LEJOG Day 4
I had a great breakfast in the pub in Silverton before heading out towards Taunton. I have virtually given up on the Garmin being able to plot a route. The best strategy is to plot the route using Google Maps. I take note of the villages at key points, e.g. turnouts. I then use the Garmin to go point to point.
Failed Attempt to See the Australian Cricket Team in Action
The route took me into the hills nears Silverton heading towards the Grand Canal. For some reason you cannot follow the canal all the way to Taunton. The plan was to watch a couple of hours of Australia playing Somerset in their 4 day warm up game for the Ashes.
I arrived in Taunton as the rain started as a bit of drizzle. By the time I found the cricket ground, it had started to rain quite heavily. As I walked through the gates, the covers were being put on the pitch and the players had left the ground. The spectators were all leaving the ground and not bothering to the take pass out tickets. The Poms know a bit about their weather – there was clearly no chance of any further play.
What is it about me, canals and rain?
I headed out of Taunton on National Cycle Route 3 which follows the canal to Bridgewater. As I continued along the canal it started to rain more heavily. Fortunately, the tow trail had not become too muddy. This is in contrast to my first experience of a tow trail which was just over a year ago on the Kennett- Avon canal heading from Reading to Bath. For three days it simply pissed down with rain and the westerly wind (sometimes over 50 mph) was blowing in my face.
After about 30 klms, I arrived in Bridgewater. This place is proof that not all English towns are picturesque. This place has serious of the ‘Pararmattas’.
By this stage it had really started to piss down. Memories of last year. I headed on the main road towards Bristol before turning off on B roads towards Cheddar. About 3 miles from the town, there was a sign saying “Road Closed Ahead”. A very earnest woman under a huge umbrella stopped me. She told me that I would not be able to get to Cheddar due to the road closure. She then went on the give me the most convoluted instructions on how to avoid to closure. I was totally confused.
At the next intersection I asked a bloke who was crossing the road if I could get through to Cheddar. He looked at me as if I was stupid. “The road is closed for MVs. You’re on a bike”.
Another YHA
I arrived in Cheddar absolutely saturated. I checked into the YHA. The place is run by a young couple from Yorkshire. I think they are Bail Faulty’s grandchildren.
Garmin Link
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/334127427
Flickr Link
billrider2013 