Thursday, September 24, 2009

Been home a week ...

Doesn't time fly ... Dad has been home a week! He's been keeping busy though. Bike panniers have been off to be repaired. Bike seriously needs some TLC. Not much chance of that though. He was out riding with the Wednesday Wheelers yesterday. There was only Dad and Dave & Anne (who were on the tandem) out! They stopped off at PJ's Transport Cafe in Burton ... guess what Dad had - yes a full English Breakfast!!

However this weekend he is taking a rest from the bike and is out working those other leg muscles as he is walking in Yorkshire Dales. I dont suppose it will be a leisurely couple of mile walk either!

Dad has also signed up for Brian Rourke's Cat & Fiddle ride on Sunday 4th October http://www.cftrust.org.uk/help/events/catandfiddle so anyone out doing the ride give him a shout! I mean they think getting Sean Kelly is headline news .... wait til they see the name Jack Allen on the start list! Now that will pull the crowds in!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Found my Dad on Youtube!

Found this on Youtube.
Short and sweet and to the point!
http://www.youtube.com/user/andygreensurfer#play/uploads/4/4r11z0uqS-c

and here is another
http://www.youtube.com/user/andygreensurfer#play/uploads/3/XReyMkOikr8

Photos

Dad has had his disposable camera film developed so I'll pop a few on here
Lands End
The First and Last cafe at Land's End
Dad and Mike Carter in St David's
Mike Carter in St David's
Cycle 2000 lads that my Dad caught up with at Poppit Sands
Dad at Porthmadog (he tells us he's been camping!!!)
Eureka Cyclist Cafe - Chris Boardman's yellow jersey
Dad at Birkenhead. He's cycled all the way around the coast of Britain

Can you ride tandem!! Dad on the back.
Here is the rest of the album on Facebook

Weekly Summary - week 16 - The final week!

Just finished totting up the final few days.

Day 106 Tudweilog to Conwy 50 miles
Day 107 Conway to Flint 50 miles
Day 108 Flint to Chester 60 miles
Day 109 Chester to Home 45 miles

I make that to be 205 miles covered bring the total mileage to cycle around the coast of Britain to be 4,534 miles! That's some achievement.

Dad weighed himself when he got home and he's lost about a one stone in weight (6.5 kgs). So he had better start feeding himself up because there wasn't much of him when he set off! First night he slept in his own bed he woke up with cramp!!!!

I did ask Dad if he'd got a tally of how many bacon baps/sandwiches/all day breakfast he'd had but he hadn't been keeping a note! I reckon out of the 109 days he was away there were only a handful he'd not managed to get one! I did ask him on Friday when he'd done his weekly shop in Asda if he stayed for an all day breakfast! He can't find anything in the house ... he's been hunting around for his porridge and thought he'd run out so bought some more. Whilst he was looking for his saucepans he found the porridge!

Got a few more photos to post.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

A few photos from the finish

A few photos
We saw Dad coming down the hill

Round the corner ...

and over the finish line.

Chatting to George King

Those legs have seen some miles!

A celebratory pint! The map we have been tracking his route on at work.

Lots more photos can be found here - photos from the finish start on page 6

The final leg of the journey

Well Dad is home! He got into Keele just after 3.30 pm (he couldn't arrive earlier as I was busy!!). So today was a leisurely day on the bike. He had a lie in this morning. He got chatting to Richard and Sandy in the campervan which was parked next to him. They had a tandem and Dad had never had a go on one. So Richard very kindly took him on a ride down the lanes. Dad was on the back. He said it was strange not being in control of the bike! I think Dad ought to cycle around the coast again but this time on a tandem. I can be on the back with a camera so we could record it all - I am only kidding! Dad then packed up his Millets tent - which has served him well over the last few months. Richard very kindly made Dad a cup of tea.

