time! We are enjoyimg the Blog very much. Keep up the great work for such a wonderful cause. Good luck Jane and richard
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