JOG-LE Day 10 Chester to All Stretton 10/5/08

Last night the hostel was hellish, lights going on and off all night, noisy drunken locals and specially developed mattresses that were both uncomfortable and really noisy whenever you moved.

I never thought I would consider a 50 mile cycle a gentle day, but that’s what today was. Lance Armstrong had a mantra of ‘Never Look Up’, i’d disagreed with him thus far as through Scotland, The Lakes and Dales the views have been great. He was right though, today English (and Welsh) A roads aren’t any more interesting than looking at the tarmac underfoot.

Heading out of Chester towards Wrexham I soon crossed the border into Wales, as they helpfully translate every sign into English and Welsh.

I thought I could get a head start into learning Welsh, which is another of my challenges. My ability to remember any Welsh language thus far has been atrocious. the only word that seems to have stuck is anabl, which means disabled, and this is only as the girl I sit next to at work went to school in Wales and being called Annabel was mocked ruthlessly (the kind of thing you should never tell me). That said I think I have a new favourite word ‘Industrial’ seems to be spelt – DYLLDPORTADLLYNCHTPCH or something similar. From Wrexham the road to Oswestry went over a couple of huge bridges and back into England. I’d only ever been to Oswestry once before on a canal boat holiday along the Llangollen canal and I was very pleased to see that stretch of water again, as it brought back some fun memories.

The ride today despite being bland was all about memories, and it got quite emotional. I’m very aware that in 3 days time i’m going to visit the church where Richard is buried and I was trying to work out what i’m going to say to him. Thank you seems an odd opening but this year is about him and 10 years on he’s still giving me the best time of my life.

My ride today took me to Shrewsbury where I had to buy a new map as I couldn’t work out which road i needed to take to get to the hostel. Getting into the village I stopped at the pub which is listed as being closest to the hostel to kill a few hours, and write a few notes. The pub is lovely and I have booked to eat here later.

Weird thing today, my arms have bobbled up, despite best efforts with aftersun and lotions, i’m going to peel tomorrow. I need to get showered an changed, so I am going to go up to the hostel and see if I can get in early…

When I got to the hostel I had a shock, all of the beds seemed to be being used. The hostel is pretty tiny with only 10 beds.

I had the access code in my phone and the details of where I was supposed to be staying but, all of the beds seemed to be being used. I called the manager who explained there were only 8 others staying and they must have spread out a bit, but they would sort it when the group returned from their walk.

When the group got came back, they were really good about moving. After setting up my bed, I went back down to the Yew Tree for the reservation I had made. The guys in the hostel were also head down to the pub so we agreed to meet later on.

When they turned up, I was just about to be served and the group were told, the place was fully booked. I felt like the worst thing ever, firstly I had displaced a couple of the guys from their beds, then I preceded to start a great meal in front of them… The group tried to explain they had attempted to book a few days earlier and were told it’d be fine for them just to turn up.

All the time, I just felt worse and worse, and couldn’t really appreciate my meal. Eventually the group started to make alternate plans about a curry in the local town, when the landlord twigged what was going on, the pub had taken the call the week prior as a reservation but the men in the group had not mentioned the bunkhouse at any point and that was what their table had been reserved under.

Knowing they had been sorted I relaxed and made my way back to the hostel, this is where I realised i’d made a huge error. Before going out I had put my phone and I-Pod on charge. Unfortunately I hadn’t bothered to learn the code for the door before leaving.

I have a little party trick where I can borrow someone’s mobile phone and memorise a number at random which will stick for a few hours. Unfortunately I hadn’t ever tried to learn the number, just typed it into the lock directly from my phone. This meant I was stranded outside the building, I tried to force myself to remember, attempting to visualise what I’d done earlier – trying 3 or 4 different combinations, but none were right.

I started to walk back down to the pub to ask one of hte others the code, it’s stupid that something a small as this could have scuppered my ride, with all my gear trapped inside and me outside.

Thankfully when walking down I saw the Bunkhouse owners returning from a walk down the Long Mynd who were able to let me know the right numbers and I could get to my bed and some sleep.

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THE MUSIC

Don’t Be Shy – Tom Neville mix 3:50 Spektrum Rock The Disco(Disc 2) Electronica/Dance 1 10/05/2008 08:33

Don’t Cha (Radio Edit) 4:02 The Pussycat Dolls Don’t Cha (Featuring Busta Rhymes) – EP Pop 1 10/05/2008 08:37

Don’t Change Your Mind 4:37 The Broken Family Band Hello Love Alternative & Punk 5 10/05/2008 08:42

Don’t Get Lost in Heaven 2:00 Gorillaz Demon Days 3 10/05/2008 08:44

Don’t Get Me Wrong (The Pretenders) 1986 3:55 Lily Allen Radio 1 Established 1967 Alternative & Punk 1 10/05/2008 08:48

