South West Wales

In summary, Castles 4, punctures 0, bottle of Moet 1Japanese cyclists 1, Japanese Knotweed trillions, weekly miles 180, miles so far 391.

Friday 29/06/07 - short ride (12 miles) to Pembroke Dock via Pembroke & Castle. All day breakfast waiting for ferry to Rosslare (Eire). Smooth crossing, coachload of Japanese tourists on ferry, 7.00pm arrival at Maureen & Sean's, fabulous fish pie, invited to stay til Monday. Forecast very wet.

Thursday 28/06/07 - Wonderful Pembokeshire coastline. Weather glorious am. Picnic lunch pretty village St Florence. Camped on exposed farm site above Freshwater Bay. 26 miles.

Wednesday 2706/07 - 30 miles. Camarthen Castle. Met Japanese cyclist. Acres of Japanese Knotweed. Beatiful Laugharne village & castle. Dylan Thomas's home. Another sunny evening. Fab modern campsite.

Tuesday 26/06/07 - 24 miles. Estuary cyclin. Sunny. Chris rang from Oz, working 40 miles up dirt track for Co prospecting for tungsten. Lovely evening on beach watching RAF Fighter practise bombing run.

Monday 25/06/07 - 39 miles. Sue's 50th!
Mike splashed out, treating Sue to an all-day breakfast at Jerry's Transport Cafe in Tarmac's South Cornelly Quarry. Jerry says there is a severe weather warning for Wales today! Soggy campsite by Kenfig nature reserve. Champagne, smoked salmon, scrambled eggs & stuffed olives cooked in tent out of rain. Brilliant.

Sunday 24/06/07 - 48 miles around Caerphilly Castle & Taff Trail. Hill route Pontpridd to Tonyrefail. Very exciting in heavy rain & floods. Water half way up panniers! Mike's waterproof cycling jacket isn't, so ditched - using spare 'kag-in-a-bag' .

Saturday 23/06/07 - 56 miles.
A day of bridges. Avon, Severn, & famous Newport Transporter Bridge.

Setting out - Devon & Somerset

A selection of our first few pictures

Not marathon stuff, but 155 miles so far!!! To summarise, 1 cycle helmet, 1 puncture & a bottle of Champagne to date.

Friday 22/06/07 – Dry start to break camp. Lovely ride over Somerset levels, saw deer, herons & egrets. Sheltered from heavy storm in Morrisons Weston-Super-Mare (all day breakfast!) Found Strawberry Line Cycle Path to Yatton Station. Stayed the night with Mike & Alison Kacher in Clevedon – fabulous dinner cooked by Alison.

Thursday 21/06/07 – Wet packing up camp & until lunchtime. Canal path from Taunton to Bridgwater (Mike 1st puncture). Campsite at Bawdrip on the Polden Hills – lots of bunnies.

Wednesday 20/06/07 – Set off 7.30. Tiverton canal path, then north into the Brendon Hills. Wonderful campsite at Waterrow.

Tuesday 19/06/07 – Recovering at Janet & Ian’s. Replanned route to reduce daily mileage.

Monday 18/06/07 – Back roads via Totnes to Ashburton. Unfortunately 5 minutes from Ashburton we met a car on a narrow muddy back road & Sue’s emergency stop ended with her head –butting the tarmac. Thanks to all at Glendinning’s who helped to get us sorted. Replacement helmet purchased! Happy Anniversary!
Sunday 17/06/07 – Left 1 Durham Avenue Plymouth to Barbara & Mike’s at Loddiswell via wonderful lunch courtesy of the Paul & Hannah at the Miners Arms Hemerdon.

Final countdown

We are now trying to remember to do all the things we said we must do before we go! Made our last visit to the tip yesterday evening & will do our last trip to the furniture storage unit this evening, as Sue's car goes tomorrow.

What's left at the rented house tonight will have to go on the bikes with us (or in the dustbin)!