Author Topic: Welsh Coast-to-Coast (was "I may have some time on my hands...") (Read 21723 times)

Wowbagger · « **on:** 01 August, 2013, 06:28:28 pm »

I'm looking at the calendar and realising that I've got what at the moment is a free week starting on Mon 12th Aug. I'm thinking about just going off with a bike and a tent. I have given no thought so far to a route, or even a starting point. I may be overtaken by events if something should happen regarding Mrs. Wow's mother, but as things stand I'm upfrit.

Anyone else interested in a bit of camping en velo at 50-ish miles per day (terrain dependent)?

Canardly · « **Reply #1 on:** 01 August, 2013, 08:02:09 pm »

Next year I will be free to partake but unfortunately not this one.

Kim · « **Reply #2 on:** 01 August, 2013, 08:03:46 pm »

In principle I've been having similar thoughts, but alas I have plans that week.

adenough · « **Reply #3 on:** 01 August, 2013, 11:14:14 pm »

I could possibly do some of that as a shakedown for my French trip. Would not mind doing an easy coast to coast.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #4 on:** 01 August, 2013, 11:26:58 pm »

Quote from: adenough on 01 August, 2013, 11:14:14 pm

I could possibly do some of that as a shakedown for my French trip. Would not mind doing an easy coast to coast.

Whereabouts are you? A coast-to-coast could work...

Jaded · « **Reply #5 on:** 01 August, 2013, 11:33:16 pm »

50 miles from Southend is a long way from here.

adenough · « **Reply #6 on:** 02 August, 2013, 10:17:01 am »

Quote

Whereabouts are you? A coast-to-coast could work..

Manchester.

nikki · « **Reply #7 on:** 02 August, 2013, 07:44:20 pm »

Threadwatching.

I'd like - and it may even be deemed *sensible* for me - to take part in this one. I might dip in for a few days if I'm able to.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #8 on:** 02 August, 2013, 08:44:02 pm »

Mrs. Wow and I are toying with the idea of starting in Chepstow and then heading north-west - but Mrs. Wow isn't totally committed yet. We would be on solos (small train option from N. Wales not conducive to tandems) and the routes I have plotted so far involve a certain amount of COR and not a small number of chevrons.

Nikki, if you wanted to join us for all or part of the route, you would be very welcome. We go quite close to stations well served by trains from Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury. I see that there is a good service form Mordor Central to Chepstow for £not much.

Kim · « **Reply #9 on:** 02 August, 2013, 09:10:44 pm »

UNI to Chepstow is the cool kids' route. There's only one platform (with working lifts, space, and oxygen) at UNI.

On a related note, it should probably be said that last time I got off a train at Chepstow, I was confronted with that wonderful combination of a loaded tourer and a Mk 1 footbridge. Scratching my head at a dodgy looking barrow crossing, I turned to the wheelchair user I'd been sharing a space-opposite-the-toilet with, and asked how people of a wheeled persuasion were supposed to escape from the platform. She explained that her husband was approaching from the other side, and would carry her wheelchair over while she hobbled across. We exchanged words of encouragement at the halfway point when I went back for the panniers.

nikki · « **Reply #10 on:** 02 August, 2013, 09:42:44 pm »

Thanks Wow.

I'm working every day from tomorrow through until (and including) Sunday, so I definitely wouldn't be able to join you on the first day (and possibly not on the Monday either, depending on how grumpy/frazzled I'm feeling as a result of having to have been Cheerful and Enthusiastic at people for over a week!).

Thanks for the UNI tip too, Kim.

ETA Ah, just re-read the OP and realised you're talking in terms of starting on the Monday...

Basil · « **Reply #11 on:** 02 August, 2013, 09:50:04 pm »

Agree that Uni is much easier to use, but I still tend to go to MC. The train comes from Nottingham and tends to empty at MC making it easier to grab the bike space. By the time it gets to Uni there's always those muppets, already installed, who like to sit in the seats either end of the bike space, even though they have no bike, chair or whatever.

The downside of MC is that it tends to run from the mythical platform 12.

Kim · « **Reply #12 on:** 02 August, 2013, 10:16:04 pm »

Nikki and I had a run-in with platform 12 after the pie run...

nikki · « **Reply #13 on:** 02 August, 2013, 10:19:00 pm »

The in part wasn't a problem, but getting out took two attempts and we haven't seen Crumbling Nick since...

Basil · « **Reply #14 on:** 02 August, 2013, 10:22:27 pm »

GN: I'll be passing through Chepstow station on the 12th.

BN: I'll be heading north.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #15 on:** 02 August, 2013, 10:51:53 pm »

Quote from: nikki on 02 August, 2013, 09:42:44 pm

Thanks Wow.

I'm working every day from tomorrow through until (and including) Sunday, so I definitely wouldn't be able to join you on the first day (and possibly not on the Monday either, depending on how grumpy/frazzled I'm feeling as a result of having to have been Cheerful and Enthusiastic at people for over a week!).

Thanks for the UNI tip too, Kim.

ETA Ah, just re-read the OP and realised you're talking in terms of starting on the Monday...

We haven't bought tickets yet and Monday is the earliest we could start.

At the moment my thoughts are towards 5 days' cycling to get us to the Lleyn Peninsula, which is a lovely part of Wales and, the last time I went, better than Gower in that there were fewer people there. Then, a couple of days' dossing and beach-lounging prior to returning via Pwllheli station. It's all very flexible though: I was considering buying single walk-on tickets from Pwllheli to Shrewsbury (no advance discounts that I can see) and spending a night with my brother before getting on a train back to Southend. I am cognisant of the fact that at the end of the following week Mrs. Wow and I have a commitment to Mildenhall.