Today's route took Dad through the lanes to Tarvin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarvin
and Tarporley village. It was then into Beeston and the cyclists cafe for a bacon bap and a coffee (I think he'll be having bacon bap withdrawal symptoms!). It was then through the lanes to Bunbury, Burland and into Nantwich http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nantwich. Dad stopped for lunch in The Vaults (pub). He sat outside to people watch and to keep an eye on his bike - he wouldn't want to get it nicked so close to home! After lunch it was a slow ride through the lanes to Wynbunbury and Wrinehill and then into Keele. Quite a few friends and family had turned up to welcome Dad home. Dad had a celebratory beer, coffee and a bottle of wine for later! Thanks everyone who turned up - really appreciated.

Dad is now home!!! I bet he can't wait to get into his own bed.

For tea he is using up what's left .... unfortunately no cup-a-soup on the menu as he's run out!!! However he's got a packet of 3 minute noodles, flapjack and nuts. I should have got him a tin of Pedigree Chum and left it on the table for him!!

We will tally up the last few stats soon but he has weighed his bike when he got in as he's been asked many times how much it weighs and its 70 lb (roughly 32 kg).

I will also some post some photos.

Thanks to everyone who has kept reading the blog. I hope you've all enjoyed it. I'll continue to update it so keep popping back.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Eureka Cyclists Cafe, the completion of the coast of Britain and into Chester

Dad has had a fantastic penultimate day on the bike. He is camping about three miles south of Chester http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester in a place called Christleton.

This morning he set off from Flint heading towards Connah's Quay. A fellow cyclist got chatting to Dad en-route and said he was off to the Eureka Cyclists Cafe http://www.eurekacyclistscafe.co.uk/ Dad had heard of the cafe but had never been. So they both headed off for the cafe. When they got there Dad was overwhelmed by how many cyclists were there. There must have been 60 or 70 from various clubs. Chris Boardman's Mum, Dad and sister were there and both his Mum and sister took time to congratulate Dad on what he had achieved. Dad also got chatting to lots of people who were interested in what he had done. He also had some photos taken. Dad picked up some advice on the best route and he followed the Wirral Way (Route 56) http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Wirral_Way-Cycle-Route-454.html from Hooton to West Kirby. He then followed the coast road round to Holylake. It was then onto Wallesey. Dad had a strong head wind. Another cyclist (Steven who was a vicar) asked Dad if he could cycle with him. They cycled along for about half an hour. From Wallesey it was onto New Brighton, Seacombe and Birkenhead http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkenhead. Dad had completed the coast of Britain!!! He had his photos taken and then headed back on the A41. He popped back into Eureka Cafe and signed the visitors book and left his blog details. He got chatting to Ray Hardman from Chester Road Club who cycled with Dad to the campsite.

Dad is heading off down the pub tonight ... probably to celebrate! So while I've been off watching the Tour of Britain that was in and around Stoke today Dad has completed his own Tour of the coast of Britain!

Tomorrow he will be heading back through Keele University between about 3.30 and 4.00 pm. The finish line will be just outside the School of Computing and Maths (Colin Reeves Building) which is Building 21 Map Ref G6 http://www.esci.keele.ac.uk/kudis/_campusguide/downloads/Keele_campus_map_colour.pdf

So destination now is home!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

He'll be back on Thursday!

Dad will hopefully be back on Thursday. We are planning on having the finishing line in Keele (like the start line). I asked him if he could time it for about 3.30 - 4.00 p.m! Drop me an email if you want any more info kendieplonks at googlemail dot com.

Flint

Spoke to Dad earlier. He is in a B&B in Flint http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint,_Flintshire. Can't complain at £15 a night ! There is a cafe next door for breakfast, a chippy down the road and the best bit it's over a pub!!! He's in his element! He got there about 3.30 and had a shower. He's got tea and coffee making facilities in his room but he headed off down into the pub for a pint of Guinness! Weather has been good but he's been cycling with a head wind! He also got stung by a bee/wasp. I bet he was wearing a bright coloured cycling top and it thought he was a flower.

Last night he got chatting to Brian & Beryl who were on the same campsite and spent a good few hours chatting over a coffee or two. Dad "negotiated" a price for camping when the bloke came round for his money. He wanted to charge £10 a night (the site had no showers and no hot water!) but Dad got it for a fiver!

