Author Topic: A Few Days In Wales, Camping (Read 5567 times)

Hedgetrimmer · « **on:** 02 July 2013, 09:29:59 pm »

Thinking about doing this within the next week or two as weather forecasts are looking up. Anyone else up for it? Noggy, Bri H, wanna reschedule your trip? I was thinking of a couple of nights at Llandovery to start, to allow time to explore Brecons, then maybe move north to Devils Bridge site as previously discussed by you guys. (West End Café at Llandovery is biker friendly, hosts Sunday meet - or used to, anyway - campsite is virtually opposite). And I want to ride Nantgwynant, Llanberis Pass etc again! Have also stayed at huge campsite at Beddgelert before, might be worth a look again. Want to do it on the cheap, no fancy restaurants, just takeaways etc.

noggythenog · « **Reply #1 on:** 02 July 2013, 10:49:55 pm »

Im off up to scotland tomorrow to visit the family nick,for about a week,got my fazer on the trailer & my car boot packed full waiting til morning for an epic 500 mile jouney at max 60mph

.

This sunny camping/fazer riding is right up my street but im not driving back til the 11th & then back to work around 16th.

Id rather rough camp than b&b & a well facilitated campsite like at devils bridge is ideal as you dont need to carry a tonne o water with you on the bike plus its not too far from shops & stuff.

I like the idea of a campsite, some beers etc, not so much dossing about in pubs & town centres getting blootered but chilling out & then being fresh enough to enjoy some nice roads on the bike.

I do wonder how bri got on, i did gimp out last minute as the weather is shit & i still got a soaking just loading the trailer never mind riding & camping in it.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #2 on:** 02 July 2013, 11:02:48 pm »

OK Noggy, well enjoy Scotland, maybe another time. Any other takers?

bri h · « **Reply #3 on:** 03 July 2013, 11:27:27 am »

hi nick, sorry mate ive been and come back. Fantastic trip great roads well worth the pannier that caught fire on the way home. I was caning it a bit. Will definately do it again but the boss says not this week. enjoy it mate make sure you ride the elan valley and the a493 coast road is worth the trip.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #4 on:** 03 July 2013, 06:19:23 pm »

Glad you had a good one, Bri. Yes, I will visit Elan Valley, know it well. I once walked across Wales (well, mostly - I started with the Wye Valley walk, 95 miles) from Chepstow to Conwy, backpacking, camping all the way (took about a month). Elan Valley was part of my route, and biked it a couple of times (SV650 and then Fazer thou) since then too. Being just west of Oxford now and virtually on the A40, Wales seems like a logical choice for me again this year, not too far and so not too expensive fuel-wise. Must ride some of that magical A470 again, too, so a lot to cram in.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #5 on:** 05 July 2013, 06:33:05 pm »

Right, got next week off, going camping in Wales. Lofo ride on Sunday, lie in Monday morning then leisurely ride to campsite at Llandovery. Nothing set in stone for the week, lots I'd like to fit in, probably can't do it all tho'. The best plan is to have no plan!

noggythenog · « **Reply #6 on:** 07 July 2013, 08:18:51 pm »

Have fun Nick

When does yur camping trip finish then?

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #7 on:** 07 July 2013, 09:30:29 pm »

Sat or Sun Noggy. Got to be back in work on Monday.(15th). Want time to put my feet up for a bit when I get back.

noggythenog · « **Reply #8 on:** 07 July 2013, 09:35:16 pm »

Cool,well im back to wales thursday night so maybe see you friday or saturday but ill see what's happening & what your up to.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #9 on:** 07 July 2013, 09:46:57 pm »

Where in Wales are you?

noggythenog · « **Reply #10 on:** 07 July 2013, 10:41:09 pm »

Quote from: nick crisp on 07 July 2013, 09:46:57 pm

Where in Wales are you?

South west coast, about an hour 20 from llandovery.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #11 on:** 07 July 2013, 10:42:15 pm »

What about West End Café, Llandovery, Sunday afternoon?

noggythenog · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 July 2013, 10:44:26 pm »

Quote from: nick crisp on 07 July 2013, 10:42:15 pm

What about West End Café, Llandovery, Sunday afternoon?

