Didn't do any checkpoints yesterday. Went over to see mouse in Newport for a catch up. His Diesel bike looks like it'll be quite a machine when he gets all the running problems sorted out. Checked the head nuts on the Enfield. As well i did because oe of them was pretty loose. It's done 1000miles since the rebuild. I'm going to have to do an oil change at some point this week.

Did the Usk checkpoint, stone comemmorating St david lewis. As far as i can make out, there are three. A memorial stone, a stone marking the site of his execution and his actual tomb. Not clear which is his tomb so i photographed all the likely looking ones in the yard.

I only have two checkpoints to do in Wales and i'm camped up pretty near both of them. West of England tomorrow.

This posting will be late because there is not reception where I'm camped. I'll need to stop for some McBroadband tomorrow.

Dinner time

Just because one is campng, doesn't mean one can't eat well.

Pan fried lamb chops with boiled new potatoes with sweetcorn nibblets. All done on my borde stove and czech army mess tins.

Day 8

Well. Milford Haven was probably the worst place to go in this area. Found a much more pleasant campsite about 15 miles along the coast. A totally clear night, got some funy looks doing my washing but nobody likes a stinky biker. makes you wonder what caravan people do for clean clothes. Maybe they just stink which is why they never go out and socialise?


Woke up to another bright sunny day. Took a fair bit of mapwork and wrong turns to get there today. I could have just blasted along the A40 but that's pretty boring. Unfortunately, the councils in South Wales appear to have spent their entire roadsign budget on signs telling you to slow down, in both English and Welsh, some of which have flashng lights. As a result, there is nothing to tell you a) Which road you're on. b) Where it goes and c) How far away it is. So, I reckon instead of preventing accidents by slowing people down, they have caused them by making people do unexpected u-turns and loiter at junctions wondering where to go.

The memorial stone at Llandow was just on the side of the road, a wee bit treacherous if you aren't on a bike that can go on the verge. The Sigingtone one was tucked away round a corner a few miles down the road. Went in past the Enfield dealers at Llandow airfield. Jolly friendly chaps but unfortunately for them, the bike seems to be running fine with nothing having fallen off *touch wood*.

Might take it a bit easier tomorrow. I'm well enough ahead on ladmarks and I have a mate who lives in Newport which is just along the coast.

This coastal part of Wales seems very crowded. No big towns, just a constant stream of small villages and towns. I'll be glad then I get out of constant 30-40-30-40-30 speed limits. The choice seems to be either motorway or do 40. They even slap a 40 limit on any twisty out of town bits that might offer a break from the tedium and numb bum. There are enough speed cameras about that it's not worth the risk pushing my dangerous speed machine to its comfortable cruising speed of 50mph.

day 7

After a restful night atthe bothy, I headed back across to get a picture of a statue in Tergaron.

Next stop was Ceneth Falls. i was going to stop here for lunch but they wanted paying for everything. 50p to park the bike and another fee to walk down next to the river. Well, that's not the way to attract visitors so they missed out on one lunch and possibly a visitor the the coracle centre. Not going on general princiiple, good job my wallet is on a chain.

I'm on my way to Milford Haven now. Stopped for a McWireless. This area seems a bit grim to be honest. Not sure exactly what it is, just an impression. Lots of closed shops, no waves from people on the road, everyone going about with their heads down even thought it's a bright, sunny Sunday.

Maybe be a bit nicer on the coast.

Day 6

Just a quick post from Aberystwyth. Got 3G outside morrisons. Superb run through the Welsh valleys in the sunshine. the roads are well suited to the Bullet, lots of tricky sweeping corners, not too many straights. Boring checkpoint today but it's been suggested I try to make the pictures more interesting.

Off into the wilds now.

Day 5

No internet recception at the campsite but the pont y pair hotel had a wireless network. A different place to when I've usually been here in February for the Dragon rally.

Took a trip over to Anglesey today via Colwyn Bay to pick up an open face helmet. I'm sweating cobs! Bagged the landmark there and headed back away via the Menai bridge. I've always thought that is the most worthwhile thing to see on Anglsey, it's mostly just flat and windswept with a few exceptions round the South coast.

On the subject of bridges, the next checkpoint was a roman bridge near Capel Curig. I headed over via the Llaberis pass. Again, the Enfield waltzed up it but I'll need to check the oil tonight. It also sounds great going through the tunnels on the A55.

The Roman Bridge was cunningly hidden UNDER the current road bridge. It's a pretty impressive drystone arch made of flat stones.

Off towards mid Wales tomorrow, I plan to stop at Nant Rhys bothy, definately no mobile reception there so no updates tomorrow.

Forecast up to 30 degrees over the weekend!

Another absolute scorcher. I' REALLY glad i got a 1 season sleeping bag, it's been absolutely boiling in the tent and on the bike. Back into more scenic, pleasant surroundings. I've been to Worlds End via a very twisty hill road and I've been up horseshoe Pass. The bike managed no problem.

Slowing things down now I'm in a good camping area so 2 days at Betws y Coed, I'll pop over to Angelsea tomorrow ad have a tootle about Snowdonia.

There was a rally of citroen 2CV 3-wheeler conversions at the Lake visitor centre. They picked a good day for it!f