Day 65 -67 Carmarthen - St David's - Aberystywth

Day 65 - Carmarthen - St David’s - 96 miles

Pendine Sands - historical home of early land speed records

St Bride's bay - My photo doesn't do it justice

This morning I’ve got to avoid the A40, which is majorly busy and take a lengthy detour between the Tywi and Cywyn. By the time I’m passing through Laughaune, Pendine and Amroth it’s a glorious sunny day.. Laughaune (somewhere Dylan Thomas used to hang out) is invaded by watercolourists capturing the view of the castle, estuary and rolling hills. I did this route some years ago with friends Phil, Sandra and Johnny. I don’t remember it being this hilly. But unlike that trip, this time I make it down the Southern Peninsula of Pembroke. It’s great mainly traffic riding along single country lanes. And the same again once I’m passed Milford Haven, heading towards Marloes. Ascending out of Broadhaven I come across possibly the best coastal view I have seen all this trip. Looking out over the St Bride’s Bay to St David’s. I wish I could stay there for the rest of the day. It’s a bit tricky finding a route from Broadhaven to Newgale, there seems to be more lanes and placenta are marked on my map. Unfortunately it’s dark when I reach St David’s and I just miss the sunset. I am staying at my first YHA bunkhouse just off the White Sands road. A long day, but I’m making up for a couple of short stages over the last couple of days.

Day 66 - St David’s - Aberystwyth - 85 miles

It’s pouring with rain all the way to Fishguard, but the route is good .I managed to pick up the NCR 4 from right outside last night’s YHA Bunkhouse. Fish guard to Newport a short A487 and then it’s back to the NCR and country roads. Like Cornwall and Devon there’s a lot of single track lanes and steep descents and ascents as you visit small coastal villages (what you’d expect. But it’s all good fun, even in the rain. By Cardigan at mid afternoon the suns comes out .I’ve noticed my back wheel is wobbling . Well I notice that my steering is wobbling first. I have broken a spoke earlier and have tied the two adjacent spokes with a cable tie for rigidity. Now two spokes have ripped out of the wheel hub…yikes. I’ve carried two spare spokes throughout the trip but this is beyond repair. Besides I would need a bagful of tools to remove the brake disc and rear cassette. I nurse the bike the last 20 miles into Aberystwyth. A bit difficult with all the ups and downs and bendy roads. I had booked a YHA in Borth, but decide I must stay in Aber over night to give me more options in the morning. One; find a bike shop that has a replacement rear wheel, or two; get the train to Manchester and find a replacement their and fix at home and then come back out again the following morning.

I like Aber, it’s a backwater. It’s got some grand old buildings, esplanade and pier. But it’s almost deserted, this evening. It’s more of a seaside campus for the University. I first came down here in the earlier 80’s with YesSir to gig at the university and we used to go down a storm and were invited back many times.

YesSir @ Aber University

Day 67 - In the pits - Total so far = 4295 miles

4 more stages and 4 more days to go. But not today. Summit Cycles in Aber don’t stock a compatible rear wheel. The one on my Country Voyager is a bit unique as it has a break disc attached to the hub. Standard for mountain bikes but not road bikes. So I must come back to Manchester on the train and I have already contacted Edinburgh Cycles who can source a compatible wheel for this afternoon. Shame, I’m missing some good cycling