The A6 north through Preston and Lancaster is uninspiring. Mark from Liverpool was using it to make for Morecambe on the coast and continue his section-by-section cycle tour of the entire UK coastline. A commendable endeavour. One touring cyclist is a rarity, a further 3 unheard of, of which one, a chap in Lancaster with some serious looking kit, was more laden than I was…. alas, did not get to ask where exactly he was heading…..
North Wales has its caravan parks, Southport has retirement homes and ‘Dan Dare’, describing itself as ‘England’s Classic Resort’. Actually, the place is trying very hard to rejuvenate itself, and with some success. The old-fashioned boarding houses are long gone (although I do know of a couple of places in Wales where you can still find Bakelite plugs and post-war austerity measures – where a cooked breakfast is a pan of boiled eggs at 8am sharp), replaced for the most part by friendly B&Bs that cater for a broad range of clientele. And my many years of staying at the Carlton Lodge in Bath Street (visit Christine and Nicole at www.carltonlodgesouthport.co.uk) when visiting relatives in the town is testament to this.
The North Wales coast – Llandudno, Rhyl, Prestatyn – offers fine coastal cycling, flat and fast. And a teasing glimpse into the world of the static caravan holiday, promenade concessions and shops selling ‘fancy goods’. I have but the haziest of ideas of what the latter are, but imagine them to be some sort of throw-back to the 70s, perhaps the sort of thing you might have put on your hostess trolley. Maybe akin to the ‘moral turpitude’ question on the old US visa waiver programme – you don’t know exactly what it is, but you just know ticking ‘Yes’ against it would be a bad idea…..
Fork in road
Wales without rain would be incomplete, and as I left Aberdovey and headed north, I was not to be disappointed. However, I fared somewhat better than the village of Dolgarrog, a brief stop on my route from Betws-y-Coed to the coast at Conwy, and a chance to chat with Emma in the village shop. I was curious about the large amounts of mud and silt all over the road, learning that this was the result of a hydroelectric power station pipe bursting the previous day.
Ploughing along the A470 up through mid-Wales, popular with log-laden lorries, may not appear the most obvious route choice for cycling. However, whilst you certainly need your wits about you, there are ample compensations. Roadside cafes. Or put another way, bacon and egg baps, and streaming mugs of tea. Frequently. And the lorry drivers. Admittedly a rather unscientific survey, but whilst pedalling hard towards The Outward Bound Trust’s Wales centre at Aberdovey I rate them as the most considerate of road users, and by a good margin. Seriously. And I should really mention Jean’s cafe a few miles south of Llangurig, so when she reads this she realises I really am off to cycle around the world…
Sunday 26 April. Some chose to tackle the London marathon. I opt for hauling my expedition bike, laden with almost all the kit I will carry for the next four years, on the start of a month long tour visiting The Outward Bound Trust centres at Aberdovey, Ullswater and Loch Eil. The aims are two-fold. Firstly, to see how things have changed since my own experiences with the Trust 24 years previously. Secondly, putting the bike and rider through a challenging programme to help refine the kit and help raise cycle fitness. Oh, and breaking in a leather saddle which I am assured, just like a stout pair of boots, will be well worth the effort….
Late April sees the start of 4 week tour from Somerset up to Scotland, returning via Northern Ireland, Eire and South Wales. Idea is two-fold – firstly, to visit most of The Outward Bound Trust’s UK centres – Aberdovey, Ullswater and Loch Eil – to understand how things have changed since I did my course with The Trust in 1985. Secondly, and just as importantly, to refine the bike and all the expedition kit – work out what works, and what doesn’t, before I head off to France in September. Watch this space for blogs en-route!