The route today took him back onto the A55 - well after he negotiated the steps down onto the road and then headed into Conwy itself. Dad had a cycle around the castle. He was going to cycle along the cycle route into Llandudno http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llandudno but that was closed for repairs so instead he cycled along he A546. Llandudno was not that "cycle friendly". There was no cycle path along the front and lots of signs saying "no cycling". Dad said they could have quite easily added a cycle path. So instead Dad had to weave in and out of the parked cars along the road. It was then onto Cycle Route 5 into Penrhyn Bay, through to Rhos-on-Sea and Colwyn Bay http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colwyn_Bay. Dad enjoyed the ride along the coast. At Llanddulas Dad came off the Cycle Route and went in search of a bacon bap! It was then back on the Cycle Route through Abergele and into Rhyl http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyl. Dad was very surprised at how run down Rhyl was. Gone is the pleasure beach and a lot of shops are boarded up. Dad said there was some building works going on and it looked like they were building retirement homes. It was then onto Prestatyn http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prestatyn where he stopped for lunch. Cycle Route 5 then started heading in land so Dad cycled through the Golf Course (yes it was the route!!) and then picked up the A548 to Flint. Dad had a look around Flint and the Castle and then found the B&B.

Tonight he is off the chippy for tea and then he's going to go to the pub to watch the football as he can't get ITV4 to watch the Tour of Britain!

Tomorrow is heading round West Kirby and Wallasey and then heading back into Chester.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Conwy (well almost)

Dad is a few miles short of Conwy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conwy. Campsite is a bit basic - it has no hot water!! It might be basic but it has good views of Anglesey.

The route today took him from Tudweiliog to Newfyn. He then picked up a good cycle route that finished just before Caernarfon so he continued on the A487. He had an all day breakfast in in Caernarfon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caernarfon. He then picked up Cycle Route 8 which is a disused railway through to Bangor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangor,_Gwynedd where he had lunch. It was then on the busy A55 through to Bangor - the road had a hard shoulder to cycle on so Dad said even though it was busy road there was a distance from the traffic. From Bangor it was again on the A55 through to Conwy.

On the menu tonight cup-a-soup, chicken curry and butter beans followed by banana and custard!

Dad now thinks he might be back Thursday 17th September!! We are planning on having the finish line at Keele again.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Weekly Summary - week 15

Well we are getting near the end of the trip so there will not be many more weekly summaries to do! In fact this could be the penultimate one! Dad has been on the bike 100 days this week.

Day 99 St Davids (rest day)
Day 100 St Davids to Poppit Sands 45 miles
Day 101 Poppit Sands to New Quay 40 miles
Day 102 New Quay to Machynlleth 55 miles
Day 103 Machynlleth to Shell Island 50 miles
Day 104 Shell Island to Porthmadog 20 miles
Day 105 Porthmadog to Tudweiliog 50 miles

I make that 260 miles covered this week. Add that to the total so far and I make that 4329 miles covered.

Dad has done some stats ....

He has had
22 beds (in YHA/B&B/Friends)
83 camping

34 wet days
71 dry days

So who says we've had a wet summer!!!

Tudweiliog

Dad is camping in a place called Tudweiliog which is on the north side of the Llyn Peninsula.

He had a great evening last night. Beryl and Terry where excellent hosts and he was wined and dined on salmon, lamb shank, pudding followed by brandy and coffee. Now that is a menu fit for a king! Before the meal they sat and had a beer on the balcony. Dad meet up with a couple and it transpired that my Dad knew her father!

This morning it was a leisurely start and a hearty breakfast and Dad didn't start biking til 11.00 a.m.! From Porthmadog Dad headed to Criccieth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criccieth . He then picked up a cycle track (well it was the old road which has been turned into a cycle track) into Pwlleli http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pwllheli . It was then a ride along the coast road to Llanbedrog and into Abersoch http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abersoch . Many good memories of my childhood holidays! He then headed for Aberdaron which is the most westerly point of Wales. He stopped off for a coffee and a cake. He then cycled along the north coast of the Llyn Peninsula to Tudweiliog. He stopped off to do some shopping for tea tonight but it being a Sunday and being in Wales there was not much open. So he's down to his emergency rations of cup-a-soup, noodles, dates and flapjack!

