European Bike Trip Pg 3b

     The route I chose the next day was based soley on whim- at each
intersection [these were all small backroads] I chose the road that looked
the most intriguing (providing it didn't seem to head Back Where I Had Been)

Alfred's Tower


That method proved quite rewarding, and accentuated the feeling of freedom I
always have on a bike trip.


 Towards the evening, however, I began to consider
where I was going to stay. By placing some phone calls, I found out that all
of the near-by hostels were full.
Because of my budget, I didn't want to stay in any more B&Bs, so I asked at a
couple of places for a place to camp. A man at a petrol station was so
forward as to ask me if I was one of those hippies attending the rock
festival- so that was why I was having trouble finding a place to stay! [I did
look rather like a hippie- full beard and long, bushy hair.] I ended up a
B&B:*

A hedge I saw on my way:

My bike in a little village of roses:

Wednesday, June 20, Somerton
     Very nice people at B&B- served me tea and cookies in front of TV,
discussed my plans, vague as they are. I talked about visiting Kumar [an
African friend from college] on Jersey Island- they made it clear that it
would be impossible- all transportation is booked up for months in advance,
because it is a very popular vacation spot, and, on top of that, the Queen is
going to be visiting there soon, making it all the more difficult to get
there.
Thursday morning- its pouring out, but the people here are letting me stay
until later- I'm heading for Crowcombe. Street and Cheddar hostels are full
through the weekend. *My direction of travel was thus west rather than north-
towards Cornwall rather than Wales.*
Thursday- Crowcombe
A beautiful hostel locale- at the foot of the Quantock Hills between Taunton
and Minehead. Glad I was at a B&B last night- it was pouring until around 11
this morning. It rained some while I was riding, but it was beautiful this
evening. Plans ucertain for tomorrow. Full hostels are a problem, have seen no
campgrounds.
*I ended up letting the wind decide my direction of travel the next day- north
to Minehead, a short ride, but very nice on back roads. The Minehead Hostel
and its surroundings compelled me to stay two nights- the only time besides
London and Paris that I stayed anywhere more than one night.

June 30, Friday, Minehead (Alcombe)
     Another beautiful locale, tucked back into the hills along a bridle path.
A beautiful day, took a couple of nice walks at Selworthy and Bossington along
the Bristol Channel-nee' Severn River. Saw Wales, a hang-glider, fantastic
views. Bat's Castle at Dunster (was closed, however.)
    Saturday morning - went into Minehead last night with three kids from near
London and one girl from Virginia Beach. Had a pretty good time.
    Saturday noon- despite the nearness of thousands of tourists, a short bike
ride and walk brought me to a deserted rocky beach about 1 1/2 miles from
Minehead. It is a misty, cloudy day.
There are no signs tourists ever frequent this spot. All is muted colors-
mostly grey. The hills rise up behind me, rocky crags appear among them and
their trees and moors. A sailboat is anchored off-shore bobbing in the waves.

Far above and down the cliffside, a farmhouse is seen, standing watch over the
channel to Wales.
 As I climb back up the hill from the beach, and look back, I see things I
hadn't noticed before. A man busy on the deck of the sailboat, preparing to
sail, porpoises jumping, and cattle around the bend, by a pool at the edge of
the rocky beach. Signs of active life intruding on the perfect "still-life" I
had sat amongst earlier. The mist is clearing as the wind came up. The stacks
of the steel mills at Barry, across the channel in Wales, can now be seen,
dumping refuse into the air. A small fishing boat chugs around the coast,
heading for the harbor at Minehead, where high tide was approaching (at low
tide, boats in the harbor loll about in the mud, sitting at crazy angles,
awaiting the tide's twice daily reversal.)

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