If you are limited by specific dates we would be quite happy to adjust either end by a day or so if it helps.

nikki · « **Reply #16 on:** 03 August, 2013, 07:39:48 am »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 02 August, 2013, 10:51:53 pm

We haven't bought tickets yet and Monday is the earliest we could start.

At the moment my thoughts are towards 5 days' cycling to get us to the Lleyn Peninsula, which is a lovely part of Wales and, the last time I went, better than Gower in that there were fewer people there. Then, a couple of days' dossing and beach-lounging prior to returning via Pwllheli station.
[...]
If you are limited by specific dates we would be quite happy to adjust either end by a day or so if it helps.

*wibble*
You've just tapped straight into my nostalgia circuits - my grandparents lived near Porthmadog. And, yes, a lovely part of the world. Black Rock Sands is/are calling...

No specific dates to work around at the moment, just a generic pile of deadlines. Work things out for you, and I'll figure out how many days I can free up and link up with wherever you guys will be.

andrewc · « **Reply #17 on:** 03 August, 2013, 09:38:40 am »

Quote from: nikki on 03 August, 2013, 07:39:48 am

Quote from: Wowbagger on 02 August, 2013, 10:51:53 pm

We haven't bought tickets yet and Monday is the earliest we could start.

At the moment my thoughts are towards 5 days' cycling to get us to the Lleyn Peninsula, which is a lovely part of Wales and, the last time I went, better than Gower in that there were fewer people there. Then, a couple of days' dossing and beach-lounging prior to returning via Pwllheli station.
[...]
If you are limited by specific dates we would be quite happy to adjust either end by a day or so if it helps.

*wibble*
You've just tapped straight into my nostalgia circuits - my grandparents lived near Porthmadog. And, yes, a lovely part of the world. Black Rock Sands is/are calling...

No specific dates to work around at the moment, just a generic pile of deadlines. Work things out for you, and I'll figure out how many days I can free up and link up with wherever you guys will be.

Sighs wistfully..... Aberdaron, Abersoch, Nefyn, the funfair at Pwllhelli, Tudweiliog, fishing at Dinas Dinlle ........ lots of childhood holidays.....

Pop into The Lion Wow and imagine a small AndrewC playing on the swings & slide.....

Wowbagger · « **Reply #18 on:** 03 August, 2013, 10:54:08 am »

OK - I have bought some tickets. Just me, Mrs. Wow has other plans.

Southend to Chepstow, 12/8/13, arrives 13.50

Shrewsbury to Southend, 19/8/13, leaves 12.47.

The route I have in mind (may be changed on a whim):-

Monday 12th, 35 miles, camp at Llanthony: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://peter.chesspod.com/routes/chepstow/llanthony.gpx

Tuesday 13th, 42 miles, camp at Rhaeadr: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://peter.chesspod.com/routes/chepstow/rhaeadr.gpx

Wednesday 14th, 38 miles, camp at the CAT, Machynlleth: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://peter.chesspod.com/routes/chepstow/machynlleth.gpx

Thursday 15th, 36 miles, camp at Maentwrog: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://peter.chesspod.com/routes/chepstow/maentwrog.gpx
This includes a fair few miles of COR, which may be rejected in favour of surfaces.[/nstn]

Friday 16th: 39 miles, camp at Colmon and have a swim: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://peter.chesspod.com/routes/chepstow/colmon.gpx

Sat 17th & Sun 18th: slog back to Shrewsbury. 54 and 50 miles.

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://peter.chesspod.com/routes/chepstow/bala.gpx

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://peter.chesspod.com/routes/chepstow/condover.gpx

These last two may well be replaced by an extra day pottering around Lleyn and a train from Pwllheli to Shrewsbury on the Sunday.

Adenough: you are very welcome to come along. This could be regarded as a coast-to-coast, given that the Wye is tidal at Chepstow and we end up at the seaside!

Nikki: every day's ride goes fairly close to a station (Chepstow, Abergavenny, Llandrindod Wells, Caersws, Machynlleth, Penrhyndeudraeth etc.) so there is plenty of opportunity to come for just a bit of the ride.

Anyone else?

Each day's route ends at a camp site.

Basil · « **Reply #19 on:** 03 August, 2013, 02:05:53 pm »

Wow (Wow), that's a lovely route. Unfortunately, I've already bagged more than my team's fair share of leave this summer or I'd be with you like a shot.

Maybe, I'll just time my passing through Chepstow to enable me to meet and wave you off. (I'll investigate whether I'm allowed to get off at Chepstow and then get on the next train)

Wowbagger · « **Reply #20 on:** 03 August, 2013, 02:23:58 pm »

From Llanidloes to Staylittle, which route would you take, Basil? The lumpy but fairly straight B road or the meandering lanes south of Llyn Clywedog?

Basil · « **Reply #21 on:** 03 August, 2013, 02:57:32 pm »

No idea, Wowbagger.
I didn't mean to give the impression that I knew it was a nice route, I meant it sounded like a nice route. Anyway I have repaired to the pub after a bit cycle route gardening, and am not sure where you mean.

adenough · « **Reply #22 on:** 03 August, 2013, 03:28:22 pm »

These links won't load on my computer. They time out. [error response].

Wowbagger · « **Reply #23 on:** 03 August, 2013, 03:48:37 pm »

Quote from: adenough on 03 August, 2013, 03:28:22 pm

These links won't load on my computer. They time out. [error response].

I have just been informed that our server is down for some reason. Dez is on the case.

Canardly · « **Reply #24 on:** 03 August, 2013, 04:36:16 pm »

There should be a welsh national cycle route thereabouts. Poss NCR 8?