LEJOG day 4 - Glastonbury to Corsham

76 km  Elev gain: 1154 m  (47 miles / 3786 ft)
6 °C (real feel 3 °C)

I've not been to Glastonbury before, so I've planned a short bike day to allow for a nose around town before setting off. I take a walk up to Glastonbury Tor which overlooks the town, pausing at the White Spring on Wellhouse Lane. The cavern like spring is closed at the moment, but a succession of  people arrive to fill bottles and jerry cans with water from the outdoor overflow. There must be something in the water.

I don't have time to visit the abbey ruins, but take a short stroll through the town, checking out some of the murals which sum up the Glastonbury vibe.

My wonderful AirBnB landlady, a lifelong resident of Glastonbury, tells me how much the town has changed in the past 20 years, where a growing hippie / new age culture has taken over. There's an abundance of shops on the high street selling crystals, kaftans and folklore. If you hang around long enough you'll see a few "characters" she tells me.

I get away late morning, getting a final view of the Tor as I loop around the town.

I pass through Wells, refuelling at the excellent Pickwicks Country Kitchen. I don't do justice to the town by stopping for a quick snap of the gothic Wells Cathedral.

I pass through Frome ("froome"), opting out of the school run traffic frenzy with a tactical coffee stop, then on to Bradford upon Avon to rendezvous with my friend Rob who lives nearby. He hightails it out of town, losing me in the Friday rush hour traffic before I've had the chance to admire the place, which looks pretty. I catch up and follow him for 7 miles to Corsham. After 3 days of riding solo in the wind it's pure joy to have someone to draft!

We call in at the Quarryman's Arms pub on Box Hill for a pint of local Butcombe IPA before heading to Rob's house for a lovely home cooked meal and comfy bed.

Running total: 421 km  Elev gain: 5397 m  (262 miles / 17,707ft).  22 hrs 43 mins