We picked a suitably distant destination, St Davids in Pembrokeshire, and let cyclestreets.net work out a route. Cyclestreets has three options for route planning - fastest, balanced and quietest. We opted for balanced.
We left later than planned, but there was no rush. Above, we stopped for a bite to eat near Crewe.
Below the view from Long Mountain which straddles the England / Wales border.
Quiet roads, disused railway tracks and canal towpaths made up our route.
At Newtown we stopped for a chicken kebab.
As the sun was setting we stopped and put up the tents. 113 miles done.
Day 2 and it was drizzling. We packed up quickly and rode to Llanidloes where we stopped for a bite to eat at the Great Oak Cafe where we met Phill from mtb.wales.
The first part of our ride through the Cheshire lanes was flat. In Wales though the terrain was distinctly lumpy.
At the bottom of the hill we sheltered from the rain to eat a snack.
At the Cwtch Cafe at Pont-rhyd-y-groes we stopped for more food. The home made pizza was excellent.
We left stuffed, but a few hours and hills later we stopped at a chippy for chips.
Day 3 and we were woken by the sun on our tents. It was going to be another scorcher.
As I was getting ready I found a tick in my leg which the campsite owner kindly removed for me.
We had a leisurely ride the last few miles to the seaside taking in the views.
Below Friend Wood's Tryane 2.
We spent the afternoon pottering around St. Davids, eating chips and ice cream.
That night we stayed at a campsite, and watched the sun setting over the sea.
Day 4, and it was time to head for home.
We changed a few bits of our route on the way back though. We followed Sustrans route 4 to Fishguard, and then the 82 to Aberteifi.
A refreshment spot on the way to Newport.
It's a good thing I had my Alpkit snapwire spoon to hand for that afternoon's ice cream.
Yes, more chips.
As the sun started to fade and we started to look for somewhere to put the tents we found a bird hide for shelter instead.
Day 5 and after a brief route diversion that nearly took us to Aberystwyth we breakfasted at the Cwtch Cafe.
Above heading into Cwmystwyth.
Then back over this brute of a climb.
Another century ride which took us back into England.
Day 6 we woke in the corner of a field near Whitchurch.
The sun was mostly out, but best of all there was a strong south westerly wind which assisted us the last 50ish miles home.
The route that Cyclestreets planned for us was excellent. Very little traffic for most of the route though it was quite hilly with 29,000' of climbing.
An excellent start to the holidays!
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