Cycle Touring

Wild Camp in Brecon Beacons

Early Saturday morning, Brian and I set off for an impromptu walking and camping trip in Wales - we got to Talybont-on-Usk at about 9.30 (yes,we did set of early!).  After not too much faff, we set off in the wrong direction... after gathering our bearings we got back on track and headed toward pen-y-fan.  At the reservoir, we followed a bridleway which suddenly stopped and we were left on a sheep path which led us into pretty horrendous moorland - tramping over heather and marshy bogs.  Finally getting to the top of Craig y fan much to our relieve we'd got to a decent path.  From here it was a fabulous walk along the tops of the ridges of Craig Pwllfa and Craig Cwareli to Fan y big and eventually to the furthermost peak of Cribyn. The path gave us vetigous views down the valleys with sheer drops.  On Cribyn we saw the sheer number of people roaming all over Pen y fan (highest point in the Brecons) and decided not to go any further.  Instead, we strolled off to look for somwhere to camp.  We found a great spot in amongst some peat ledges overlooking Pontsticill reservoir in the distance.  The weather all day had been superb and it continued into the night.  We'd bought up vast quantities of decent food and drink and we settled in for a nice relaxed night - even the ground although uneven was nice and soft!  It'd been a long day after all! 

The morning was up at a sensible time and after a breakfast of scrambled eggs - set off back down the hills toward the car, this time taking the main path all the way to Talybont - this time I had a lighter rucksack.  Near Talybont, we headed down a bridlepath that ended at a river and no bridge! So, not wanting to turn back we had to wade across it - yikes it was chilly and not with hazard of sharp stones and a barbed wire fence!  Unscathed, we made it back to the car for the journey back to London.  A very successful trip!  

It's weird how doing a different sort of exercise can have such an effect on my legs - they were so achy after traipsing up and down all those hills! I may be a pretty good cyclist - but walking with a load is a different matter... 

And back home

A slightly later start than usual. Breakfast in the hostel followed by a walk along the coastal path, which was very pleasant. A bit like a wilder, slightly less busy cornwall. Finally back at the hostel we packed our stuff and reluctantly headed to the train station for the journey home.. Which actually turned out to be not too bad - relatively little trouble finding the train station and the trains back weren't too busy.

Pembrokeshire

 A fairly dry day!  From Sandy Haven, we headed up the wonderful coast to St Davids, predictably lots of ups and downs - many of them steep.  The ups involved growling along in the tiniest gear.  Stunning Scenery!  As St Davids we did the touristy things, around the sloping cathedral, had the obligatory ice cream, After a lot of time mooching about the "city" we went on to White Sands bay. Probably a nice beach - but you couldn't really see it for the sheer number of people!  Undeterred we went for a swim/body surf anyway - until we felt chilly.  We left for Fishguard stopping for late lunch on the way - yet again more fabulous scenery.  We were going to camp near Fishguard but it started to rain again, so aborted and headed for a hostel.  That evening we went for a wander around the lovely town. Fish and Chips overlooking the harbour of the lower town.  A jazz festival was on in town and we went to listen to Gareth Pearson putting on a pretty superb guitar performance at the Old Coach inn. 

Good progress in the rain

Sandy haven near milford haven. Another wet morning! We set off from our field in Ferryside up to camarthon and on various main roads to cwm deri vineyard on the border of pembrokshire national park. We stopped here for a very long lunch and a wine tasting session - after which it had stopped raining(ish) and proceeded through the lovely countryside (ie up and down) to pembroke over the estuary and over to sandy haven next to two oil refineries (nice!) But you couldn't see them and the camp site was right on the beach a lovely little bay.

Off road on the gower - sun sea and plenty of rain

Set off from caerphillly yesterday. We took a few wrong turnings to find route 47 which took us over the hills on the high route to Neath. Plenty of splendid views and rugged tracks! We picked up route 4 to swansea and then onto the gower peninsula. 
 Today we did a loop around the gower going via some obscure little tracks. Fabulous views! Back on the 'mainland' we got back on the 4 and carried on around the coast. We came across the millenium park an incredible complex of landscaped features following the cycle route. After poopooing various holiday park campsites we settled for one owned by a village shop keeper - a field high on a hill with incredible views.

Caerphilly

A fairly gentle start. Set off from shelagh's (my aunt) at a respectable time this morning and on to ruth and andy's for bacon and pancakes. Afterward set off across the severn bridge along bristol's cycle network. Once in wales we simply followed more bike paths to caerphilly. Pretty easy navigation and incredibly pretty for the most part - or at least interesting! We went past a fabulous contraption called the transporter bridge. A huge gantry swings a platform across a river. Up to 6 cars! Now in caerphilly - great castle! Cheese hunting tomorrow...

Wales here we come!

Another bike trip is soon to begin - i.e. tomorrow(ish).  A bit of a mini-trip this one!  Jo and I are going down to Weston-super-mare for my Granny's 90th birthday.  So a family day out.  From there, Jo and I will make our way to Bristol to stay at my Aunts and then on Sunday head out of town across the Severn bridge and into Wales. 

We'll be heading toward Pembrokeshire over the hilly bits.  No real plans - apart from fitting in a bit of mountain biking, hopefully a bit of dinghy sailing, swimming in the sea, cream teas, nice campsites and possibly a vineyard! 

Venice...

We made it - trip complete! On monday we descended from the mountains through some fantastic scenery following a deep wooded valley. The traffic got more and more interesting the further we went. Including a terrifying experience in a 1.3km tunnel. We got to Treviso - a bustling walled town - but few hotels except near the hospital and after a lot of searching. Exhausting after 105miles! Yesterday was the last stage, a short, not unpleasant, hop to campsite in mestre close to airport and venice. We spent late morning hunting for cardboard and had great success with TNT, where a nice bloke supplied us with 2 huge bike sized boxes! We spent the late afternoon mooching in venice then came back this v early morning to see venice wake up. Pretty marvelous! This afternoon we'll tackle getting us and bikes to airport and the packing...

Misurina

Well we made it! 1060miles. We've been here 3 nights in this superb location - a wonderful lake surrounded by stunning mountain peaks. We've done a couple of via Ferrata routes both of which were stunning. Tonight we're cycling up the 'hill' to Rifugio Auronzo where we'll spend the next 2 nights and do some more mountain routes. Hopefully the weather will improve as its drizzly yet today... But fine for spending time in a nice cafe.

Corvara... And into the Dolomiti

Well we've almost reached the destination. Probably about 50km to Misurina - altho still a couple of passes to go. Today we had 2 climbs upto 2239 and 1875. It was almost snowing at the top of passo pordoi so a chilly descent! Oh yes and the scenery is STUNNING! At least it is when you have time to look up while negotiating hair pin bends.