Tuesday 18th April
Another 8:00 start and again it was quite cold. Across the Wye valley they were planting the potatoes with enormous ridging machines. I was through Hay in under two hours and passing the construction of the festival site before taking a left turn on to the road to Talgarth and Welsh National Cycle Route 8, at least I think that's what it means, there is scope for confusion as to the nation in question. Soon I was through the intersection of Route 8 and Route 42 and onto the Talgarth by-pass. Shortly after that the route turned West to Llanfilo with a big climb followed by a fierce one in seven descent through the trees towards Brecon arriving in Brecon for 11.30.
Leaving Brecon by the wrong arm of the Taff Trail towards the A40 didn't help with progress and required a two mile detour along the main trunk road to the western roundabout on the Merthyr road and access to Mynydd Illtud, a big moor to the west of Brecon rising from about 450 to 1000 feet, which sounds far more impressive than 140 to 340 metres above sea level. Its about six miles across the moor followed by a brief switch back towards Brecon and the road into Heol Senni to approach from the north what the Guardian listed as one of the 10 best hill climbs in the UK.
As hill climbs go it isn't really very special. The bend requires bottom gear if you aren't very fresh and after that the zag is shown by OS as 1 in 7 but it peters out after the top bend and the only problem was that there wasn't enough room for the car following and trying to overtake. Once over the top, the descent is spectacular. It is about four miles down to Ystradfellte alongside Afon Llia. So I arrived at Ystradfellte shortly before 1.30 to be greeted by the news that Theresa May has called an election. Its the only sensible thing to do in her position, she had to do it, just as Nicola Sturgeon had to demand another referendum on Scottish independence, that is what they are for, it is their raison d'etre, their unique selling point. Theresa May's decision is more a reflection of the weakness of her opposition than her strength
The lunch of fresh bread and Brecon ham with buckets of tea was extremely welcome, but it didn't make up for that dreadful news.
Another 8:00 start and again it was quite cold. Across the Wye valley they were planting the potatoes with enormous ridging machines. I was through Hay in under two hours and passing the construction of the festival site before taking a left turn on to the road to Talgarth and Welsh National Cycle Route 8, at least I think that's what it means, there is scope for confusion as to the nation in question. Soon I was through the intersection of Route 8 and Route 42 and onto the Talgarth by-pass. Shortly after that the route turned West to Llanfilo with a big climb followed by a fierce one in seven descent through the trees towards Brecon arriving in Brecon for 11.30.
Leaving Brecon by the wrong arm of the Taff Trail towards the A40 didn't help with progress and required a two mile detour along the main trunk road to the western roundabout on the Merthyr road and access to Mynydd Illtud, a big moor to the west of Brecon rising from about 450 to 1000 feet, which sounds far more impressive than 140 to 340 metres above sea level. Its about six miles across the moor followed by a brief switch back towards Brecon and the road into Heol Senni to approach from the north what the Guardian listed as one of the 10 best hill climbs in the UK.
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| In the distance the zig towards the right and the zag.... |
The lunch of fresh bread and Brecon ham with buckets of tea was extremely welcome, but it didn't make up for that dreadful news.
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