Day 8 - Stratford Upon Avon to National Forest

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Breakfast in the Travelodge and then on the bikes and we were off - a little later start today about 10am and to be honest the views and scenery not quite as luxurious as yesterday. In short the route we were taking was through the middle of the major conurbations of Birmingham and Coventry so whilst patches of good views, not really too much to report.

A little bit on Pat who I know through playing football for Polytechnic in London - I have known him I think since about 1986 so a fair old time and his enthusiasm for all things is to be commended and is catching.



I have a footballing friend called Pat

Who can swamp you with his chat

From family to politics he is very enthusiastic

Everything is real and nothing is plastic

And for this he should be very proud of that

(good cycling with you Pat,

especially on the downhill and the flat).



We pulled into Swadlincote about 5pm and whilst having a celebratory pint of beer at reaching our destination realised we were slightly off course and had to double back to get to our hostel. A very nice place but in the middle of nowhere so after a quick shower it was a taxi into the nearest town (Ashby de la Zouch) for a meal and then a taxi back for bed.

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