Day 7 Whitchurch to Preston 70miles

Writing this on day 8 as too exhausted to make use of the wi-fi at the hotel last night. The Raven Arms at Whitchurch is definitely a place to be avoided if you want a relaxing, clean overnight stop! Our room was fine and quiet as it was away from the main hotel. We went to eat at a nearby Indian restaurant. and were joined by Beths friends Caroline and Amy. A pleasant evening and the usual early night. At about midnight we had a text from Beth to say the party from hell was going on in the room next to hers and she didn't feel safe. So she hotfooted it out of there and slept in the camper van for the night. Where she was very cosy indeed. And John made sure the hotel did not charge her for the room. We couldn't bring ourselves to wait for breakfast there. Not that it was dirty but John was worried that when Caroline brought Jade her dog in to the bar that the dog would be velcroed to the carpet! Anyway after a nice breakfast at the truckers cafe next door (!) us cyclists headed off north. We had a lovely flat days riding ahead of us and all was going swimmingly. Until I got held up at some traffic lights. The guys waited up the road and as I started pedalling they also set off. Suddenly my saddle exploded! Well, the whole kitkaboodle just leapt off the bike! Beth just happened to see it happen and came back to help and pick up the pieces. It seems that a bolt had just sheared off causing the seeming exploding saddle! It was fortunate it happened when I was not riding at speed, I reakon. So there was no fixing it at roadside, though David tried hard. We had to call John back - unfortunately he was the other side of Wigan at this stage. But come back he did and put a new post on. It made my miracle saddle tilt somewhat but was fine as a stopgap. So this made us a bit behind schedule so we didn't stop for a long lunch. We pushed on around Warrington and Wigan. Very urban compared to a few days ago and quiet mentally exhausting. Still is was flat terrain which is a bonus! We had a stop at a lovely deli outside Preston somewhere and then tackled Preston itself. Eventually after 70 miles we ended up at a fabbo hotel outside Preston called Barton Hall. If ever you feel the need to go to Preston, stay there! Fantastic value. Fab food, great staff, excellent rooms. All in all, a right nice way to spend our 27th wedding anniversay!