coast day 17 2009

 

 

 

Day 17 – Aberystwyth to Cross Inn

 

Date: Wednesday 17^th June    Distance: 27.32 Miles

 

After a canteen style breakfast, fairly good but impersonal, we had left by 9.30. The bike was as we had left it amid the furniture and we set off in wind and rain on an uphill haul on a fast main road. We wore capes but after a while it felt like the wind would tip us off. Wet through we stopped in a bus shelter. The traffic was getting us down and it was a fight with the elements on a steady up. A garage with a café provided a warm drink and snack but in dripping clothes it was more comfortable to stand than sit.

 

Our first taste of the Welsh beer Felinfoel came at The Royal Oak  pub at Aberaeron. Over a beer and a sandwich we whiled away an hour chatting to a welsh couple who now live in Chester. Then a group of students arrived, very taken with the tandem. They asked us to hold their T -shirt advertising their group that puts on children’s plays (on thought provoking issues like ecology) so they could photograph us for their web site!!

 

We cycled up and up for miles until a short down into New Quay where we needed to find accommodation for the night. There was nothing local suitable for the bike but the lady in the information booth booked us into one about 4 miles away. She waived the £2 booking charge, as it was nearly their closing time. One of the young people on official dolphin watch came over to talk tandem but we didn’t stay long as we were exhausted. New Quay is much smaller than expected.

 

We walked another 2 miles up hill to pub where we had dinner and more good beer, before we carried on. It was simple homely food and again we had friendly people to chat to.

 

There was another uphill for another 2 miles and we saw a kite at close range hunting in the fields. When we reached the small holding that was the B and B. they had put a wood burning stove on especially for us to dry out in our own sitting room.

Pat was impressed with the solar panels, which helped make the water very hot. Pigs and poultry, destined for the table in the Autumn, inhabited the garden and this place definitely made the best cooked breakfast anywhere.  Apart from the shock of the shower (which had nozzles pointing in different directions) which sent water onto the ceiling and over the door due to high water pressure, this was a relaxing stay.