Royston to Cambridge

Day TWO: Royston to Cambridge (9 June 2021)

Distance: 20 km (13 miles)
Ascent: 100 m
Legs: This was always planned to be a rest day and the distance quoted is approximate. 

It felt like I didn't sleep much last night though I managed without the inner body of the tent so I can post that home; its not as if it will get colder as I travel north. Waking up at 4:15 am to the dawn chorus I rest as long as my nervous energy will allow then get up at 5:00 am, break camp and start pedaling at 6:00 am by the church bells. A glorious roll off the small hill that hosts Great Chishill near Royston though even under the relatively sedate speed of descent my trailer is pulling me around again and I resolve to lose some weight in Cambridge. I must have selected "walk" in my navigation app as I am - quite pleasantly - directed through the meadows of Trumpington and Granchester as I approach Cambridge with only a few cycle unfriendly obstacles to negotiate. Presumably with "walk" mode still on it is an awkward shimmy through central Cambridge before I reach Midsummer meadow and the river Cam. 

Cambridge bound

Trumpington meadow

Granchester

Something fished out of the river Cam

First things first and I find a post office, buy a posting box, and busy myself lightening my load. After a full day I know what I need and what can be safely posted home. Heavy locks, UK road map, every stitch of spare clothing, Christina Rossetti, tent inner, and the spare inner tube for the trailer. I am left with a full set of cycle clothing which would keep me warm and dry, one spare pair of shorts and one short sleeved shirt for the evenings. Unless an easy laundry option presents itself (it doesn't!) I will live in the clothes I have worn for two hot days for another seven. In my planning Cambridge was intended to be both rest and a chance to explore Cambridge. In the event, just being in Cambridge was everything I wanted from this city.

Today is a camping and caravanning campsite (www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk) and it has manicured lawns and all the facilities. I had been worried that being wedged between deluxe caravans would detract from the adventure - not so. I would learn to delight in the warm welcome from reception, being escorted to my patch of grass and if a hot shower was included then so much the better. This is in contrast to some of the other campsites where I had to find someone to pay and find the facilities if they existed. The evening was a two mile walk to a pub for a meal, beer and phone charge. My Power Bank (the beefy and naturally heavy Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W) would only power my phone for 5 days so I needed to charge up where I could.

Splendid isolation; Great Shelford Camping and Caravanning Club

Day 3: Cambridge to Doddington