Bike Route: Newcastle-under-Lyme to Shrewsbury 53mi 1400ft of climb
Accommodation: Room with a View, Close to Town, Breakfast Included (Airbnb); host Sophia
Dinner: The Peach Tree. Focaccia with oil and vinegar, wild mushroom risotto, Peach Tree Caesar salad with chicken. Excellent.
At breakfast, our host's young daughter was the server. She must have been about 13, dressed in her uniform ready for school, and she was thoughtful and careful and had the most wonderful smile.
Many miles to cover, but no real climbs, almost all on dedicated bike trails and little country roads. The weather was perfect again, low 70s and sunny. We arrived in Shrewsbury just as our host was getting out of her car across the street. Sophia introduced the family dogs, showed us where to store our bikes in her back garden, and led us up to our room at the top of the house. It had been her oldest son's room, and pictures of him in school, textbooks, and clothes in the wardrobe gave us little hints about the years he had spent there.
Sophia suggested a few restaurants for dinner. We quickly showered and put on walking shoes, and headed down the road toward the center of town. We got to the first of her recommendations, walked in, sat down, and ordered. The two entrees we wanted were not available. We chose new main dishes, sat back, and just enjoyed whatever came our way.
Back on the streets, we headed to Shrewsbury Castle, knowing it was closed for the evening but thinking we could at least walk around it. There was not much to see, and the website didn't give much information other than describing a military museum on the site.
The evening light was golden and soft, the half-timber buildings reflected the glow, we wandered the narrow streets until we were tired, and then we followed our footsteps back to Sophia's house.
There, we met Gavin, Sophia's fiance; her youngest son; and her son's friend. Gavin operates a vineyard and formerly lived in Zimbabwe. We talked for a while, then continued on to our room at the top of the house.
Another good day.
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| Looking up while eating crackers, cheese, and grapes at a picnic table on the trail. |
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| Usually, we just see squiggles like this in our RWGPS and Wahoo maps. I think this is the first time we've found a sign to help cyclists navigate the complicated maze over and around a busy intersection. |
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| View from the entranceway to the castle, looking back up the street toward Shewsbury town center. |
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| Half-timber houses in the evening sun. |