Don’t Go 3:44 Nouvelle Vague Bande A Part 2 10/05/2008 08:51

Don’t Go Gently 4:26 Four Day Hombre Playlist 37 Alternative & Punk 1 10/05/2008 08:56

Don’t Hide Your Heart 3:31 Lynden David Hall Playlist – April 05 2 10/05/2008 08:59

Don’t Hold Back (Sweet Jane) 4:16 Go Home Productions GHP Complete – CD08 The Bootlegs Bastard Pop 1 10/05/2008 09:04

Don’t Hold Back, Sweet Jane (Chemical Brothers vs. Velvet Underground vs. U2 vs. Sugababes vs. MARRS) 4:14 Go Home Productions Best of Bootie 2006 Mashup 4 10/05/2008 09:08

Don’t It Drive You Crazy 3:05 The Pointer Sisters The Trip: Tom Middleton [Disc 1] Electronica/Dance 1 10/05/2008 09:11

Don’t Leave Me This Way (A Tom Moulton Mix) 3:29 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes The Trip: Tom Middleton [Disc 1] Electronica/Dance 2 10/05/2008 09:15

Don’t Leave That Woman Unattended 2:49 The Broken Family Band Cold Water Songs 13 21/05/2008 08:43

Don’t Let Go 3:00 Weezer The Green Album 2 10/05/2008 09:20

Don’t Like Monday, It’s Friday (Club Mix) 5:30 Go Home Productions GHP Complete – CD08 The Bootlegs Bastard Pop 1 10/05/2008 09:26

Don’t Look Back Into The Sun 2:49 The View Radio One: Established 1967 [Disc 2] Alternative & Punk 2 10/05/2008 09:29

Don’t Mess With My Man 3:38 Lucy Pearl Lucy Pearl [Bonus] R&B 4 10/05/2008 09:32

Don’t Mug Yourself 2:40 The Streets Original Pirate Material 1 10/05/2008 09:35

Don’t Panic 2:17 Coldplay Parachutes Alternative & Punk 3 10/05/2008 09:37

Don’t Push 3:56 The Members Res:Erected Alternative & Punk 6 10/05/2008 09:41

Don’t Rhyme No Mo 3:45 The Free Association David Holmes Presents… 2 10/05/2008 09:45

Don’t Rush 4:17 Shy FX HMV Playlist – October 05 2 10/05/2008 09:49

Don’t Show Me How 3:50 Pink Grease Camden Crawl 2006 (Disc 2) 1 10/05/2008 09:53

Don’t Speak 4:39 Anna Maria Jopek Tom Middleton Presents Crazy Covers Volume 2 Pop 1 10/05/2008 09:58

Don’t Steal Our Sun 2:50 The Thrills So Much For The City Rock 1 10/05/2008 10:00

Don’t Stop 5:21 The Stone Roses The Stone Roses [UK] 1 10/05/2008 10:06

Don’t Stop Believin’ In Planet Rock (Journey vs. Afrika Bambaataa) 3:54 A plus D Best of Bootie 2007 Mashup 2 10/05/2008 10:10

Don’t Stop Changing, Man (MTV Mash) 2:45 Go Home Productions GHP Complete – CD05 The Bootlegs Bastard Pop 1 10/05/2008 10:12

Don’t Stop The Rock 4:50 The Chemical Brothers Dig Your Own Hole 1 10/05/2008 10:17

Don’t Tell Me To Do The Math(S) 3:20 Los Campesinos! Hold On Now, Youngster… Alternative & Punk 12 10/05/2008 10:21

Don’t Think You’re The First 4:04 The Coral Magic And Medicine Alternative & Punk 2 10/05/2008 10:25

Don’t Worry About It 3:42 N*E*R*D Fly Or Die Alternative & Punk 2 10/05/2008 10:28

Don’ts 3:29 David Shrigley Rough Trade Shops – Counter Culture 05 1 10/05/2008 10:32

Don’t Break My Heart – UB40 4:39 Scala & Kolacny Brothers Dream On 3 10/05/2008 10:37

Dony 2:47 Big Star Esquire Playlist Volume 3 Big Hits 1 10/05/2008 10:39

Door Game 6:39 Senser Stacked Up Electronica/Dance 1 10/05/2008 10:46

Doors vs Crystal Method 3:30 Doors vs Crystal Method Rich CD 2 1 10/05/2008 10:49

The Dope (Wonderful You) 4:39 The Dandy Warhols Q – Best Of 03 Alternative & Punk 1 10/05/2008 10:54

Dope Nose 2:17 Weezer Maladroit 2 10/05/2008 10:56

Dopest Verse 3:52 Madkap Mr. Scruff Presents Keep It Solid Steel Electronica/Dance 1 10/05/2008 11:00

