It's finally time to start this adventure!

The children are on hand to wave me off and the weather is unexpectedly decent.

The first stint is on familiar roads on the way to Bridgwater and the bike feels good and the riding is easy even fully loaded.

A quick blustety 20 mins on the motorway ( breaking the no motorway rules I know) and it's off on the A4 at Avonmouth to Aust. Never been this way before. It's very industrial and busy with lorries. I get my first van driver experience as I'm cut off at a roundabout whilst the driver has a phone held between ear and shoulder, a clip board in hand and music blaring out. No regard for lane discipline or other road users. Certainly worthy of some serious tutting from inside my helmet!

Road works slow me down somewhat on approach to the tolls. It's really busy with holiday traffic and several drivers are abusing each other through rolled down windows in the inevitable merge of lanes to the tolls. The bridge is down to one lane because of the winds so it's slow going.

It's on to Chepstow next and then Tintern. What a lovely road to ride, it's busy but overtaking comes easy even on the twisty bits.

The temperature has dropped a few degrees so it's time to put the KEIS X10 on low. What a revelation that is! It's a warm cosy electric blanket for the bike!

Monmouth next. It's characteristically busy and there's a 2 mile tail back southbound - good job I'm heading North! Before long Hereford is in sight albeit under a dirty big black cloud. Manage to get to the Three Counties Hotel with just a few drops of rain and it's not long until Razor arrives with his own set of stories for the first couple of hours of his trip.

A quick cuppa, change, shower and the first beer is in hand. This is quickly followed by a saunter into Hereford town for some carb-tastic food. Hereford doesnt seem busy for a bank holiday weekend but perhaps it gets busy after hours? Back at the hotel bar there is just time for a Sailor Jerry and that's it. Time for some rest to get ready for a big day tomorrow on the road to Lancaster.