Ralph Cox•Follow

August 16, 2022

Corner to Corner, Day 16: Wellington to Cheddar

https://www.cycling4charity.org.uk I used today's route and our progress along it in Komoot and briefly used the route on the Wahoo Bolt to guide us. Need only change the section from the River Parrot to Locks Way, replacing it with the route down, therefore optimising quiet country lanes over a modern estate and a busy trunk road.

White Horse, Bradford on Tone. I had stopped here with 2 others cycling down to Devon in 2007 or 8, remembered the building, not its name or location, so was happy to rediscover both.

St Giles, Bradford on Tone.13th century.
https://bradfordontone.co.uk/church.php

Bridgwater and Taunton Canal during a short period of light rain. Our route mirrored (the reverse of) the way down from perhaps 2 miles before Bishop's Hull to the road system after Somerset College of Arts and Technology. We crossed the River, turned right at the Ale House then left on Canalside Road bringing us to where the canal joins the river. The route was fine, except for the bit from the River Parratt to the Locks Way, which will be replaced with the route down in reverse. The current version goes through a modern estate then busy trunk roads, rather than more of the River, country roads only, Chedzoy and the other villages.

I took this photo to record tractor tyre marks on Both sides, only for one to turn up and us squeezing ourselves and the bikes against one side for it to pass.

More records of muddy roads

North Newton has a super emblem. The preceding muddy roads were close to the route to the canal we took in Week 1 from the Walnut Tree Hotel to the North Newton Bridge on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, and which we almost completely replicated in reverse. Leaving North Pemberton without a coffee, I stopped at a petrol station for one, till Lorraine suggested it was unlikely I would like its coffee if indeed it had any. A few minutes later, a Costa came into view. Hurrah. A long chat with one couple about what we are doing, and a shorter one with Duncan, owner of Corner to Corner upholstery cleaners. Sarahjayne and Colin, who married yesterday, started their honeymoon at the Blue Mantle B&B we stayed at in Wellington and kindly donated £20 on the spot after a brief discussion having seen the back of my jersey.

Locks Way - from Bawdrip to Cossington. Formerly part of the Somerset and Dorest Joint Railway. Closed in 1954. https://www.bawdriphistorygroup.org.uk/railway-trail-route-3/

Still Locks Way

More muddy roads, Cossington

Brookhayes Farm, Bell Lane, Cossington. http://www.brookhayesfarm.co.uk Farm and B&B @ £40-45.

River Huntspill, man-made in 1940. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Huntspill

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Flat straight roads further than you can see.

Wedmore, maybe 4 miles from Cheddar. I had been thinking about an egg and watercress sandwich on soft bread for an hour, so stopped here for sustenance: Cranberry and brie sarny instead with tea.