Bikers of a feather flock together in Abergavenny

The manned control in the bus station at Abergavenny.

Quick Rally Review

Bottom line: it all went smoothly. Lovely weather, lovely countryside and lovely roads. I got the silver award I was aiming for. 285 miles meant I didn't stop for long anywhere. Initially I was on unclassified roads that didn't allow more than 20 mph, but later it was sweeping A roads where 60 was a breeze. I took in the Brecon Beacons, Abergavenny, Merthyr Tydfyl and the Valleys, then back up via Llandovery, Rhayader, Newtown.

There were plenty of sheep. At one point I was going to nip over a gate to take a leak, but about 25 of the woolly items saw me and started running towards me, so I found another spot.

Agnes and Jonathan had a good day too, including a ride on a steam train. The day ended with a delicious meal cooked by the B+B owner.

Off soon, London-wards, possibly via an RBR landmark or two. Then we'll see how Thomas did in his two football tournaments.

Day 3 yet more

Well, tomorrow's the main event. The Welsh National Rally. A couple of guys in the pub were poring over maps in preparation. I've taken the lazy approach this year: put the checkpoints into the GPS and let it work out a route. I've also marked the checkpoints on a small road atlas, but not made route notes. So I don't know how it will go. Could do with some sleep, but Agnes and Jonathan are still an hour away...

Smallest theatre

Day 3 continued

So after Stroud it was Cheltenham, then a stop 8 miles north of there for a landmark. This one one was an obscure, funny-shaped stone so beloved of the RBR organiser(s). Then Tewksbury, Malvern. Eschewing the well, I headed for the smallest theatre in the world, seating 12 and housed in a converted gents' toilet. Hence the name: the Theatre of Small Convenience. The next landmark at Bromyard was less interesting - a sheep sculpture. And I wasn't even in
Wales yet. Then Leominster (lunch out of a paper bag in a car park). After that north and north-west on A and B roads to Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion.

End of day 3

Blogging this from the pub, on the Blackberry. Might do more later, as the B+B has free wifi, although whether that's intentional I don't know. I'm in Llanfair Cereinion, near Welshpool. Food + beer good. Listening to the Welsh lilts.

Towelling the raindrops off the tent left me wondering about the weather for the day ahead, but it remained dry.

Breakfast was in a Little Chef ('fraid so), at which I chatted to a fellow biker on a 1969 Triumph Bonneville. He was waiting for a mate+ g/friend, who shortly afterwards arrived noisily on his Kawasaki 1500- derived trike. They were all heading off to a naturist bikers rally somewhere. I hope the weather holds for them.

Off to B+B now, as Agnes and Jonathan will be arriving soon.

Roosting in Slimbridge

I've ended up in Slimbridge, which I first heard of at Peter Symonds, as John Taverner (geography master) used to organise birdwatching trips to the place. Not being a birdwatcher, my main reason for being here is that it's the location of the only campsite near(ish) to Stroud. With all the NT markings on the map I assumed there would be loads of campsites next door, but it seems not. Nice campsite with a good pub next door, though.

After Weston-S-M I headed up the (blustery) M5 to J14 for the Cotswolds. Then B roads through Wotton-Under-Edge (good name, eh?) And Nailsworth. Some nice stretches, others marred by following lorries. I think I've clocked up about 260-odd miles so far - 120 on day 1 and 140 ish today. Better not overdo it tomorrow as I'll need to do that in a single day on the Welsh rally.