Brother Giles (sibling as opposed to holy orders) has pointed out that Wem is in Shropshire not Herefordshire. I thought maybe A.E. Housman was associated with the town but it seems not. Look up his poem 'A Shropshire Lad' and all the sources kick off with the 'fact' that he never set foot in the county before writing the poem. They then riff on his penchant for not letting facts get in the way of a good story (an early Trump?), quoting examples such as a reference to a steeple on a church that has always had a simple tower only, and similar others. Which to me begs the question - if he exercised his poetic licence that much, why do they believe the not-visiting-Shropshire part? No satnav or GPS then so he could easily have taken a few sneaky rides round the county any time. Talking of which reminds me of a certain bike-ride that is subject to modern technology and consequently auditable from top to bottom.
The pub didn't do breakfast until 9 so they knocked up a couple rounds of sandwiches and some crisps - for 2 quid! - and I left nice and early for a full English in a friendly cafe (please bring your bike inside sir) - in Shrewsbury, lovely town, see pics. On the way I got into a surreal dance with the local binmen in a little village out in the wilds. Having got stuck behind them in a narrow lane I stopped to answer a phone call from Darren F, and they came up behind to empty some bins, then overtook me but actually parked right next to me so I couldn't hear a word, this being otherwise in the back of beyond.
The rest of the day was relatively incident free, apart from a detour to avoid road closures for a level crossing upgrade. And what countryside! Into the Shropshire hills at All Stretton then Church Stretton, and a quick stop overlooking either Wenlock Edge or possibly the Long Mynd (pic), then through green, tree-lined valleys and typical English fields to lunch in gorgeous Ludlow next to the castle. More country lanes to Leominster, then, railway detour apart, a final stretch into Hereford, an interesting cathedral city, and the huge, imposing if slightly tatty Green Dragon hotel.
Giles turned up around seven at the bistro where I was already ensconced and later read the hotel history - Edward IV stayed here when Earl March - and the hotel still has WW2 armour plating from when it was an air raid shelter for the town's residents.
A great day's ride in all and only a little unexpected rain in the first hour. Tomorrow promises more of the same, down to Tintern and Monmouth. If you don't know this Welsh border country, come and see it, you can't beat it.
The pub didn't do breakfast until 9 so they knocked up a couple rounds of sandwiches and some crisps - for 2 quid! - and I left nice and early for a full English in a friendly cafe (please bring your bike inside sir) - in Shrewsbury, lovely town, see pics. On the way I got into a surreal dance with the local binmen in a little village out in the wilds. Having got stuck behind them in a narrow lane I stopped to answer a phone call from Darren F, and they came up behind to empty some bins, then overtook me but actually parked right next to me so I couldn't hear a word, this being otherwise in the back of beyond.
The rest of the day was relatively incident free, apart from a detour to avoid road closures for a level crossing upgrade. And what countryside! Into the Shropshire hills at All Stretton then Church Stretton, and a quick stop overlooking either Wenlock Edge or possibly the Long Mynd (pic), then through green, tree-lined valleys and typical English fields to lunch in gorgeous Ludlow next to the castle. More country lanes to Leominster, then, railway detour apart, a final stretch into Hereford, an interesting cathedral city, and the huge, imposing if slightly tatty Green Dragon hotel.
Giles turned up around seven at the bistro where I was already ensconced and later read the hotel history - Edward IV stayed here when Earl March - and the hotel still has WW2 armour plating from when it was an air raid shelter for the town's residents.
A great day's ride in all and only a little unexpected rain in the first hour. Tomorrow promises more of the same, down to Tintern and Monmouth. If you don't know this Welsh border country, come and see it, you can't beat it.
Photos (in reverse order...)
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Blue re membered hills
11:33 - probably the only reason Dad didn't pop in here for a swift one
Selfie £2 lunch
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