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Full sun this morning. Oiled the bikes and plotted a new course for the day.

We had been planning on a ride through the forest but the trails were waterlogged and boggy.

 

The new route took us west and north to South Gorley for an early lunch at Hockey's Farmshop and Cafe.

This was still within the national park so there were ponies, donkeys and cows on the road.

We passed through Fordingbridge without stopping, very busy wee place. Up hill through Damerham and in to rolling hills with crops blowing in the breeze.

 

We stopped in Martin chatting to a retired Royal Navy Captain then continued over the hill to second lunch and some BCQs at Broad Chalke.

We finished the day with a ride by the River Ebble then over the hill to Quidhampton then Salisbury.

Found the B+B straight away, well done Andy!

Mileage 34.

 

 

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Nice and sunny in the morning, we threaded our way through Salisbury on to NCN24 where we made rapid progress west as it stayed near a railway and river.

 

We decided to stick to the cycle route and not waste time on detours, the only real problem was a lack of cafés.

The puncture wasn't a problem.

We decided to stop at the first place we saw after noon but it was after 1 when we found a transport café near Frome.

Transport cafés have come on a lot over the years.

In the 80's you could have bacon or sausage in your roll, now it's as big a menu as the village café where the genteel retired folk go.

 

The food was great as it happens and we were soon on our way heading north to Bath. We went through two railway tunnels, one over a mile long.

Cycled through Bath and up the big Borthwick Hill stopping only to dive in to Tesco.

Calum chased and caught a mountain biker on the way up to the hostel.

Mileage 54

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Nice sunny morning, whizz back down Borthwick Hill in to town and followed well signposted NCN4 to Bristol.

We left it at Morrison's to shop near Bertie's house then went to Bert and Sally's for lunch.

Rode to station, long train ride home,

Calum driving to Inverness.

Mileage 19