C-2-C April 2023 - Neil's cycle ride.

 Started off in drizzle which became more relentless rain.  A lot of climbing up to 17% and long inclines which necessitated some walking. Stunning scenery  marred by poor visibility. Took a hour over lunch hoping weather would ease but the rain just became more persistent. Cycle travel.comwas a bit of a disaster at least in my hands going through Newtown and in the end I used A roads to get me going in the right direction. Arrived in Montgomery around 17.30. An interesting and historic little town in an important strategic position on a River Severn crossing on the Anglo Welsh Border.

 A better day and some actual cycling. Left the shepherd's hut and on my way in a light to moderate wind and sunshine most of the time. Getting the hang of cycle travel.com which I can download onto my Garmin GPS. This generally keep you off busy roads but did take me through lanes with some challenging hills both up and down.  I had lunch at a pub in Talybont where there was a big funeral party but I wS able to sit outside in the sun! The bike gears needed adjusting again I am not sure why this is. I arrived in Machynlleth the ancient capital of Wales - who knew. I am staying at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel in all its faded glory. Total today was 35 miles and ascents of 716 metres.

 After a wild night weather wise and as there was still torrential rain showers and high winds I decided discreation was better than valor and reduce my trip by 2 days of cycling. Liz and Penny my support team kindly drove me to Tregaron where I had booked a shepherd's hut for Thursday night but they were able to let me have it for today. Tregaron is 80 miles on from St David's,  the rain was fairly relentless and there were strong gusts of wind.  We had coffee in the hotel in Tregaron a busy little town .  I was lucky to be able to unload the bike in a lull of storm Noah as the met office have named it and get into the hut where I spent the rest of the day.  Liz and Penny then made their way back to Taunton.  Weather permitting and if I can book somewhere to stay I will cycle to Machynlleth  and then on Friday make it to Montgomery which will get me back on track.  Fingers crossed 🤞. 

A rather tedious drive out to Pembrokeshire in driving rain. Stopped at the Railway Inn just on the Gower side of Swansea carefully selected by Liz. A real gem of a traditional pub with 4 locals and a dogwood had to move up to make room for the three of us in the bar. Much chat about the merits of Wales the local microbrewary and the antics of the ladies knitting group in the other. A fine lunch of peanuts and crisps washed down with ale/white wine. Arrived in St David's and found RNLI Station but I decided that in view of weather and terrain it being 5 miles outside the city my start point would be St David's itself. We had a look around the cathedral had a coffee before checking in at the hotel.

St. Davids to Crommer April 2023 Date Destination Miles Accommodation Phone 11-Apr-23 St. Davids 0 City Inn, New Street, St. Davids, SA62 6SU 01437 720829 12-Apr-23 Abercych 40 The Nag’s Head Inn Abercych, Pembrokeshire SA37 0JH 01239 841200 13-Apr-23 Tregaron 42 Pyllauduon Farm Tynreithyn, Tregaron, SY25 6LN, 07969 910844 14-Apr-23 Montgomery 56 The Dragon Hotel Market Square, Montgomery, SY15 6PA 01686 668359 15-Apr-23 Newport 46 The Swan Inn, 4 Lower Bar, Newport, TF10 7BQ 07837 502976 16-Apr-23 Burton on Trent 41 Premier Inn, Wellington Road, Burton on Trent, DE14 2DQ 0333 321 9217 17-Apr-23 Melton Mowbray 45 Premier Inn, 5 Norman Way, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1JE 0333 003 3402 18-Apr-23 Spalding 41 5-6 London Road Spalding lincolnshire, Spalding, PE11 2TA,  01775 719075 19-Apr-23 Hillington 41 The Ffolkes Hotel, Lynn Road, Hillington. Kings Lynn PE31 6BJ 01485 600210 20-Apr-23 Cromer 40 The Grove,95 Overstrand Road, Cromer, NR27 0DJ. 01263 512412

Some how I managed to delete the only post I had published a week ago. I have cleaned the bike and did a small circuit, wind was making progress quite arduous. Packing is proving challenging as weather for the next 10 days is forecasted as quite variable. Can't change that but does mean I am carrying a lot of stuff. Bike all loaded onto the car ready for the trip down to St. Davids in the morning.