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UNITED
KINGDOM TRAVELS, JULY AND AUGUST 2002.
SETTLING IN Our new house in Llanyre is just wonderful. We have the best bed of any exchange we have ever had, lots of space and a well-equipped kitchen. Out the back windows we look at green fields full of sheep. We had a good time catching up with Eleri and Jonathan, remembering their trip to the US this spring, and how much they enjoyed their visit. The Halliday kids were already with Grandma, so we didn’t get to see them. After dinner Eleri and Jonathan quickly did up the dishes and then were ready to leave. Just before they took off they introduced us to the neighbors, Reg and Helen. 
Reg and Helen are delightful people. They had us in for a glass of
wine and we ended up visiting for a couple of hours. They are well traveled
and have some good stories to tell about their experiences caravanning in
France. Their home is also very nice, and they have a huge lot with
a stream running through it. Reg gave us an interesting old book on
Llandrindod Wells and some other information and maps. We stayed and visited
for a couple of hours and didn’t get back home until 10pm.After a wonderful night’s sleep we got up the next day to good weather and after breakfast we headed out on our first bike ride in Wales. Here is what we have learned about cycling in Wales: 1. Maps: Spend the $9 and buy the Ordinance Survey map for the area you are in. These maps are wonderful, with lots of detail and topo lines, so you can find the best routes and plan for the hills. 2. Roads: The roads in the UK are as follows: a. Small yellow roads are one-lane country roads. A+ for cycling. b. Larger yellow roads are slightly bigger country roads and still great cycling. c. Orange roads are B roads, which means two whole lanes, but little traffic. Good cycling. d. Red roads are A roads and come with 4, 3,and 2 numbers. The fewer numbers, the bigger and busier the road. Fast drivers!!! Even now, in the peak of the high season, traffic is very light in Wales. 3. National Bike Paths: While the UK is criss-crossed with 
thousands of walking trails and also sports a large network of cycling trails,
proceed with caution! We have found the cycle routes to be unsuitable
for anything but a strong rider with a good mountain bike.
Cycle routes can be on grass, gravel, dirt or pavement, and usually are frequently
interrupted by gates, which must be opened and closed so the sheep don’t get
out.4. Never stop under those beautiful, green bowers of trees. That is where the bugs hang out! |
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