Day Twenty Three: Monmouth to Chepstow

Tell me Wye.

Right then, bit to discuss tonight. However, firstly I want to give a massive shout out to Barry and Rachel - the brains and muscle behind this. They put in hundreds and hundreds of meticulous hours before this absurd quest, ensuring it was even viable. Then during any typical day, they have driven, walked, ran, rerouted, been shopping, posted, led the peloton, photographed, filmed, dealt with divas and frankly utterly bossed this. Doesn't happen without them, doesn't even come close. Titans.

OK: today was all about the magnificent River Wye and the magnificent support posse. Staggeringly beautiful forests and a fabled river that is now virtually empty of game fish.... when will we learn?? Sue and James provided a lunch which should, on any normal day, have garnered the epicurean colours but Susan, Andy's wife provided a tea of such ridiculous splendour that the sugar rush propelled us to the finish early. Justin was stupidly fit, the troika of Charlotte, Laura and Nancy kept the peleton healthy and Powell and Mark were utter dons, but Powell has always been that. Andy, your chatter and support made a huge difference.

A number of people have been asking whether the fabled tiger tights will make an appearance on the last day ... now just what sort of a ludicrous question is that ... like I would have packed them for a month unused and just brought them out for a final flourish ....

A lot have also been asking about the finish line: Friday, The Celtic Ring, Tiger Bay, CF10 5BZ ~ 19.00 ... approx.

3 September today. War was declared on this day many years ago, my war with poachers and dealers and end users and and huge supposed charities that support trophy hunting goes on, I hope a few have been invigorated over the last month to think more militantly about these issues.
My mother was born on this day ... she loved walking, she'd have loved the Wye today, she'd have loved all of it ... and supported it too. Tomorrow ... 08.00 We've got this ... hopefully