There is only Dad on the campsite and about 20 sheep! Dad couldn't get a phone signal at his tent so had wandered around the field to find a signal. When he looked back at his tent it was surrounded by the sheep! I don't think he's going to get much sleep tonight .... well if he doesn't he can count them!

Tomorrow he is heading Bangor/Conway area.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Estimated Date of Return

Dad has had a look at the map and he'll probably be back the 18/19/20 September. Will keep you posted on the Welcome Home.

Porthmadog

Dad is now in Porthmadog http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porthmadog. He's had an easy day on the bike today, only clocking up 20 miles! He is staying with friends (Beryl & Terry Dean). In fact he his staying in his own flat over looking the estuary. When he rang he was sitting on the balcony enjoying the late afternoon sunshine - what a life!

He had a good night last night. Got chatting to a couple of people in the pub .... of course he found himself a cyclist to chat to!

Today's route took him on a tour of Shell Island before he left. He then headed back into Llanbedr and took the B'roads up through Harlech http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlech. He stopped off in Harlech for a bacon buttie. He then had a wander round and sat for awhile outside the castle. He then headed for Talsarnau. He then biked on the Toll Road (free for bikes) and into Porthmadog. He tried to get a tyre for his bike but still no luck! He had lunch and then meet up with his friends at 2.00 p.m.

This afternoon he has been drinking tea and eating cake and enjoying the weather and the views!

On the menu tonight is a meal (cooked by Beryl and Terry) and wine!! He then has a night in a proper bed!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Shell Island

Spoke to Dad earlier. He is camping at Shell Island which apparently is Europe's largest campsite http://www.shellisland.co.uk/! He is happy as it has a bar! Weather has been fantastic. A bit chilly to set off with but lots of blue skies today!

Today's route has taken him from Furnace and back into Machynlleth where he had an early morning coffee to warm him up! From Machynlleth it was onto Aberdyfi. He calculated it out to cycle around the River Dovey estuary (Borth to Aberdyfi) had been 24 miles. If it had a ferry across it would have been 1/2 mile! It keeps him fit ! From Aberdyfi he picked up the A493 to Tywyn http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tywyn and then Bryncrug and then through some hard places to spell and onto Fairbourne http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbourne where he took the toll bridge over to Barmouth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barmouth. That cost him a £1.00. It was then on through Tal-y-bont and over to Shell Island. Today has been relatively flat well he hasn't had to get off and push his bike.

He has tried a couple of shops for a new tyre but still no joy so he's had to put on his emergency tyre .... apparently that is more likely to get punctures! He did explain why but it sounded a bit complicated.

On the menu tonight is cup-a-soup and pork pie with tomatoes. A banquet fit for the kings!

Tomorrow he is heading for friends at Porthmadog so he'll have a leisurely day on the bike.

He is going to give me an estimated date of arrival back home as both the Sentinel and Radio Stoke are possibly going to run a feature. We might to arrange some sort of Welcome Home. I'll keep you posted.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

No phone signal again (edited - he was in Machynlleth)

Not heard from Dad tonight. I assume he's in a Asda/Vodafone black spot again! He was heading for Machynlleth and I've checked on the Vodafone coverage map and it's very patchy.

I'll update when I hear off him.

11/9/09 Update
Spoke to Dad this morning. As thought he was in Machynlleth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machynlleth. I've got to the stage where I don't worry if I don't hear from him now! He'd just stopped off for a coffee to try and get warm as it was a chilly morning and turned his phone on and had got a signal!

