Tjs recovery ride part 3. Now its Wales turn.

Take care in the horrible heat of the next couple of days. Maybe even do your miles in the evening or overnight, nobody wants a dessicated TJ!

Camped up in Tenby. The town is hooching with people. Campsite is up on the cliff with fab views

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Only problem beer and food is back down the hill.

Todays earworm

😁

Campsite is up on the cliff with fab views

If it's a fab view shouldn't it be

Well played @thepurist.

Lols

Ambrose. You gonna be around when i catch up with gnusmas?

My phones about to run out so mowt more until the morning

You are welcome to camp here after visiting Moley. It would fit right in with a northern route. We are right on Sustrans 42 at Llanthony just before the highest tarmac road in Wales.

Lancashire Crew? Does your route take you anywhere near Bury / Ramsbotton / Todmorden / whatever?

Will project the letters MNPR onto a cloud to summon the chaps.

Shall we sort an Uncle Jezza Monday Night Pub Ride? Doesn’t have to be a Monday, obvs.

Doesn't have to be a ride. We could just go to the pub.

I’m liking your thinking

https://flic.kr/p/2n1dsXe

Take Welshfarmer up on that. I haven't been to his place but it's in a fantastic area.

When would it likely be. I actually have a night free in my little Air BnB bothy next Thursday evening. Yours gratis if it fits your schedule TJ

https://airbnb.com/h/the-squirrels-nest-llanthony

Let me know if you swing by Macclesfield. Looks like you’ve had a great time so far

Hi tj, you must be up in meadow farm, i`m about 4 miles from you, the coast route out through saundersfoot to laugharne is great, and marros beach with the sunken trees is well worth a visit.
All the best anyway...

👍🏼 I'm going to be at Gnusmas' place tomorrow, it will be good to see you.
Welsh farmer's offer is a proper good place to be.
There are a few bothies in mid Wales too but they are possibly a bit too far west.

I dont have a schedule at all. Making it all up day by dsy. Hopefully catch up with a bunch of you guys

Somebody give Gnusmas a big hug from me please. Keep meaning to get over to see him.

Doesn’t have to be a ride. We could just go to the pub.

That sounds like a terrible idea. I'm in.

Let me know if you swing by Macclesfield.

I did not know you were in Macclesfield. I was there a week or so ago for an escape room, first time I've ever been. I was pleasantly surprised.

It will be a good couple of weeks i guess until im Manchester way.

Currently having second breakfast in Saundersfoot

Second breakfasts are the best breakfasts.

Slow going this morning. No one toldme thete were hills

Where are headed for this evening? In Swansea here if you need a sofa in a stranger’s hot and smelly house.

Ta idlejon. I appear to be at gnusmus house
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Looks like some sort of Boy Band reunion.

Third on the bill headlined by T'Pau.

We need a name. Best name wins something. Ill think of a suitable thing later

Looks like a great adventure wish you all the best

We need a name

Spandex Ballet
The Cranks
The Big Hitters

The Cranks

That's going to be hard to beat.

Ta idlejon. I appear to be at gnusmus house

👍

Idlejon. Sent you a pm

The Happy Sundays?

Idlejon. Sent you a pm

Replied.

<img src="<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52223343344_d296ea371f_k.jpg" width="1152" height="2048" alt="DSC_0072" /><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>" alt="Baby Robin" />

It was great to meet up with you today TJ. Hopefully there is a pic here of a baby robin on my bike in Brechfa earlier in the day. Waiting for you I put in an extra lap, FFS get a move on man, are you slacking or something?

Anyway, all being well I may see you in Burry Port on Monday. It's a really lovely ride from Kidwelly to Swansea. I'm certain that you'll enjoy it.

Ah, if he's going to Swansea then to Cardiff, we could send him up the Bwlch!

TJ, it's the road that goes past Afan Argoed and is an absolute classic. The closest thing you can get to an Alpine vibe in South Wales, not because it's steep but it's long and winds its way through forests and villages and breaks out of the tree line to a proper pass. A4107 up from Port Talbot through Cwmafan and Cymer to the top. Big climb though!

It might be possible to take the fire road down through the wind farm from there, but not sure off the top of my head if it's suitable for gravel tyres and a trailer. You could easily go down through Ogmore Vale though - there's a cyclepath marked on the map, then turn left on the cyclepath to Tonyrefail. From there take the back road to Pontyclun past Llantrisant forest, duck under the M4 and go to Cardiff via St Brides, or take a longer route through Llanrithtyd, Llancafarn, Dyffryn, Wenvoe, Dinas Powys. It's all lovely round there.

Given the forecast for tomorrow and the fact i got thru 5 l of water today going over all the hills no one told me about tomorrow I think taking it easy will be a sensible option. Gnusmus is going to give me a lift to the coast and a gentle meander along in the direction of Swansea seems prudent. No hills i am told and should be cooler on the coast.. i nearly melted today

Im very suspicious of molgrips classic hills as well.

The Bwlch in this weather would be a nasty thing to do to a friend. There are better ways surely? Perhaps better to follow NCN4 into the big smoke that is Cardiff.

