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!