Stage two: Tilston to Monmouth…’Sneakin’ Suspicion’

 I was reluctant to leave the oh so comfortable Carden Arms. They even tried to sort me out some breakfast early doors…I could have gone back to bed after it. No dice!

Did the job.

And away!

As expected, there was a headwind all day (aw diddums) and I had a few nav faffs before settling on a route. At least the skies were blue- more on that later, and the roads weren’t exactly busy.

Lovely stuff. Albeit up an incline!

Alright, I get the gist. Still gonna ignore it, hah-hah!

Why that’s my hometown!

So the southbound trudge continued: Shrewsbury was busy but looked pleasant…further nav faffs included. After that there was stretch of the A49 to survive before taking a wind into the countryside again…climbs were being felt. From there, it was a case of breaking the rest into stages…Church Stretton, Ludlow and Hereford.

Dunno wot Ernie The Fastest Milkman is in Welsh!

Er, no thanks.

No sh*t! There was a shocker outta town!

Ludlow lunch- a foodie haven apparently!

Regrettably the Met Office were bang-on with their estimate for when (not if) the rain would start…thankfully it didn’t get horrible until nearer to Monmouth…saturation point achieved!

Ludlow race course sorta crosses the road.

The Hereford Regiment!

Get in!

I found where tonight’s acco was and set-off for a couple of bonus miles…I wasn’t coming all this way and not stopping by the place where Wilko and Dr Feelgood had recorded. There was the sound of one band playing- a bit modern and alive for me though!

Never mind your also-rans like Queen or Oasis…

Not a vast amount happening…

Tonight’s crib: not a patch on last night!

Rehydration!

Tonight’s grub was Italian…was ready for it too. Thankfully it looks like tomorrow morning will be dry…hoping my gear is too! It’s gonna be another handful, but before all that happens let’s have the songs’n’stats. Have a good one and see you tomorrow!

It was 105 miles ekkkksually!

Okay, here’s the first choice and it was recorded at Rockfield…go Wilko!

And the bonus disc is to honour Ian Hunter: could only hear this as I trundled through Shrewsbury…he hails from around there. Perfection!