WGC to Wem

The plan was to cycle from my house in WGC with College friend Nigel to Worcester, our College in 1971, and then on to his house in Cuddington, Cheshire.

A bright and very breezy August moring saw us pedalling into the wind, which continued in our faces almost all day. Mid-morning tea and cake at the Bridgewater Arms in Little Gaddesden was most enjoyable and a prelude to the gorgeous views to be had up to, over and past Ivinghoe Beacon. On through lovely, sunny Buckinghamshire countryside via Mentmore and Wing to discover a great little tea shop in Stewkley.

Continuing via Winslow and Twyford we called it a day after 73 miles in the attractive village of Duddington, where we managed to find a room in a pub/hotel. Day two was through hilly but beautiful north Oxfordshire but we were still cycling into a steady wind. The Lygon Arms in Chipping Camden served us tea and cakes, and thus fortified, we continued west through Elmley Castle and Pershore, veered south-west to cross the River Severn at Upton and then travelled the last flattish miles to Malvern Link for two nights at a spa with our wives. The warm, bubbly water certainly rejuvinated those weary thigh muscles and good food at the Abbey hotel in Great Malvern. We passed on a cycle ride to the summit of the Worcester Beacon. Been there, done that already!

We had a good look round our old College at Worcester, including a visit to one of our old rooms, and Trish found her dissertation in the library. Disappointed with the Student Union - clean, no darts, table football or pinball - it's certainly not the holiday camp that it was!

Cycling Day 3 took us through Hallow and skirting Stourport to Bewdley for more tea and cakes! On through Bridgenorth and Ironbridge, around the Wrekin with fine views all the way. By late afternoon we are looking for somewhere to stay. The countryside in the north of Worcestershire and up into Shropshire is truly beautiful with hardly any population and that's the trouble. There are not many places to stay and the Shrewsbury Flower Show aficionados have taken what few beds there are.

After 73 miles we pitch up in Wem. A rockabilly place, as you can see from the photo below, and no room at the inn for us. It's too far to get to Cuddington before darkness and so we call it a day - train to Shrewsbury and then on to Chester. A kind of failure - Nigel reckoned that we should have booked accommodation in advance - a fair point!

The rain was hammering down in Chester so the venue for the celebration party the station bar. The beer was tasty ebnough and chats to fellow travellers provided additonal fun. The girls picked us up after having watched As You Like It in their cagouls!

Well worth it, thanks Nigel!