Stage 4: Bridgwater to Worcester
Onwards to Worcester
Distance: 107.75miles
Climb: 4,715 feet
Sweeping through the cities of Bristol and Gloucester, we arrive in Worcester having done three counties in a day (Somerset, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire) and with 25% of our total distance in the bag.
Today we're joined by more friends from Farnham, fellow cyclists and ski buddies, Steve and Georgie.
Fun Fact: Known as 'The Faithful City' due to the part it played in the English Civil War, Worcester is the birthplace of Edward Elgar.
Post-ride Debrief
After what we thought was a well-earned rest day it was back in the saddle for the longest distance stage of the entire end-to-end challenge. An early start was required for the epic 108 miles to come.
Heading out from Bridgwater we were soon cycling across the Somerset Levels spotting herons, hares and harriers as we went. The first 20 miles were pretty flat, but it was just a prelude to what Paul was later to say was the toughest climb he has ever done (and he’s conquered Le Col du Tourmalet and Mount Ventoux!)
Draycott Hill starts steep and just gets steeper. At times the gradient was well above 20% with little respite. In all some 900 feet of climbing in about a mile. Paul powered up the hill in true King of the Mountains style, but Richard needed to add a 100 feet sponsored walk to the trip. A helpful motorist stopped to tell Richard that he had never been able to cycle up it. He then attempted to speak to Paul but only succeeded in pushing him into the gutter.
With Draycott Hill now a painful memory, it was time to press on to Bristol for a lunch meet with the support crew as well as friends Caroline and Dave. Bristol provided us with a chance for some urban cycling, along cycle paths interspersed with multiple roundabouts. Lunch was taken in the glamorous setting of a Tesco Extra car park (double espresso surprisingly good).
Climbing out of Bristol we were soon in pleasant countryside. A chance encounter at a "road closed" sign saw us ride with Jenny who's studying for her PhD in Maths at Bristol University. Jenny’s specific area of study is Number Theory, but Paul and I only had time to understand that it didn’t seem to involve many numbers. Thanks also to Jenny for your kind donation.
Now a word of praise for the Victorians. Again, today we cycled along great former railway lines and canal paths. It may not have been the intention, but both these great feats of engineering have provided us with superb traffic-free surfaces.
Pressing on past Gloucester through more pretty villages and rolling countryside we made our rendezvous with Georgie and Steve who had come from Farnham to ride the last miles with us. We were also met by our support crew – on their bikes this time.
After a quick hydration in a pub - where a chap was also walking his goats - we made the last push for home. Lead out by our three female riders setting a great pace we travelled the last six miles at the back of a tight peloton.
It was a delight to be met by Tom and Hazel, Paul’s parents, and their friends Brian and Bev. Pub grub carb loading then ensued ahead of another day’s riding tomorrow.
In lieu of technical debriefs here is a thought about the weather. People say LEJOG is easier than JOGLE because the UK has prevailing south-westerly winds. Well for the first four riding days, the wind has been resolutely from the east, i.e., a headwind. So much for prevailing!
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