Day 3 Morton Hampstead - Glastonbury

"This is another hard day with a few long climbs & careful navigation required. The terrain is easier than the 1^st two days but your legs may be tired so it can feel like a long day"

Ernesto entering Henbury

Escape from Devon did not prove easy after the morning briefing we set off downhill for about 100m. Then as might have been expected we hit a hill. In the first 1.7 miles there was a climb of almost 450 feet. The univited appearance of hills  was to continue to be the case the rest of the morning. 

Exeter was busy and had confusing navigation before it ejected us back out into country lanes. Lunch was taken early (11:45) in the delightful village of Henbury. Refuelled we left to attack "Stafford Hill" when asked what it was like the barman answered; "Its so steep that tractors struggle to get up it". He could have added "There's a clutch repair centre at the top". It was longer than expected and steep .

Having summited the road was idyllic lined with trees and for a while flat and fast. Without any fuss or notification we entered Somerset.

 It seemed for a while that we might be able to put to one side our obsession of "steep tarmac admiration". A terrible affliction that requires the cyclist to slow down and admire the texture and intricacies of near vertical black stuff, the steeper it is the longer the time that has to be given to its study.

Sadly the Somerset Levels aren't and sucessive long climbs into Street and finally Glastonbury followed. 

Glastonbury is delightful (if a little whacky) without a single clone shop in its High Street.

Some of the Papworth "Team"

In the end we arrived at 16:20, others took another 2 - 3 hours and are having very long and tiring days.

Stats the Garmin will speak for itself.    The maximum speed was achieved courtesy of a glorious hill from Corfe to Taunton