Although coming in via The Taff Trail is always pretty good.

TJ, just for you.

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-other-routes/lon-las-cymru-south/

The Bwlch in this weather would be a nasty thing to do to a friend.

That's true, it'll be hot. Shame though, it's a stone cold classic. I sometimes ride all the way over from here on some fairly shitty roads just to do it.

Finally, he's gone 😂

Just dropped TJ off at Kidwelly to avoid the steep hills in this heat, now making his merry way onwards.

Was a pleasure to meet you and enjoyed our chats yesterday and this morning.

Happy trails and ride safe 👊

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Delighted to meet you and the gnusmuslings as well who are delightful bunch even if i didn't know what to do with them. Side salad? Chips? Tartar sauce?

Thanks for the lift even tho i forgot a bag and we had to go back Doh!

Im assured there are no hills on this bit of coast. Hmmmmmmmm

We've hoovered.

Go along the coast they said. Nice refreshing sea breeze they said. Its a bleeding headwind

You're better off with it, I think!

Only just seen this thread; sorry I missed the chance to meet a STW legend (you were 2 minutes from my house when you were sitting next to Pembroke castle!).

Hope the heat is ok for you as you head east, it can't be pleasant!

Just a gentle meander along the coast to Swansea today whete tonights victim eerrm I mean kind benefactor is idlejon. Lovely chap cooked me dinner and now its beer o'clock.

Hot hot hot today. Drank water by the litre and at one point had to soak my shirt in a pond as I was in danger of overheating

I am loving these threads. So many nice incidental interactions. It’s like an Alan Bennett play by bike. I am sorry I will be gone to the USA by the time TJ makes it to Calderfornia. Hope the trip has plenty of cold beers and tailwinds!

I agree with Hannah, this is a great thread. Keep the updates coming.

Shit I haven't got any beer.

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Only pic i took today
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What a lovely thread.

Was lucky enough to meet TJ and his Mrs once at HtN, delightful people.

If you make it to Burnley, there's a spare bed, food and a warm welcome available.
I'm sure Cougar will have already offered, it's proper friendly round here!

Drop us a line if you need owt, be an absolute pleasure to help.

You planning to be here tomorrow TJ? I have to do school run. Let me know if you want route suggestions.

Only pic i took today

I can see my house

Dinnae worry moley

You didnt wave twodogs

If you make it to Burnley, there’s a spare bed, food and a warm welcome available.
I’m sure Cougar will have already offered, it’s proper friendly round here!

I did. 😁 However the chips fall, we should probably sort something between us. I have a deeply uncomfortable futon, a really quite comfy airbed, a sofa or two and floor space for whatever camp bed TJ is packing.

Just stock up on antihistamines if you're allergic to cats.

Lankashire mob? Wrong colour rose

That's the beach pupils in my school were goig to be cleaning today. Cancelled because of the heat/ Sun.

You said the wind would be against you- you were right!

Of course it was . Its alway a headwind

Lankashire mob? Wrong colour rose

Offer rescinded.

Oh dear. Who suggested beer? I feel ropey this morning.

You didnt wave twodogs

Too hot for that sort of stuff

🤣

Nice to meet you, TJ. Enjoy the ride up to Cardiff and try not to overheat too much.

Lovely to meet you as well and thanks for the loan of a sofa and the introduction to Swansea night life🤣🙄

Shit day today. Just poor planning and route choices by me. I should have taken two days and gone along the coast. Instead I followed ncn 4 for a bit thru the arse end of port talbot then it took me on a big detour. One nice section of old railway and I did even get a mile of singletrack. This afternoon tho I ended up mainly on fast a roads which I hate including by my stupidity a few miles of fast dual carriageway. Warra numpty.

Im camped up in Cardiff now right near the centre.

On the good side: The legendary molgrips is gonna feed me😀 and saxonrider might join us.

Did you manage to go back for your lost “n”? You might need it later in the trip!
I’m impressed with you cycling in this heat though, I’ve had trouble just sitting down and giving everything a good looking at!

Molgrips me and Saxonrider

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They have high fences in South Wales

Its to keep molgrips in I think

Met mrs molgrips as well. Lovely woman with the patience of a saint

The molgrips fed me as well. Lovely kind folk

How did the Merc look? Bits of air intake all over the living room floor?

Not that i saw🙄🤣

Thanks TJ and @SaxonRider it was good company, best evening I've had in a while.

I was just going to grill sausages and some corn, Mrs Grips made a full meal! She thought TJ looked like he needed feeding.

I reckon he managed to put together the worst possible ride in all of Wales. But to be fair, it's not really possible to cross the Vale of Glamorgan quickly and easily unless you use the unpleasant main road. And getting out of Swansea to the east by bike is rubbish. Geography.

I have to say I am humbled by the response to this tour. Both in the interest folk seem to have in my meanderings around and in the generosity stwers are showing me.

While I am not fully recovered from my grief and trauma this has been a huge boost to me. Cycling is my meditation and my medicine. Meeting all these lovely people is also comforting and reassuring. Ive been shown a lot of love and it helps.

Thanks to you all