Last night he was camping about 8 miles outside Machynlleth in a place called Furnace. No mobile phone signal, no phone box and no pub! He'd had some bike problems yesterday. His gears had gone funny and instead of 24 he was limited to just 8! He stopped off in Aberystwyth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberystwyth and got chatting to a bloke and was asking if there was anywhere that did bike repairs. It turned out that the bloke had lived and worked (as a policeman) in Stoke for many years! He still had a sister that lived in Hanley! Anyway Dad got directions to Andy's Bike Shop in the market to get his bike sorted. They fixed the gears and a couple of broken spokes and gave it a service and was going to charge Dad a tenner. He gave them £15.00! However he still has not managed to get a new tyre.

Yesterday route took him on the A487 to Aberaeron. He then picked up lanes through to Aberath, Llanon where he found a cafe for his bacon bap. It was then onto Aberystwyth where he had lunch whilst they were sorting out his bike. He then picked up B roads through to Borth but as it was only 3.00 pm when he arrived and the hostel didn't open til 5.00 pm so he carried on to Furnace which is also the site of a restored furnace and water wheel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyfi_Furnace (which belonged to the Kendall's!!).

Forgot to ask what was on the menu for tea last night!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

New Quay

Well I've spoken to Dad twice today! Once this morning and I updated yesterday's entry and again this evening. He is camping tonight on the CC site at New Quay http://http://www.cardiganshirecoastandcountry.com/new-quay-cardigan-bay-wales.php. Today has been a great day on the bike as the weather has been good.

This morning Dad and the Cycle 2000 lads headed into Cardigan for breakfast. The Hostel is in a great place but it had a loads of steps down to it ... so this morning they had to carry all their gear and then their bikes out of the hostel. They arrived at the cafe at 8.50 so had to wait until it opened at 9.00! I spoke to Dad this morning just as the Cycle 2000 lads had headed off towards the Gower Peninsular and Dad was sitting waiting outside a bike shop for it to open! He needed a new tyre for his bike. Unfortunately they'd not got the right size so Dad is riding on with very little tread on his tyre!

Dad picked up the A487 to start with but soon picked up the small roads to Llangranog and then onto Cwmtydu Bay http://www.new-quay.com/cwmtydu.htm. He stopped for lunch and met a fellow cyclist. They got chatting and Dad was asking where he was camping. He was staying on the CC site at New Quay. So Dad rode with him to the site. Dad got to the site at around 2.3 pm which was too early to check in. So he headed off down into New Quay to do some shopping and to look around. It was very hilly and Dad had a struggle pushing his bike up the hills!!! Dad got back to the site around 4.00 pm and pitched his tent.

Tonight on the menu has been a tin of Princess Steak in gravy (it's sounding a bit like dog food again!!!) and a tin of new potatoes. I feel much happier when he has a tin of curry as I know that's not going to be dog food!

Tonight he has been invited around to the caravan of the cyclist he met earlier for a glass of wine!

Tomorrow he is heading off towards Machynlleth.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Not sure where!! (updated to Poppit Sands!)

Not heard from Dad tonight so I assume he is somewhere without a phone signal and no phone box! However I've had a few updates on his progress through the day off various people.

Mike Carter (Observer) text me earlier to say he'd met up with Dad for breakfast in St Davids. Dad told him about all the hills that were to come in the West County ... sometimes it's better not to know what lies ahead of you!

I then had a message off Nigel Martin. Nigel works in a coffee shop in Oceans Lab in Goodwick and Dad had stopped off for something to eat. They got chatting about cycling. Nigel is hoping to do the end to end at some point (see Nigel it's in print now!!!).

So I assume Dad is somewhere beyond Fishguard. I'd hazzard a guess at Newport area. Will update when I hear more.

Wednesday 09/09/09
Spoke to Dad this morning. He was in Poppit Sands YHA last night http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/wales/hostels/Poppit-Sands/index.aspx. As I thought, no phone signal and the phone in the hostel was broken! Weather had been bad - it had rained ALL day so Dad had decided on a bed for the night. It was lucky that he chose Poppit Sands as the lads from Cycle 2000 turned up (Geoff Cartlidge, Mike Barr, Mark Owen and John Leese). Hostel is in a lovely location but the weather was that bad that they couldn't really appreciate the location.