Sounds good,cup o tea & a wee blast if theres anywhere you still havent explored by then.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 July 2013, 10:53:45 pm »

Good stuff! Can you PM me with a contact no. ?

noggythenog · « **Reply #14 on:** 07 July 2013, 11:00:56 pm »

Quote from: nick crisp on 07 July 2013, 10:53:45 pm

Good stuff! Can you PM me with a contact no. ?

Done

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #15 on:** 07 July 2013, 11:34:18 pm »

Noggy, your PM has come thro, so ignore mine...will text as requested.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #16 on:** 10 July 2013, 05:41:31 pm »

OK, confession time! Rode to Llandovery campsite on Monday afternoon, pitched tent and then went for an evening ride up to Llyn Brianne. Turned out to be a very challenging ride. Narrow road with poor surface, loose gravel here and there. Did the full loop round to Llanwrtyd Wells. The road twists and turns tightly around steep hillsides, not much room for error! Sheep dodging was part of the challenge. Toughest part was on far side of the hills coming down a 25% gradient, still poor surface, still gravel strewn, very tight and twisty, hanging off the rear brake at little more than walking pace. Very tiring but satisfying ride, the bike took it all in it's stride despite having a bit of a "head cold" (stutter @ 3k rpm) still!
Campsite that night was very hot, tent was like an oven, and got eaten alive by midgies! Very uncomfortable night, little sleep. Up at 5am in the morning to get a shower while relatively cool, shower block like an oven. Out to West End Café for breakfast and then spent a very hot day criss-crossing the Brecons. Ended up spending over an hour sat at Super Bites food wagon on A470, catching what little breeze there was, then back to café where I spent a good couple more hours waiting for it to cool in the evening. Short local ride to cool off, then back to Midgie City and the tent-oven!
Again, didn't sleep much, up early and decided to call it quits as had completely run out of steam by then. Will have to give it another shot when it's not quite so hot!

noggythenog · « **Reply #17 on:** 10 July 2013, 05:47:48 pm »

Nice one Nick, you got out there thats the main thing, now when it rains for 6 months you'll be glad you did

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 July 2013, 05:52:17 pm »

Cheers, Noggy. As I rode home, I kept questioning whether I had made the right decision to quit and almost turned around again a couple of times. But then I remembered a couple of the guys at the West End Café saying the temps were supposed to hit 30 deg C by the weekend and I just thought, no way I'm gonna be fit to do anything in that!

slimwilly · « **Reply #19 on:** 10 July 2013, 08:00:38 pm »

Some nice riding time,

I noticed around here there were lots of bikes going through about 6pm, towards Wales,,the clever ones i guess, as i rode at lunchtime and boy it was hot (Sunday)

So i would suggest laying up between 11am and 4pm , stay under the trees, then ride in the evening, it is still light to 10pm.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #20 on:** 10 July 2013, 08:27:39 pm »

Seems such a shame to take all the camping gear there and not do anything with most of the day though. I couldn't stay on the site cos there was no shade, tent way too hot: also, it was difficult to find anywhere cooler where I could just hang out all day. Also, I have a 15% burn scar covering my chest and neck, it has no pores and is like wearing a skin tight jacket, so I tend to overheat easily.

red98 · « **Reply #21 on:** 10 July 2013, 08:53:48 pm »

great pictures nick

......a few days away with your bike is better than none + it gives you an excuse to go on another short trip when its cooled down a bit

noggythenog · « **Reply #22 on:** 10 July 2013, 11:29:56 pm »

Nick, no offence intended but i think you should be known as Nick " burned to a , in wales" Crisp!!!!!!!!

Or maybe Nick the "sunbaked, not fried" Crisp!!!!

Or.........oh you get the idea he he!!!!,easy for me to say as all of wales is within striking distance without tent poverty but regardless we shall still have a successful focer camp sometime soon.

slimwilly · « **Reply #23 on:** 11 July 2013, 07:47:37 am »

I was looking forward to an evening ride up them hills with you guys, next time !!

bri h · « **Reply #24 on:** 11 July 2013, 10:18:56 am »

Hi nick, i should have warned you about the midges, i came back looking like a lepper. I had the opposite problems to you, it was blazing hot when i left so i only had summer mesh gloeves and lightest jacket and stuff. It turned cold once i got half way there and i ended up buying a fetching pair of marrigolds to keep my gloves dry. Still like you it was worth it and ill go again maybe next year.