Dos Cosas Ciertas 3:28 Ozomatli Embrace The Chaos Hip Hop/Rap 5 10/05/2008 11:04

Double Bass 4:45 Gorillaz Gorillaz [UK] 1 10/05/2008 11:09

The Dove 4:27 Ikon Modern Disco – Love It While It Lasts 4 10/05/2008 11:13

Dove Grey Sands 4:36 Feeder Esquire Hip Parade 3 10/05/2008 11:18

Down And Out 3:07 Paul Williams Bugsy Malone Soundtrack 1 10/05/2008 11:21

Down Here On The Ground 5:06 Grant Green + Dianne Reeves The Later Lounge 1 10/05/2008 11:26

Down In Oakland 3:23 Transplants Transplants 1 10/05/2008 11:29

Down Slow 1:35 Moby Play Electronica/Dance 2 10/05/2008 11:31

Down With Prince 3:18 Hot Chip Coming On Strong 1 10/05/2008 11:34

The Downstream 5:32 Ocean Colour Scene Moseley Shoals Alternative & Punk 2 10/05/2008 11:40

Dr Dre Gets Complacent 0:26 Misty’s Big Adventure Grumpy Fun Alternative & Punk 3 10/05/2008 11:40

Dr Dre Theme Tune 1:28 Misty’s Big Adventure Grumpy Fun Alternative & Punk 4 10/05/2008 11:41

Dr Levinson’s Lament 4:20 S.Rock Levinson Camden Crawl 06 (Disc 2 1 10/05/2008 11:46

Dr. Lovemuscle 4:25 Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band Your New Best Friends Electronica/Dance 2 10/05/2008 11:50

Dream Chaser 9:03 Psychonauts Songs For Creatures Dance 3 10/05/2008 11:59

The Dream Of The Dolphin 2:47 Enigma The Cross Of Changes New Age 1 10/05/2008 12:02

Dream Off 1:42 Best Fwends Alphabetically Arranged Electronica/Dance 4 10/05/2008 12:04

Dream On 6:47 The Chemical Brothers Surrender 1 10/05/2008 12:11

Dream On – Depeche Mode 3:30 Scala & Kolacny Brothers Dream On 5 10/05/2008 12:14

Dreamer 5:39 Livin’ Joy Played In Full: The 90s (Disc 2) Alternative & Punk 1 10/05/2008 12:20

Dreaming Of You 2:21 The Coral The Coral Alternative & Punk 2 10/05/2008 12:22

Dreaming Of You 2:29 The Coral Radio 1’s Live Lounge [Disc 2] Alternative & Punk 3 10/05/2008 12:25

Dreaming Of You (Alexis De Hasse Remix) 3:12 Alex Gold 101 Dance Hits (Disc 1) Electronica/Dance 1 10/05/2008 12:28

Dreamy Wednesdays 4:25 The Wannadies Be A Girl Alternative & Punk 3 10/05/2008 12:32

Dredd Overboard 5:48 Nightmares On Wax Smoker’s Delight 2 10/05/2008 12:38

Driftwood 3:34 Travis The Man Who Alternative & Punk 2 10/05/2008 12:42

Drill Sergeant 6:55 N*E*R*D Fly Or Die Alternative & Punk 1 10/05/2008 12:48

Drinking In LA 3:35 The Twang Radio One: Established 1967 [Disc 2] Alternative & Punk 4 10/05/2008 12:52

Drive Me Home The Lonely Nights 3:17 Serena Maneesh Rough Trade Shops – Counter Culture 05 2 10/05/2008 12:55

Droned 3:01 Cave In HMV Playlist – October 05 1 10/05/2008 12:58

Drop – Pharcyde 2:43 The Pharcyde How To Cut & Paste MixTape Vol. 2 Hip Hop/Rap 1 10/05/2008 13:01

Drop And Roll 6:25 Simian Chemistry Is What We Are Alternative & Punk 1 10/05/2008 13:07

Drop It Doe Eyes 2:42 Los Campesinos! Hold On Now, Youngster… Alternative & Punk 12 10/05/2008 13:10

Drop It Like It’s Hot 3:31 Snoop Dogg vs Chic Rich CD 1 Mashup 2 10/05/2008 13:14

Drop The Bomb On The Mutha 3:00 Go Home Productions GHP Complete – CD05 The Bootlegs Bastard Pop 1 10/05/2008 13:17

Drop The Pressure 4:15 Mylo Destroy Rock & Roll 1 10/05/2008 13:21

Drowning 5:02 Hootie & The Blowfish Cracked Rear View Rock 2 10/05/2008 13:26

Drowning In The Sea Of Love 3:23 Joe Simon The Ultimate Sounds Of Seduction Pop 1 10/05/2008 13:29

Drowning Pool 2:51 The Walls New Dawn Breaking Rock 1 10/05/2008 13:32

Drug Ballad 5:00 Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP Hip Hop/Rap 1 10/05/2008 13:37

Drugs 5:01 Simple Kid 1 4 10/05/2008 13:42

Drugs or Me 6:26 Jimmy Eat World Futures