Oxford - Reading

Good nights sleep, great hotel in Oxford, breakfast in town next to Queen's. Left 11ish and arrived 3pm. Stopped in Dorchester to see the Abbey, once the centre of England's largest diocese, now a very small village. Great building with interesting wall paintings and wonderful Jesse window. The later not stained glass, but the figures depicted in the stone tracery of the window. The organ looked as though it had recently been restored, but no information! Usually amount of Anglican rubbish cluttering a otherwise beautiful and very large space. 14th century bells were a joy to hear, apparently legend has it that they drive the snakes away........

Lunch at a lovely pub in Woodcote, just an omelet and salad! Then a rainy leg to Reading. Trip to the laundrette, also some ear plugs, Canon J is quite audible at night!! Off to explore Reading.

Gloucester - Oxford

Left at 10ish after a lovely breakfast and arrived 3.3opm via cycle shops, motorbike accidents and all sorts. All safe and well, my chain became tangled, whilst I was sorting this out there was an accident about 200 yrds from me. I saw a bike and a man literally flying through the air. The bike ended up in a tree, the lad on the verge. Amazingly he got straight up, police and ambulance came. Very lucky to be alive.

Just heading into Oxford to soak up some architecture. Had a good walk around, blagged our way into Magdalen, great chapel. Supper at Quad, great food mmmmmmmmm.....

End of 2nd Stage

Hereford - Gloucester

Early to rise attended 8am Eucharist and the Dean saw us off from the Shrine of St Thomas, with cards of greeting to the Deans of Westminster and Canterbury. Eventually left Hereford at 1.15pm. The back up bike we were going to take, Peter's, had rotten tyres. Well after a trip to the cycle shop I had a new helmet, new huge pump, two tyres and loads of inner tubes!

Lunch at Dymock and arrived at Gloucester at 3.45pm, not bad for 30 miles or so. Headed for the Cathedral and then to St Paul's Vicarage, where our friends Ricarda and John are putting us up. Heading out for supper.

End of 1st Stage

Ludlow - Hereford

After a busy morning, last Sunday of term, valedictions, promotions and two services, including blessing of Canon J and I, I left Ludlow at about 1.15pm. Feeling brave I headed straight down the A49 over Dinmore hill, not as bad as I had anticipated. Had a spot of lunch with Canon Jeffry (my side kick and tech support) at Dinmore services. The heavens opened with vengeance, not the outpouring Fr James had prayed for! Slightly scary moment after descending the other side, driving rain, actually slightly painful on the eyes, an on coming car overtook at high speed and poor visibility, headed straight into my lane and the moved over to try and knock me off the bike!! Was he drunk? I don't know, but it was scary, missed me by a few feet.

Arrived at about 4.15pm, enjoyed Gin, Roast Lamb and one or two glasses of red.

I need your money.... please....

One of the main points of this pilgrimage is to raise funds for the Vision Project at St Laurence's. You can find out more about this on the church website. If you'd like to sponsor me, cheques can be sent to the Treasurer of the PCC (payable to Ludlow PCC) in an envelope marked 'Cycle Ride to Canterbury'. The address is


Parishes office
2 College Street

Ludlow

SY8 1AN

Thanks

Not long now!

This is what it's all about really. A beautiful church, in the heart of the Shropshire countryside. First day is on Sunday. After the morning services, I'll be biking from Ludlow to Hereford. Wish me luck!