Another brevet completed!
A 400Km return trip from Chepstow to New Quay, Wales.
After watching the Royal Wedding (Kate’s looked stunning) I set off to Bristol were I stayed in a Travelodge just across from the Severn Bridge. £49 pounds for one night.
Horrendous quality. Stay away. But, on the bright side, the bed was clean and the shower was warm 
Woke up at 5am drove to Chepstow where around 100 riders had gathered to conquer the penultimate “brevet” necessary to conquer the chance to be Paris Brest Paris. A very windy day with chilly winds coming from the north. I had never ridden in Wales so I was looking forward to exploring this part of the world.
We all set off at 6am and once the sun was up the day got much warmer and I could remove the several layers of clothing I had put on.
Beautiful sceneries and quiet roads made the ride very enjoyable. It was actually fun for the first 200km. Then we reached New Quay and the 235km mark. I stopped for an Apple Pie and Custard (I had stopped several times for food and a little rest ) but then was confronted with a brutal vertical climb out of the city and at the 300km mark at around 9am we had to go up a 10 mile climb.
As night descended all the clothes I removed had to go back on. This is were you experience several stages of mental crises. WTF am I doing here, I’m tired, I’m hungry, I’m cold, my hand my ass, my neck my legs HURT. But the quickest way back to your car is by bicycle so you keep going.
I trick my body to push further by breaking down the ride in sections and whatever the distance the last 50 are always the toughest. At 2am I was still pedalling in solitude and complete darkness as the temperature dropped to 2 degrees celsius. I could see the lights reflected in the sky in the distance so I knew the end was near.
The cherry on the cake was another tough and long climb followed by a not welcomed downhill to Chepstow were I managed to add 3km to the entire route by getting lost.
Finished a 3.20 am and tried to drive back home… soon I gave up on the idea and stopped for a nap at a gas station. Got home at 6am, 3kg lighter than when I left
