I am with family.

One day to go
Miles Travelled: None
Time in saddle: None
Overall distance…same as
I slept in a B&B last night and it was really nice. The lady who owned it gave me a discount for the room, which was really nice. I met Geoff this morning just over the ‘English Bridge’ in Shrewsbury for coffee. Geoff found me on the Dawes web site and started following my adventure as I started training. He has been an avid follower and supported me all the way. …Cheers Geoff It was great to have a chat today. I have met such lovely people on this trip, at home especially and it’s made it all worthwhile.
I hung around waiting for my two brothers and sister in law to come and see me. Shrewsbury is a beautiful town with so much history. It is something that we probably don’t appreciate, a shame really because it is on our doorstep. Ironically I have been drinking in pubs that are older than Europeans have been in America….which would impress some of the people I have met. Kevin, Marie and Gary finally showed up and we met on the ‘English Bridge’, which is quite ironic. It was fantastic to see them. Gary, my twin shook hands, that are as emotional as it gets with him, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. He rang me more than most during my trip to ask if I was OK. We have always been close, but in a laddish sort of way. I got a hug from Kevin and Marie and it was unbelievable. We went for something to eat and had a scream. It was so lovely to chat with family. As I have said so many times …family are so important. Like all families we have had problems but it’s right what they say” blood is thicker than water” and that is important.
I hung around waiting for my two brothers and sister in law to come and see me. Shrewsbury is a beautiful town with so much history. It is something that we probably don’t appreciate, a shame really because it is on our doorstep. Ironically I have been drinking in pubs that are older than Europeans have been in America….which would impress some of the people I have met. Kevin, Marie and Gary finally showed up and we met on the ‘English Bridge’, which is quite ironic. It was fantastic to see them. Gary, my twin shook hands, that are as emotional as it gets with him, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. He rang me more than most during my trip to ask if I was OK. We have always been close, but in a laddish sort of way. I got a hug from Kevin and Marie and it was unbelievable. We went for something to eat and had a scream. It was so lovely to chat with family. As I have said so many times …family are so important. Like all families we have had problems but it’s right what they say” blood is thicker than water” and that is important.
We’ve booked into a hotel and we are all going out for a drink tonight. I have not drunk so much for quite a while…I can see a late start tomorrow. I only have fifty-three miles to do to get home. I will probably do thirty to forty miles tomorrow and leave the last ten miles until Saturday. I will be cycling down the A49 tomorrow. I can’t tell you how many times I have thought about cycling down the A49. There were occasions when it kept me going and now it is happening…..fantastic. I feel as if it has all been a dream. It will take a while to sink in I suppose but as far as I’m concerned I’ve just been cycling…Ok it’s been quite away but that’s it. Nothing like our guys and girls in Afghanistan….just remember that.
Tomorrow I will have to see Gary, Kevin and Marie off until Saturday. I know it probably sounds a little daft but it will be quite emotional. I don’t want to ‘let the side down’ and get all ‘girly’ but we will see. I’ll let you know.