Nice........... 14th August

I don't think Phil is a good influence on my training. We now seem to choose our training routes based around getting something to eat - ideally a cream tea! So when he suggested a route which took in the Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre and in particular the cafe there I thought what brilliance and suggested that if we timed it right we could get there in time for Sunday Lunch.
Our route took us up the Swansea Valley past the Cray Reservoir, this section involved about a 1.5mile climb which was gradual and not too testing. We then turned off the main road into peace and tranquility.

Me on route for The Mountain Centre

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After awhile we started a steep descent which went on and on 'til my hands ached from pressing on the brakes for so long and of course all I was thinking was I'm going to have to climb up this hill on the way back. We pressed on cycling down quiet lanes lined with beautiful wild flowers and smelling of honeysuckle and eventually we arrived at the mountain centre in time for lunch.

Enjoying a cup of Earl Gray after my lunch

When we arrived at the centre there seemed to be a little festival going on and we enjoyed our lunch to the accompaniment of some live jazz ......nice. During lunch I started scanning the map looking for an alternative route home - which avoided the big hill - but there really wasn't anything and I resigned myself to getting up the hill.

Leaving the Mountain Centre

Well I kind of made it up the hill and must confess I walked the steepest bit. The descent down the Swansea Valley was just fantastic it felt like we were flying and was well worth the slog up the big hill.
Here's our route

The long climb up to Ty Cornel - 12th August

I'd been losing sleep over the big climb up to our hostel, Ty Cornel for Saturday night! the route planner was telling me we had 450m of climb over about 6miles to get to our beds for the night and that would be after 70 miles of cycling. I wanted to see just how bad this climb was going to be so on Friday Phil and I drove out to Llandewi Brefi (no sign of the only gay in the village) and cycled up to the hostel





Llandewi Brefi is a very pretty village and the cycle out to Ty Cornel is through beautiful scenery but there's no getting away from it one section involves a steep long climb - only to be retraced the following morning just to get back on route! and then the last mile to the hostel is along a stony track which is too rough to cycle along on road bikes so we ended up pushing the bikes

the last mile to the hostel is along this stony track.

I was beginning to think this hostel wouldn't work for us - it's too far off our route and too much of a climb but then we arrived and I fell in love with this little house on the hill

our home for Saturday night

There was no one around so we couldn't get in but they did have a shelter with a kettle tea bags and milk so we made a little cup of tea each

making tea in the shelter at Ty Cornel

and once we were back on the tarmac the ride back down to Llandewi Brefi was fantastic !!!!

wish I'd left my helmet on for this photo!

P&K Early Birds Arrange A Golf Tournament

I have just heard from my father the wonderful news that his golfing friends at Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club are organising a Golf Tournament to raise money for NPT Breast Endowment Fund.

Dad plays with a group of friends on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,  they call themselves the 'Early Birds' because they Tee off at 8.00am. Apparently they also go on golfing trips (sounds a lot of fun) and it was on a recent trip that dad mentioned my bike ride and showed them a few printed pages from this blog - hoping for a small collection to support me. But dad was overwhelmed by the response - after some discussion they decided to hold a small golf tournament to be held in September and hope to raise something in the region of £200!!!! this is a significant amount of money and could take us over the £1000 mark. I'm very grateful to the 'Early Birds' and what a fantastic group of friends you all are.

Hope he can make the P&K Early Birds Tournament

At Last I Get My Cream Tea - 10th August 2011

I still wanted a cream tea so decided to do a route that took in a cafe that I new would be open. Phil couldn't make the cycle today but agreed to meet me at Craig- y-Nos Country Park, and specifically the cafe, at a set time. The ride was great and I felt stronger on the hills. One minute it was hot and sunny the next it was dark and cold and as I climbed to the highest point I climbed into mist and rain which was pretty nasty really. Then when I turned for home I turned straight into the wind, I hadn't appreciated just how strong the wind was and with this behind me no wonder I got up the hills with a bit less effort today.

Also can I have a rant about cattle grids - I hate them they are sooo horrible to cycle over especially on a road bike I'm sure they give you brain shake and Wales is full of them. But I 've always accepted that they are necessary to keep the sheep on the hills but today I witnessed a sheep daintily walking straight over a cattle grid - so what is the point!!!!

Anyway I made it to Craig -y- Nos and met up with Phil  and at last had my cream tea

The Search For A Cafe - 9th August 2011

Phil and I were still in holiday mode and decided to cycle out to Carreg Cennen and visit the excellent cafe there. Unfortunately Phil's gears weren't working well and so we cut the trip short  and didn't make it to the cafe - well that was his excuse when he found out he was paying!
Still had fabulous time, perfect weather and of course still enjoyed the distant views of  Carreg Cennen Castle (and cafe)  sitting on its rocky hill. 
At Brynamman we tried the Black Mountain Cafe but this had just closed for the day - another nice try Phil!
 So we eventually got our lunch at home

I've been away on holiday

....... and the bike came too. I've spent the last week or so on the beautiful West Coast of Scotland close to Oban. Our campsite was next to this stunning beach

the main part of the holiday was 6 days of orienteering which I  managed to complete -  yipee although my overall result was rubbish 38th out of 75 competitors on the short course! but I promise you I'm just glad to be running again and really pleased to have completed all 6 days. I won't bore you with the details of the orienteering but simply say that the 'classic Scottish terrain' proved quite challenging here are a couple of pics from the event

Day 1 start on the beach

Charlie Day 6

I managed to fit a bit of cycling in around the orienteering. A few short one hour rides around the beautiful coast next to our campsite. Plus I cycled to the orienteering on days 2 & 3 a round trip of about 12 miles which took me over the Connel Bridge and the amazing swirling waters of the Falls of Lorna

The weather was gloriouos and sunny for the so called 'rest day' i.e.no orienteering and  Phil and I  cycled over to the island of Lismore with our friends Niall, Margaret and William their 13 year old son. Niall and Margaret were on their tandem and set a fast pace. From our campsite we cycled about 12 miles to Port Appin, this was nearly all on a tarmacked cycle track and was so much more enjoyable than cycling on the road. From Port Appin for £1.50 we caught a little ferry over to the island (bikes were free)

Me waiting for the ferry

We cycled right across the island a distance of about 10 miles soaking up the wonderful views all around us when the road ran out and we could cycle no further we climbed to the top of a little hill and relished the breathtaking views over to Mull.

on the beautiful Isle of Lismore

Just as we thought the day couldn't get any better we came across the local church hall serving afternoon teas and just had to stop and devour the most delicious homemade cakes ummmm then it was a race back to catch the ferry

Phil and lots of other orienteers waiting to catch the ferry back.

and cycle back to the campsite by the end of the day we'd cycled 46 miles.

I also managed a 12 mile cycle on the evening before we left again with Maragret and our friend Kath the route took us along the banks of Loch Etive where we spotted and heared lots of Curlews.

  I really hope we go back to Oban with the bikes and thanks to Andy and Anne-Marie who recommended the cycle trips that we did.