Leg 10 Ebreywood to Prees Green

I'm going off Shropshire - Fast!!   The lack of cottage style tea rooms and cosy country pubs just doesn't agree with me,  you know I'm not just doing this for the cycling, theres got to be something to look forward to after doing 15 miles up and down and in the cold.  Of course we could have made our own 'latte' at any time if we'd only got a portable gas burner, saucepan and some instant coffee with us, as there was an abundance of milk on last weeks journey - dairy farms - one after another, after another, after another . . . . . And the smell was with us all day too!  Infact one village we went through was called 'Fauls', appropriate, I thought!

With all good intentions of setting out earlier than usual, again it was 10.45am before we were in the saddle and on the road.  

The first few miles were great - FLAT !!   But sonehow,  I just knew we were heading for that woodland hill, its autumn colours of which I'd been admiring for the last 5 miles.   Our journey took us through Shawbury (RAF) and Moreton Corbet where we came upon the ruins of Moreton Corbet Castle, built around 1200.

The castle is an English Heritage property and a grade 1 listed building.  The ruins are from 2 different eras, a medieval stronghold and an Elizabethan era manor house.  Definately worth a photo stop and next door is the lovely saxon church.



It was'nt long before we were going up, passing by the West Midlands Shooting ground at Hodnet, which I might add sounded very active, so we increased our speed just in case!   We continued on through Hawkstone, another publess/tearoomless pretty little hamlet with lots of lovely cottages but no latte!

After 2 hours of cycling and not a clue as to where we were (we dont take maps with us as we feel its more fun just following the signs, something we may reconsider) and not even a whiff of coffee we decided to detour a little and head for the main road (A49) , thinking we're bound to find a little chef at least.   The question was " how long do we go before we give up on our latte quest".

The only place we had passed was 'Micks Mill', a veg and animal feed store!  ah well bananas all round!

As luck would have it, Mick, who's real name is Belinda (dont ask) and her colleagues were taking a tea break and when we told them our story and how long we had been travelling (they were impressed) they took pity upon us and we were invited to join their tea break!  Within a couple of minutes we were both enjoying a piping hot mug of tea and free!  Infact Mick offered us use of her car park next week for the start of our next leg, great stuff.

We clocked up 30 miles round trip today and apart from the hill over Hawkstone the going was fairly easy and the sign posts were excellent,  but on our return journey it did start raining, the first so far. 

I have calculated we are now only 40 miles from Chester so it is our aim to get this part of the route finished in 2 more trips out, assuming we can get an early start tomorrow!!