We find a village called Mark where we want coffee. Dagmar seems to sense coffee shops and possibly she can smell its aroma from up to a mile away. She suggested visiting the church whose tower she could see in the distance. I humour her because pubs are often near churches but, as it was only 10.30, no pub would be open. Dagmar's sense was right as the church was having a coffee morning. I now think she has received a divine message from above as we are welcomed in by Rev Tonya Nixon for coffee.
We are offered coffee and cake without charge by a community of local people who treat us as if we are one of them. One lady takes Dagmar on a guided tour and, when done, quietly says she has lived here for 90 years. I talk with another lady of a slightly less age about Plymouth. She tells me stories how people courted one another when she was young. The girls and boys would walk in separate groups along Plymouth Hoe looking out who they would fancy. She told me that there were always lots of sailors.
We pedalled off looking for the Strawberry Line, now a cycle route but once a railway that took strawberries to London.
Bristol was getting near but I have been to Bristol before. It has good cycle trails away from traffic but nothing to commend it if you want to see the countryside. We cheat and catch a train. One hour after arriving at Yatton station, we are in South Wales and the lower slopes of the Brecon Beacons seem to be welcoming us. We climb what Dagmar calls a col through the Wentwood Forest and admire seas of bluebells. We arrive at Usk having cycled 48 miles.
Dagmar's story is on her blog. Tomorrow we set off for Brecon on the cycle route to the Irish ferry terminal
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