Day 5 - Shrewsbury to Liverpool (The Journey from Hell)

A somber mood hung over the breakfast table, dread I think!!!

After yesterday's epic 107 miles into the wind, the weather forecast was appalling,torrential rain and gale force winds for the duration of the day and to cap it all the cheeriest member of the team was leaving.

 Putting on a brave face before rolling out of the hotel into rain that fell like stair rods!

Today was not going to be fun!

We managed to battle to just short of Chester and were still short of the agreed coffee stop and the support guys. By this time hypothermia was setting in along with a measure of hysteria.

Sarah remembered a truck stop on the A41 that sold fab pies! (Richard was in heaven!!!)




The support vehicles were summoned back & we decided to thaw out and get into some dry gear in The Egerton Arms. The pub were brilliant and didn't complain when we hung all our wet gear over the rads, although we're not quite sure what the other customers thought.

We refueled here and as usual the mascots joined us for lunch. Magic chose curry and Merlin a more refined choice of Moules & Frites!

The support team had a tough morning too and in the struggle to keep Soup dry and smoke free and had had to resort to some unusual methods!

Over lunch Richard then had brainwave, we should try and get to Liverpool and call it a day, Chorley was just a step too far in the conditions.

A stalwart team performance got us to the Mersey Ferry Terminal, where the staff took pity on us and we were
made tea by an Evertonian Docker before the ferry sailed.
 

Andy was in heaven, he was in the city of his dreams!!!!

After drying off and getting our laundry organised we had a quick meal in The Pumphouse in Albert Dock with Val, Dave & Ken.

Our spirits was soon restored and we were buoyed by the promise of sunshine the next day.

 The longer, amended run into Lake Windermere somehow didn't seem so bad.