Monmouth to Clun

June 14th 

This was to be the shortest section of the whole trip described as easy/ moderate. Well I didn't find it easy or moderate. It was very lumpy and started with a steep climb and ended with a vertical climb. 

River Wye Hereford

Up at 7.00 breakfast at 7.30. on the road for 8.30 all was fine until I got to the centre of monmouth and no signs to Hereford. after a few false starts I foud the "footbridge linking classrooms of the Haberdashers' Monmouth School for girls" and followed the instruction to continue to ascend for 4 1/2 miles to the radio mast at Llancloudy. So much for the easy day.It did get better and half way to Hereford I came across a lady cyclist of indeterminate years who was making decent progress. When I caught up with her I asked her where she was going and it turned out she was going to Hereford (on my route) We got chatting and when we stopped because my chain had come off for the second time of the morning and the fourth or fifth altogether, we played a game of "guess where my accent is from" She thought I was Irish and I thought I heard a hint of German. I was right. Pass Go collect £200. When we hit the A49 a fast dual carriageway into Hereford where I was able to go faster on the downhill sections because of my droop handlebars so I didn't see her in Hereford.

Riverside Inn Aymestry

The navigation around Hereford was reasonably straightforward but thereafter it was a fairly lumpy up followed by level followed by up and so on. Nothing too terrible just NOT FLAT. The traffic was fairly busy but gave me generous space. 

I met no cyclists or anyone else for that matter  until later in the afternoon. In Wigmore two volunteers were teaching the p7 children how to ride their bikes on the road. One of the instructors asked me about my trip and shook my hand. He asked me if he could ask how old I was. I guess because I was making such slow progress up the hill into town.

Cycle Safety

Another solitary encounter was when I stopped to photograph an incredible yew hedge in Brampton Bryan. A blind lady was passing me guided by an alsatian labrador cross. I asked her about her dog and we got chatting. Brampton Bryan was a picture postcard village unlike most of the places that I passed through today.  Little of interest and few photos.

Incredible ancient yew hedge

The White Horse Inn in Clun is very lively and they brew their own beer in the back garden. Today was the least interesting day so far but I am here in one piece. My confidence was boosted by a cycling couple from York who are staying in the hotel tonight. the husband had done and end to end last year supported by a company which transported luggage etc. We got chatting and when I saud how old I was she exclaimed "NO WAY!" I like this Yorkshire lady.

View from the top of THE hill

For those that like to follow the route log in to Strava and follow me to see the detailed route.