159 – Bristol Harbourside – Caldicot Choir

Sunday, 17th April 2016

https://www.facebook.com/events/704492466357206/

Distance: 64 miles – Difficulty: 3/5

What a special ride, it had everything; thrills, spills, great weather, fabulous company, wonderful coffee stop and quiet lanes!

Five riders made the start at the Choir Hall, and following a ride through Crick and Mathern, taking on the steep Dark Hill, three more riders joined the band at the Motorway Slip-Road in Chepstow. The route from there took us across the Old Severn Bridge, onto Pilning and Easter Compton. Through the lanes and cycle paths onto the industrial estate at Avonmouth before following the A4 Portway, marveling at the Clifton Suspension Bridge before arriving at the busy, and very sunny Harbourside. Cakes, burgers, toasties were washed down with Latte’s and Americanos, being thoroughly entertained by the Dragon Boats, and replica Galleons plying their way through the bustling waters of the docklands.

The return journey started without fuss, but when we reached the road closures just before Pilning, all hell broke loose. Because of the diversions, we were completely lost in an industrial estate, we could see where we wanted to go but there appeared to be no road to it. Eventually, after two crashes caused by water bottles and clips, a bridle-path was found that took us to Easter Compton although another crash happened negotiating a gate. The Severn Bridge was now on the horizon, but unfortunately the lanes around Pilning all look the same, we seemed to be heading for it and then found we were further away from than when we started. With a visit to Olverston and Northwick, we finally got to Aust and the Severn Bridge and home. What started as a 50 mile ride became an exhausting 64 miles, but at least the weather was good to us.