June 24th bridgewater - Yate

First 7 miles were flat but then came the Polden Hills. We struggled to the top; a car was stationery - as we got to it a lady driver jumped out and gave us £5 for BCC ! We then cycled across the Somerset Levels - rather Fen -like but hedged fields with numerous dairy herds with drainage ditches. Got to Cheddar and met a couple who gave us £5 donation. We drove through Chedder - rather tatty and touristy and then we were in the Gorge itself. We managed to cycle all the way up - at one point definitely mind over matter as our calves ,in particular , were burning. It was a great cycling day although quite hot, particularly this afternoon. We are not drinking enough water - urine very yellow! and this morning I had a headache which immedialty disappeared when I drank water and had something to eat. Whilst we had stopped for some water a cyclist,who had cycled past us, came back and wished us all the best. He had no money with him but wanted us to know his mother had died of breast cancer and thanked us for riding in support of breast cancer research.. Had glorious 5 miles ride along the Bristol - Bath Railway cycle way - part of the route runs alongside an old functioning railway. It was very well used with cyclist and walkers and very well kept .We got lost several times again today so we ended up doing 64 miles and not 50 miles as our cycle route suggested - the route directions are pretty poor. We had decided not to get our gears sorted out by St Johns Cycles as we were nervous that they could be made worse; perhaps we will sort them out before our long trip next year.
Mid afternoon someone from The Railway Arms, Yate telephoned us to say our bedroom had been flooded! However he had fixed us up to stay at The Bell, Chipping Sodbury - another 1 1/2 miles! However the hotel, really a pub, seems just fine. Several times on our trip the drag brake has proved invaluable - once to stop us colliding with a car coming up a very steep hill; other times just slowing down eg. dropping down from the Mendip Hills to the Chew Valley Lake.
Room was not ensuite ; only twin beds; road was noisy and breakfast was greasy. However last nights meal was ok. May have paid twice - so will investigate! Yesterday as we cycled along a cyclist coming from opposite direction yelled' are you going all the way'? (64 miles)