Tuesday morning Dad met up with Mike Carter in St Davids for breakfast ... well I say "breakfast" it was more like brunch by the time they left! They were also joined by Andrew a friend of Mike who did some filming/recording. After breakfast Dad headed off with a tail wind as Mike headed off into a head wind! The days route took him from St Davids and onto Goodwick where he had lunch in the coffee shop and met Nigel Martin (see above). After lunch he headed onto Higher Fishguard and Lower Fishguard and into Newport. By this time it was only 3.30 and the hostel didn't open til 5.00 so he headed on to Poppit Sands http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppit_Sands where he arrived about 5.30.

He picked up on a tin of full monty for his evening meal (beans, sausage and bacon).

Monday, September 7, 2009

St Davids (day 2)

Today was a rest day ... well not so much of a rest as he had lots of chores to do. First off was the washing and drying - which took two and a half hours! Once done he headed off into St Davids http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_David's. He met a fellow cyclists en-route who cycled with Dad (Phil James). They got chatting and he turned out that Phil had married a girl from Longton so they had lots to chat about!

Once in St Davids he had a look around the Cathedral http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_David's_Cathedral and Bishops Palace http://www.castlewales.com/sdbishop.html and then had some lunch. He did ring me on my mobile but by the time I'd stopped the car Dad had switched off his phone!! He did leave me a message though. Whilst in town Dad also got his haircut ... it cost him £10 !!!! He should have asked the price before he got it cut. Dad also text Mike Carter (from the Observer) who just happened to be cycling into St Davids on route 4. So Dad headed off along the route and they met up and had a quick chat. They are hoping to me tomorrow for breakfast at the Tourist Information Centre in St Davids.

Dad got chatting to a guy on the campsite this morning and it turns out his wife is from the Fenton area - it's a small world!!

There is no mobile signal on the campsite but Dad rang me just before he got to the tent.

On the menu tonight is steak and a tin of butter beans followed by rice pudding. I did ask Dad to check to make sure it wasn't a tin of dog food before he opened it!

(If any of the Cycle 2000 lads from the Wayfarer are reading this Dad is hoping to catch up with you over the next day or so - he'll be on the coast road. Drop him a text as he rarely as his phone on or email me at kendieplonks at googlemail dot com if you haven't got his mobile number.)

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Weekly Summary - week 14

I've remembered to do my weekly summary!

Day 92 Weston super Mare to St Briavels 55 miles
Day 93 St Briavels to Cardiff 48 miles
Day 94 Cardiff to Porthcawl 52 miles
Day 95 Porthcawl to Penmaen 46 miles
Day 96 Penmaen to Carmarthen 56 miles
Day 97 Carmarthen to Pembroke 50 miles
Day 98 Pembroke to St David 46 miles

I make that to be 353 miles covered this week and that brings the total 4,069 miles covered. Wow he has broken then 4,000 mile mark! Next week he'll reach another milestone having been out on the bike for over 100 days!

St Davids

Just had a quick phone call with Dad. There was no mobile phone signal on the campsite so he was phoning from a payphone and you don't get many minutes for your money in a phone box! He's made it to St Davids http://www.stdavids.co.uk/ . Weather has just taken a turn for the worse and it was "lashing" down when I spoke to him. He did say if he had known it was going to rain he'd have gone and stayed in the youth hostel!

Today's route took him back through Pembroke. Dad had a quick look around the Castle. It was then onto Pembroke Docks. He then headed for Milford Haven http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milford_Haven. He was having trouble finding a cafe for his morning bacon bap but two bikers came to Dad's rescue and took him to a cafe! It was then on to Tiers Cross, Broad Haven and Nolton Haven. From there he headed to Newgale which had a lovely long beach. From there he headed to Solva where he stopped for coffee and cake. It was then onto St Davids.

He is planning on having two days on the campsite so he can get his washing done tomorrow.

