The cycle trip has come around again. Beginning of August for us this year, and the trip will be the Lon Las cycle routes (North and South) across Wales – http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/lon-las-cymru-north.
The trip was expected to be around 230 miles with a fair bit of up and hopefully a fair bit of down. This years trip was a four day cycle, with a 70 miler followed by 3 50 milers. Due to the sometimes remote locations and large spaces between towns, this was agreed to be the most sensible option. Also due to the amount of climbing and the remoteness we were joined by an able volunteer to run the support craft.
We set off on Thurs afternoon with Paul driving the support car, me, Marrsy and Brendan on board. Brend had actually managed to navigate himself across London, across England, and across Magor to get down there in good time, and we stocked up the support craft with our bikes and packs and managed a cheeky beer or two. We got to Severn Tunnel just after Nick had arrived, and after a quick pit stop to get his bike on the rack (and a beer for me), we were on our merry way – 220 miles to the destination.
Within 3 minutes we had a quick pit stop to stock up on cans , and coke for the driver – then we really were on the way. After a few beers and at least five wee stops for me we saw the landscape change from dual carriageways to remote mountain roads, picking our way through the small towns and villages which make up mid to North Wales. We had a mystery music session for a couple of hours, and I don’t really remember much else.
We stopped at Beddgelert for supper and had an okay sausage and mash, some lasagna and fish and chips. My side veg had a couple of flys being sick on, when The Brend pounced. He had finished his fish and chips and was looking for an opportunity to stock up, so he nabbed the veg and before I could tell him about the fly sick, all the veg was gone.
Next bit of the journey blurs into mountains, clouds and darkness, but before long we arrived at the Travelodge in Holyhead. After a quick check in, and a bike dismount we crashed for the night. It was now I realised I had left all my toiletries carefully packed in my bathroom at home.
Hotel was surprisingly nice, and had a decent nights sleep (little did I know how much I should have savored that) ready for the journey proper tomorrow.