Pain Pain and more (wet) Pain

We started off from South Mouton in high spirits but soon they were dampened - the first 6 miles were straight up into a foggy, wet sky - with inclines up to 25%. Even dragging the bikes up was an ordeal. And standing still required all brakes  activated or we would end up in a heap at the bottom.

We struggled on for about three hours through this miserable scenery - the visibility was 0 , but the scenery may have been lovely. We never saw it. And then the rain came. After three hours we had covered 18miles or so. We stopped for tea in Withypool - we tried to offload the bikes but the pretty young lady turned us and them down so we carried on. Next stop was tea rooms in Bishop Lydeard - lovely chocolate and fruit cake surrounded by garden ornaments, ladies outfits, bags etc (well the shop was "eccentric"). The climb out was absolutely awful  even the locals warned us and they were right.  By now  we had given up getting rid of the bikes  and we travelled on to Bridgewater where we decided that the CTC route (Climb to   Climb? Con the Clowns? Suggestions please ) and we took the A38 towards Bristol. we made it to  Felton where we checked in in a wonderful old pub, with. High quality beer, Butcombe's Bitter - absolutely excellent - hoppy and all you want in exchange for a bike. The food is great and we have decided to carry on. Tomorrow it's Wales!!!

We have considered joining the Ramblers organisation but they will probably turn us down!

By the way  - today's illustration show some of our wet gear and my great DVT stockings, kindly provided by Sister Lesley, in order to reduce the post exercise edema and squeeze out some more rainwater.

Ah, here comes Paul with another beer....