When you are invited to go for a weekend cycle-camping and no one shares the hill profile of the route with you, then you know there is something wrong. Rosebush, a broken but repaired tent pole and the Tafern Zync were highlights of a pleasant first night with Kev’s birthday party and a reading of the December 28 1954 edition of The Motor. The Duke of Edinburgh at our destination for the second night provided a delicious repast of Sweet Potato and Spinach curry with a splash (or two) of Argentinian Malbec to wash it down
The overnight gales at Newgale beach were only to be expected, but other than a reminder to pack everything in dry bags, could have been much worse. The cycle onwards was through constant rain, with the Cafe in Tesco in Pembroke sheltering the bedraggled peleton – witnessing Goretex shoes which keep water in as much as they keep it out – before finally arriving brakeless in Tenby. Surely no one is going to camp tonight?
Two bikes with failing brakes are ‘just-about’ fixable, but this is one moment that you need to rely on German engineering and the Rohloff failed. Uphill and downhill would be fine in first gear, but the flat was going to be a problem. Think again. There is no flat on this route, so our plucky peddler continued to Carmarthen via St Clears and a well earned cup of tea & Aldi biscuits.
Planning for the next excursion was no doubt under way on the trip back, but luckily I didn’t have my new hearing aid so missed it. I’ll be washing my hair that weekend.
