Rainer has just stopped for his final checkpoint - he's covered the distance 'til then in 9 hrs 20 mins. The weather is glorious as is the route, although having just popped out for a 20 miler myself it is certainly pretty lumpy. Here he is at Bigsweir Bridge, an elegant cast iron road bridge, which was built in 1827 as part of the new turnpike road constructed up the lower part of the Wye valley between Chepstow and Monmouth. The bridge connects the English and Welsh sides of the river, with an abandoned toll house on the Welsh side.
It comprises a single arch of 50 metres, and was designed by Charles Hollis of London and cast at Merthyr Tydfil. Because of its narrow width, modern traffic is controlled by traffic signals at either end. The bridge is about 600 metres upstream of the ancient fishing weir and ford of Bigsweir, which is close to Bigsweir House.
Judging by his time he doesn't seem to be too concerned about them so far. That said, we have just gone up an enormous hill as part of a diversion at Llandogo. We suspect it's because of floods and are hoping the road below is only closed to traffic else Rainer has a very tough final section of the day... We'll find out when we get to the end of the diversion and let you know...
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