With just a few days together it’s already feeling like a potted adventure, with the very best experiences from a full ride crammed into a bitesize trip.  The Californian ride may have its Goldengate, and Australia its Sydney Harbour Bridge, but bathed in sunshine the Severn Bridge looked just as good.  It heralded a trip up the Wye Valley, with tight and flowing turns leading us through dappled sunlight and autumn trees to Tintern Abbey, and morning tea in the sunshine.

After a short break there we continued to Symonds Yat.  The girls rode beautifully and in no time we were sitting having lunch by the river in the most peaceful little hamlet. Thanks to the guys at the Saracens Head who gave us a donation.  But bikers beware of the guy at the canoe club who insisted on charging us for parking the bikes.

While we were there a couple pulled up on a bike, and a few of us were drawn to the cutest pair furry boots with kitten heals.  The woman wearing them was on a birthday trip treat, having been diagnosed with bc a year ago. The connection was immediate; we wish her well, and hope that meeting us lot has in some way been a positive part of a Happy Birthday.

We were having such fun, and such good food, that we didn’t move on till after 3. A short hop back via Gloucester and we were back at base for an evening of raucous laughter which looks set to continue.