Just got home. That was my 22nd participation, but only 21st completion of the Brevet Cymru. Apparently it was a subject of discussion at The Mariners Café during the preceding week as to whether I'd be there again. "You're a bit late this year" was how I was greeted when I arrived. For Carol, who has worked there for 31 years (she started straight from school and has survived all changes of management since) it was the 21st year she has served BC participants.
I had my meal there chatting to Adrian, daimountaingoat's dad. We rode the BC together in 1996. When I stopped at the bus shelter before the turn to Usk he pressed on feeling fine, but had to stop to sleep not much further on ( sound familiar, Paul D?).
I rode much of the way back with, amongst others, LEL inaugural Steve Ralphs. We spent much time reminiscing about the time before AUK went soft.
I did feel sorry for NikW, descending the Sugar Loaf with a raging tailwind, his legs all a-blur, and both brakes on, as I freewheeled past him towards Llandovery. "You only pedal when you feel like it" had been Manotea's comment on the Heart of England, and he's quite right.