Tonight on the menu is cup-a-soup, beef curry and green beans followed by bananas and custard. He is cooking up in the tent (is that wise!) as it's raining too much to cook outside.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Pembroke

Dad is camping just outside Pembroke http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pembroke,_Pembrokeshire. It's been another windy day. In fact it's been quite a hard day on the bike with the hills and the wind! However he has got a sheltered spot on the campsite behind a hedge so hopefully that will give some protection from the wind. He's even got himself a table and chair so it's a proper sit down meal tonight! The site only cost £3.50 for the night - bargain.

Today's route took him from Carmarthen to Llansteffan where he got chatting to an American named Curtis who is over here for two months cycling around west Wales. From Llansteffan there were some "serious" hills to St Clears (I can see the arrows on the map!). From there Dad followed lanes to Laugharne where he stopped for a bacon bap. Laugharne had a Castle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laugharne_Castle and Grist common land. Dad then picked up cycle route 4 to Pendine which is famous for the World Speed Record on the beach http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendine_Sands ... if Dad would have had more time he would have had a crack at it on his bike! Dad continued on cycle route 4 to Amroth and Wiseman Bridge and Saundersfoot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saundersfoot - which was made famous by me in the 60's for parading round in nothing more than a strawhat!! From Saundersfoot Dad followed cycle route 4 into Tenby which instead of going over the hills went through them in the form of three tunnels. Dad then got lost in Tenby! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenby He stopped to ask directions and eventually found cycle route 4 again to Penally. It was then back on the roads to Lydstep, Manorbier and into Pembroke on the B4139. Even though it's been a hard day Dad has enjoyed it as the roads hugged the coast and he had brilliant views.

Tonight on the menu is cup-a-soup and pilchards baps followed by rice pudding.

Tomorrow he is heading for St David's where he will have a couple of nights.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Carmarthen

Dad is camping just outside Carmarthen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmarthen. Been blowing a gale again today (headwind!) but at least it's been sunny. Dad has done his shopping in Tesco in Carmarthen and also managed to pick up a gas bottle from Millets ... so he's all set for cooking tea tonight!

Today's route took him from Penmaen through Reynoldston and over the common ground. It was quite a climb up but once at the top Dad had brilliant views over the Gower Peninsula. It was then through Llanrhidian and Loughor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loughor. He crossed the Loughor River over an old Brunel Bridge built in the 1850's. He then picked up the Millennium Cycle track where he followed the coast on re-claimed land for 10 miles. Nice off road cycling but it was very windy. He stopped for a bacon buttie in the National Trust Wetland Centre http://www.wwt.org.uk/centre/120/national_wetland_centre_wales.html. It was then onto Llanelli and Barryport. Dad then left the cycle track at Kidwelly and followed the A484 into Carmarthen.

Dad had finished cycling about 4.00 ish and picked up a paper. He now believes me that it's the 4th September today. Yesterday we had some discussion about the date. He thought it was the 4th yesterday and "doubted" my word .... even though I had a calendar and the Radio Times. He had forgot that August had 31 days!

Tonight on the menu he has the usual cup a soup, tin of Tesco chicken curry and a tin of mushrooms followed by banana and custard.

Tomorrow he is moving on to Pembroke.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Penmaen (Gower)

Dad is camping in Penmaen http://www.enjoygower.com/communities/penmaencom.cfm on the Gower Peninsula. Its been a very windy day out on the bike today .... blustery and gales. So when given the choice of a pitch with a sea view or one in shelter Dad opted for the sheltered one! Wise choice.

Last night it did stop raining so Dad ventured out of the B&B and found a fish & chip restaurant and had fish, chips and mushy peas followed by a pint!

