The once again "later than planned" arrival last night encouraged the team to go for an early start - that and there being no breakfast in the YHA that we stayed in, and the promise of "Sandra", a mobile physio we found on t'internet last night who will be waiting at the hotel at 6.30pm. Looking at the amount of knee strapping this morning, it would seem that "Sandra" is very much required so a quick dinner and lights out for the agreed 7am start which for Mark B would actually start at 3am as he leapt naked from his bed and fair old ripped the door open and ran off down the corridor. In the morning he was heard telling the story about a dream that he'd locked all the team and the bikes into an elevator and had to get us all out - fortunately it was only a dream :-) So here's the team ready to depart at 7.40am - Uncle Jim found himself a bike and considered risking "a leg"' but the owner soon stopped that, and anyway who could fill his shoes as lead driver and motivator. Ahead another 110 miles and the local church for inspiration - "St Mary's of Hope". The bike wheels turned, and Jogle8 rolled forward and turned right; the lead out van's wheels rolled forward (now sadly behind the bikes) and turned left (the correct way) and Jogle8 was lost a mere 30" after starting! The church motto rang out true "St Mary's of Hope" - or as Jim said "better look sharp tomorrow, they might get lost getting out of bed"!

Breakfast was a fine affair at a road side pull in - breakfast barns all round. Injury list is mounting with Chris (knee), Ste (knee & Achilles), James (knee), Mark W (knee) plus sore derrières all round was making me feel quite guilty as I tried to administer ice packs. The thought of it being "all down hill from here" was tempting me to make my return, but apparently there was some steep up "all down hills" to follow, so had another cup of tea instead - tomorrow's another day; plus "getting lost in Bristol" was just around the corner.

The pelleton got to ride through posed beautiful countywide; posed for a photo outside Tintern Abbey, and then on to the 7th Road Bridge in some freezing conditions. It was just as the support vehicle had cleared the bridge that Mark W reported a slashed tyre so it was back across the road bridge and a £5 toll charge - apparently you only pay to go into Wales which is somewhat ironic!

But the early start had proved a point, and with only 38 miles left to the hotel at lunch stop (post 3pm as is the norm) and an early arrival was finally on the cards - where Sandra was waiting.......

Day 6 stats run as follows: Miles covered = 112; Saddle time = 8 hours 42 mins; Time on road = 11 hrs 41 mins; Average speed = 12.9 mph.

Punctures 1 (see above); Fallers 1 (not including Steve P's jaw as naked Mark sprinted by); Injury count lots (see above) Brandon 8 42 12.9