The days cycling from our hotel in Tintern did not start well. My knee was very sore and we were both tired from the previous days efforts. To add to the problem Ruth had only got one small cup of tea at breakfast and no one had come back to offer any more drinks or toast. Bad way to start... Half a mile from the hotel we crossed the Wye and immediately had a massive climb out of the valley on steep narrow roads with high hedges either side. After grinding our ...

The train for London arrives in 45 minutes time. Thankfully, after days of plotting and packing, we will be on our way. Who would have thought it would take so long to pack so little?

Ruth and I decided (over a number of beers in the Wrekin Tap) that, rather than a relaxing holiday in the sun, this year we would spend two weeks cycling a bicycle made for two the length of the UK. This is the first time we have done anything like this, and we are thoroughly underprepared for 1000 mile or so trip but optimistic and up for an adventure...