He left Porthcawl this morning after a hearty fry-up in the B&B (that's three mornings on the trot!) and headed for the sea-front. The wind was really fierce and it was a battle to ride the bike. Dad headed for Kenfig and then Pyle and headed towards Port Talbot. The A48 ran alongside the M4 and at one point motorway traffic was crossing over the A48. Dad decided to push his bike across the road instead of trying to ride it - sounds a bit dicey if you ask me! Dad was just sorting out his maps when a Welshman asked him where he was heading for. Dad explained Swansea so the Welshman gave him directions on cycle routes to keep him off the roads. Dad picked up a canal and cycled along sheltered out of the wind for about 4 miles. He then stopped and asked an Irishman (there is no Scotsman in this story!!) how to get off the canal and into Swansea. Dad had only gone the wrong way down the canal and was now 8 miles out of Swansea in a place called Neath! So Dad headed back into Swansea on roads this time. He cycled passed Amazon Distribution Centre which was huge! He then saw signs for cycle route 4 and headed off along that. A few miles down the road he passed Amazon Distribution Centre again ... yes he gone off in the wrong direction again! He sorted it out and managed to get into the outskirts of Swansea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swansea. He then asked a cyclist for directions to the Mumbles. The cyclists said I'm heading that way is it ok if I cycle with you! So Dad had company for about 7 miles. It turned out he lived locally and pointed out to Dad where Tammy Wynette lived and where Katherine Zeta Jones' mum lived! From Mumbles Head Dad headed to Parkmill and onto Penmaen.

Tonight on the menu is beans and sausage followed by rice pudding.

Tomorrow Dad is heading for Carmarthen

A few photos

Trains somewhere!



It might be Great Yarmouth (if it has a pier!)
Southwold

There is another Tunstall!

German family (Ines, Helge, Kathatina and Joshua)
Ramsgate and a replica Viking ship called Hugin.



Herne Bay
Some more photos can be found on my facebook page

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Cardiff and onto Porthcawl

Two updates today. So lets wind the clock back to Tuesday 1st September ....

Dad had a good night in St Briavels YHA. He spent the evening chatting to John Marsh the Canadian he was sharing a room with. They had a lot in common and a lot to chat about. They had an evening meal in the hostel but it was not a medieval banquet as Dad has lasagna! He also found a pub and had a couple of pints. He must have been back in before they closed the portcullis!

Next morning he had a good breakfast in the hostel and then headed back down the hill and into the Severn Valley and onto Tintern Abbey http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tintern_Abbey. He then picked up the A466 towards Chepstow. He didn't got back into the town centre but continued on to Caldicut. He then picked up B roads through to Newport http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport and the dock area. There was one of the transporter bridges http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Transporter_Bridge but it was undergoing repairs so Dad took a normal bridge across the River Usk. He then followed the B4329 along the coast and into Cardiff http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff. He cycled along a road and decided the first place he saw he would stop and ask directions to where he was staying as he'd only got the address and had no idea where in the city it was. He cycled for ages and the first place he came across was A&E but decided against asking there! He then found All Nations Church and nipped in to ask - I don't who he thought was going to find in a Church to give him directions. I'm sure He doesn't use Google maps! Anyway there was a very helpful lady working in the Church who did a print out of a map for Dad and Dad set off on his way. He got there about 4.00 and his friend had left him a key to let himself in. She arrived back at 6.00 and they sat down for a meal from the slow cooker. Now that's just what you need after a day on the bike!

Today Dad set off this morning with a full English breakfast (he is being spoilt!). He headed off to Cardiff Bay http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_Bay and the freshwater marina. He then cycled across the barriers and headed onto Penarth where he stopped for coffee. He then followed B roads Lavernock and into Barry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry,_Vale_of_Glamorgan. First big hills Dad has come across since Devon and Cornwall! He then continued on past Cardiff Airport to Llantwit Major. By now it was bucketing down! Dad continued on through Bridgend and into Porthcawl http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porthcawl. Dad cycled past a campsite (it must have been raining heavy!!!) and found himself a B&B. He was made most welcome even though he was standing on the doorstep dripping wet! Dad has a TV in his room and they made him a pot of tea. Once the rain stops he will venture out to find something to eat.

So that's three nights on the trot he has had a bed!

Tomorrow he is heading for the Mumbles .... that sounds like something you would catch!