Day 5: Monmouth to Clun; an easier day up the Wye valley

Room 304 at the King's Head, Monmouth was a good room at this Weatherspoons. My wet washing dried fairly well, and is now getting its 2nd drying opportunity in Clun. Reception for WiFi was useless, so day 4 still awaits publishing. I hope to get the password at Thomas cottage, because my mobile has no signal. Perhaps Peak Tours ought to warn us about availability and connectivity of communications in our various accommodations en route? When.you haven't conveyed arrival after crossing Dartmoor, you can understand the family's concern.

North out of Monmouth we had 30 minutes of ascents, and then undulations. The sun came out and it was pleasant; the clouds then cooled us down again.

Our lunch was in an amazing Ye Olde Teashoppe in Pemberton - highly recommended! Enough said! If Sue is worried about our calorie intake being sufficient you have to see the lunch spreads we enjoy, and the elevenses and tea stops at the Peak Tours van, where we wolf down dried fruit, nuts, biscuits and bananas, as well as a hot drink and a top up of our water bottles. The organisation looks after us so well.

The day started just before 0900 with bike maintenance and checks before the briefing outside the King's Head. I had my front brakes tightened. I led the entourage uphill for the first few minutes. I'm the only one with a pair of panniers, but I have anything necessary for a weather change or emergency- typical or not?!

The forecast was for heavy scattered showers. As we left the lunch stop we had light rain for 10minutes and then cloud and sun with a following wind on the shortest distance day. I was at my billet by 1545 having missed the tea-stop. I have a single room tonight with ensuite, in a tiny cottage where you have to duck your head even if you are only 1.5m tall (5ft-ish).

Tomorrow is a longer day to Runcorn so we start at 0830.

Enjoy the last 2 days of blogs.