The weather was forecast fair and indeed it was, although much colder than of late and I was well wrapped up in bib tights and knitlock jersey when I left at about 11am, seen off by Annie and Jim.

I was feeling good, no real niggles and the bike was performing properly with no skipping gears.  The Boardman 8.9 E is now about 5 years old.  I’ve had it for four and the previous owner bought it new from Halfords.  As I do about 6000 miles a year on various different bikes, I guess I’ve done about 20000 miles on it, as it is my main bike.  Like Trigger’s broom it’s had pretty much everything replaced at least once and before I left I put on a new chain ring, cassette and chain and, after a lot of fettling, it now changes gear on command and so far hasn’t missed a beat: probably the kiss of death.

I had a short climb up a steep pitch and used the motor but after that I cycled all the way to the foot of the Quantocks, about 40 miles in, before I fired it up again. I took a route much travelled, across to Podimore, now the end of the latest upgrade of the A303, not yet finished but it won’t be long before traffic is able to zip along and then through Long Sutton to Langport.  About 5 miles into the ride, I realised that I had left my waterproof overshoes at home and debated whether or not to ring Jim and ask him to meet me en route but decided I could probably buy some on the way.  There was no need of them today but the next couple of days promise rain and my cycle shoes are like colanders: cycling with an inch of water sloshing about inside your shoes is no fun so I definitely need something to keep my feet dry.  There is a shop in Langport that hires out bikes to cycle the Parrett Way but no overshoes available.  Not to worry, I was going through Bridgwater and found

A good choice of Endura and I chose a pair with a ticket price of £43, which didn’t seem unreasonable, so imagine my delight when I was given a 15% discount: sorted for under £37.  This had taken me a bit off route, but Rita managed to get me back on the canal path, that I should have travelled, without difficulty.  I was told to turn left off the canal path and found myself in the middle of a street fair, all sorts of fast food and a giant funfair.  It was slow work pushing the bike through the crowds, but I finally reached the end of the stalls, stopped to ask an official what it was all about, to be told that it was Bridgwater Fair, an annual event from Wednesday to Saturday, that has been running for 300 years.

I was now on a very quiet country lane, heading for Spaxton and then the Stoweys where I hit the Quantock Hills.  I’ve climbed it from the other side, trying vainly to beat Crowcombe Hill, every time having to GOAP, but never with a motor to help me.  It’s not quite so steep from Over Stowey and with the motor it was pretty easy.  I managed the two mile climb and was then faced with a choice: either go down Crowcombe and join the A358 which would have taken me all the way to Minehead, on a narrowish road with a lot of traffic, or embark on a cross country track of unknown surface which would take me to West Quantoxhead, Watchet and Blue Anchor.  I should have chosen the former but presumptuously decided I could manage what lay before me: ouch, the stone track was rough, shaking the poor bike and I was lucky not to come off on a couple of occasions.  Two and a half miles of it, up and down.  Great on a mountain bike with no extra weight but with two heavy panniers it was no fun.  The upside was beautiful views of the Bristol Channel, on a day when I could see across to South Wales

At one point I looked down on the Nuclear Power plant being built at Hinckley.

And shared the road with some equine friends

After wondering if the bike would take much more I was back on asphalt at West Quantoxhead and made my way swiftly downhill to Watchet, which, I suppose, is really the start of my coastal journey

The road to Blue Anchor was closed to cars because of a landslip but I was able to climb out of Watchet and over the hill to join the coast road through Blue Anchor at the end of which my map showed a coastal trail to Minehead. Down some steps and along the shingle possibly, but I could not see a proper track so had to make my way up a sharp hill to join the A358 an hour or more later than I would have done had I gone through Crowcombe.  From here there were cycle tracks, past Dunster Castle, all the way into the centre of Minehead and I easily found the Duke of Wellington Hotel where I had a room booked.  I was able to leave the bike in the beer cellar and struggle my way up 2 flights of stairs with panniers and bike battery.  Still, I made it.