Day 50 Weston Super Mare to Bath - ride total 3,710 k, 23,387 m

Dogs. What is it about the English and their dogs that makes them want to take their dogs with them everywhere they go? It's beyond me and I have been a dog owner.

It takes a lot for us Kiwi's and me in particular to come to grips with a dog being taken into a shop or on a bus or train but over here that is simply common place, likewise at Pubs and Cafe's people will march in with their dog in tow or be sitting at the table having a pint with the dog beside them. Then if there is food involved of course the dog must be fed some chips of the humans plate!

So, imagine this if you will. This morning we were sitting at our table at the New Birchfield Hotel overlooking the swimming beach at Weston Super Mare - I say our table as there was a seating plan on the card at the dining room entrance and the Hotel is one of the grand old ladies of the era from 100 plus years ago. Then in walks a chap his Alsation dog and his partner! Really!

Well when in Rome do as the Roman's do goes the saying and clearly this is my problem (the blessed dogs everywhere) - However I was very pleased to see the young Hotel Manager step up and inform the chap that the dog is not allowed in the restaurant. Yay.

But then he puts it back on her where can he go for his breakfast? Really?

Chris's fix was simple - put the bloody dog outside or in the car perhaps - or even back in their room. I mean, really, how hard can it be? I think in the end he, hsi dog and partner all went and ate outside.

So, after what was a nice breakfast, albeit a bit later than our usual it was off to load the bikes and head out of town. The route today took us through up and down  the Mendip Hills so was a bit up and down with lovely hedge lined lanes to ride on. The lanes are barely one car we in places in fact we see quite a few 6'6" (1.95 m) signs so there is definitely no space for two small cars to pass and at times not even space for a bike and car to pass. Toady there were a couple of instances of cars havng to back up so others can manouver past them.

We came into Bath on an old railway line and about 3 km's out we stopped at a pub that must have had about 30 bikes lines up (that's a cue that it must be reasonable) and yes it was and for lunch today it was a simple pizza.

We couldn't check in until 3:00 p.m. so de-bagged the bikes, popped them down in the cellar placed ourselves with our gear in the bar waiting for 3:00 p.m. to come around (about 40 minutes).

A pleasant dat weatherwise it was for another short (57 k) ride.









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