Day 5: From Hot Hotels to Gravel Roads: A Day on the Challenge

You know it’s been a long day when the morning feels like it happened in another lifetime. Maybe that’s just the sleep deprivation talking (thanks, Travelodge sauna-suite), but honestly, I don’t think any of us are rushing to leave a five-star review. I did stretches in the hallway, which, while not a luxury spa, did earn me some friendly nods from fellow guests. Points for atmosphere, minus several for air-conditioning.
We hit the road early with Joel along all day, which is awesome, and meant lots of questions like “when’s the best content coming?” (answer: usually when I’m most tired and least able to string a sentence together). He’ll be up half the night editing, so bless him, he’s suffering too, solidarity, Joel.
The day itself? Brutal. The roads were basically a patchwork of gravel, cake road, and the stuff nightmares are paved with. At least half the route felt like dragging myself through a bake-off gone wrong. Smooth tarmac? Rare as hen’s teeth. Monotony was the theme, with the occasional scenic town thrown in, one place so pretty and uniform it looked like it had been designed by a set decorator with OCD.
And then there’s the roadkill roll call. Since the start I’ve clocked: two baby deer, one fox, a badger, rabbits, hedgehogs, birds, a squirrel, and a crow with attitude. Sad, yes, and impossible to ignore.
Support on the roads was heartwarming, though, cars slowing down, thumbs-ups, kind words shouted out of windows. Amazing how a stranger’s encouragement can take the sting out of a long stretch of gravel.
The real highlight? An impromptu reunion with Pumpkin (world’s cutest dog) and her equally lovely human. They spotted the car, doubled back, and suddenly I had Pumpkin cuddles to distract me from aching arms. Forget electrolytes, that’s the good stuff.
We finally rolled into Lincoln, which announced itself with a very steep downhill. Translation: tomorrow probably starts with a very steep uphill. A cruel joke from geography, but hey-ho.
Hotel tonight is a vast improvement, gluten-free food, actual comfort, and the luxury of not sticking to the bedsheets. Bonus: had a call from BBC West Country to let me know I’ve made the final four of the Pride of Britain Awards for fundraising. At first, I thought it was a prank. I had to read the message six times before believing it. But no, it’s real. Which means London, ceremonies, and possibly trying to sit still in formalwear. Gobsmacked doesn’t cover it. Excited? Definitely. Terrified? Also yes. But theres no guarentee ill make it any further. But the nomination was nice.
The day ended with laughter, good company (Hallie and Cat are brilliant), and the relief of knowing tomorrow brings more wheeling, more filming, and maybe fewer gravelly nightmares. Oh, and Paul’s joining us too, more reinforcements.
So yes: hot hotel, bad roads, roadkill bingo, unexpected dog therapy, surprise awards news.

Just another day on the challenge 🤣