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Chillin' In Mid Wales
Ride Date 11 July 2025
By Ren Withnell
The temperatures are mild overnight and sleep is easy to come by. My dotage decrees at least one disturbance to go pee, probably 2 or 3 usually. Everyone assures me this is perfectly normal for "a bloke of my age". Occasionally, rarely, I have a whole night where I don't need a pee - this leads to panic - there must be something wrong with me - I'm pee constipated - my prostate must be enormous! Either that or I've wet the bed...
After relieving myself once more it is time to ponder life's important question - what shall we do today? There's a mist this morning, cool rather than cold although the sun is hauling itself above the rim of the valley and the mist ought to burn off soon. The forecast is for another lovely day. Oh what should we do? I, er, well, I can't think of anything really.
The mist over the hillsides should clear soon enough.
This trip has been a chill out kind of trip. No big miles, nothing in particular to do, no targets to achieve, and because of this it's all the better. I don't want to just sit here all day at the campsite, I'll get bored. But we're not required to cover 200 miles and see all there is to see either. Eventually I settle on a saunter into Aberystwyth to purchase supplies and perhaps a minor detour on the way back. Her Ladyship seems satisfied with that idea.
It's 1020 by the time we've finished with chain lube, makeup, several rounds of tea, and another look at the river. With the sun now high and bright in the sky Sharon's on her own bike and we're making our way via a single track lane towards Rhayader. There's mountain aplenty hereabouts I'm sure, but the terrain I'm seeing is arable and dairy in the valley, the steeper bits of hillside are covered in trees and sheep fields, although I'm not seeing any sheep.
Sharon photobombing my deep and meaningful scenery shot.
Through Rhayader, then out northbound on the A470. The soft hills get bigger and steeper - and there's the sheep I was expecting. Today is a Friday and for the most part this road flows well, we're moving swiftly rather than excessively. The A44 westbound flows well too, higher with less trees. Ah, dagnammit I spoke too soon. Roadworks. I want some pictures so I pull into the layby just before the chap with the stop sign. The weather is glorious, the surroundings are good, and as we both snap and chat it seems the roadworks won't hold us up much at all. Onwards - to Aberystwyth.
Admittedly it's hardly chaos and a delightful place to be stuck.
Lovely.
Aberystwyth is lovely, as far as towns go. We're not "doing" Aberystwyth today though other than stopping at the Lidl to get supplies and to drink cold orange juice in the shade. As we sit and sip I'm looking at Google maps. It's far too nice to just ride back to Rhayader, we need a detour. I can't recall ever having been to "Tregaron" yet it sounds familiar. Perhaps I went as a kid? I wonder if I've been on the bike - I'll have to check the blog. Anyhow, we'll go back via Tregaron.
We enjoy 20 miles of countryside filled with rolling fat hills, fields and forest, and a selection of enjoyable corners with little traffic. Tregaron is a small town comprising of a mix of regular terraced housing and plenty of Welsh style cottages, small shops, a few pubs and of course a church.
Tregaron looking lovely in the sun.
The cafe I was planning to stop at is shut. In this warm weather refreshment is still required and we're made very welcome at The Talbot pub, complete with 2 glasses of pop and a little shade in the beer garden. We stroll around the town as we ponder if we could live here? It's a long way from the offspring and there's no Aldi or Lidl for my miserly shopping habits... but otherwise I think it would be lovely!
Cheers!
The B4343 leads us through the warm, green and gentle countryside in an interesting fashion. I'm no farmer so I can't speak for crops and grasses, but the weeds and bushes and foliage beside the tarmac is thriving vibrantly. The corners and curves come thick and fast and the riding is fun.
Back at Elan Oaks campsite there's a new set of Duke Of Edinburgh youths passing through, although this group is much smaller in number. This being a Friday and the start of the weekend there's quite a few more regular campers, mostly families, a few cyclists, and mature couples much like ourselves. Admittedly though we're the only folk on motorcycles.
I suspect Sharon is obsessed with the river and trees by the campsite.
Something strange has happened. We are sat in a pub right in the centre of Rhayader having just ordered a meal. How this has come to be I'm not entirely sure. One minute we're at the campsite, we have plenty of food, we have a stove, the weather is lovely, and all is well. I seem to recall there was mention of having a look around Rhayader, a short ride on my bike, a little walk... and then a terrible fear of credit card abuse versus the thought of a proper meal.
The Castle Pub's food is simple yet tasty good ol' pub grub and it goes down a treat. I somehow manage to ignore the screaming from my wallet too. Well that's another day longer before retirement.
Back at the campsite the setting sun and still air has brought out my nemesis, my mortal enemy, my Achilles heel, my Samson's haircut, my Napoleon's Waterloo... etc etc etc... the midge. You might think the Welsh midge to be less vicious, alas no, the fight against the English is as fierce in the Welsh midge as it is in the Scottish midge.
I have no army to defend myself - I do habitually pack a head net and my Smidge spray. While not exactly a panacea these help and I am merely uncomfortable rather than brutally savaged by the wee beasties. It is at times like these I long for winter. In winter I long for summer... I am indeed a fool.
The setting of the sun and a light breeze brings relief. To bed. Years ago today would have frustrated me as I seemingly achieved so little. Today I can appreciate a simple, easy, comfortable (save for the midges), and chilled day. I'm glad because I'm a more content person. Thinking of tomorrow momentarily brings a tinge of sadness as we're returning home, but I instantly dismiss this feeling. We've enjoyed (mostly) great weather on an easy sojourn, we've been lucky.
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Dad's And A Detour Prologue
So come on Ren, what's the excuse this time? A few notes on the where's and why-fors of a lightweight tour south of The Ship Canal.
A Good Start To Heading Saaaf
It's an easy and chill ride today as The Dynamic Muppets make their way southbound. A lucky cafe find, a lovely village and fun in a pub? This can't be Bikes And Travels, surely?!
It Was Going OK, Until It Wasn't
With only 150 miles to cover the threat of rain is only a minor inconvenience really. Sharon makes some new friends en route and they both enjoy the countryside riding. It's the last few miles that are a problem.
An Easy Ride And A Woodland Sprite
It's a short ride today for the Dynamic Muppets and the accommodation transforms Sharon into an ethereal being. Ren is happy because he gets to be grumpy. Business as usual.
A Day Out From Marlborough
Another easy rest day for the not so dynamic muppets. Sharon's happy with trees, Ren's happily mansplaining locks, and there's Curry for tea. What's not to like?
Perfect Weather And Parking Problems
The weather is wonderful, the scenery is great, the bikes are behaving. Fear not Ren will always find something to moan about and a reason to be narky.
Chillin' In Mid Wales
There's sun in the sky, the roads are good, the surroundings are pleasant, and Ren is having a terribly non-Ren moment. His wallet saw the light of day...
Reader's Comments
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Yes, yes, yes, you're a fool.....tell us some'at new. Pffffffftttttt. Fool!
What matters here my lad is the blatant racism you hide mischievously in these ramblings. In these times of openness you must be admonished and outed for you are a racist. Why! I'll tell you why young Ed me lad.
Not a single mention of the English midge, a wee beasty capable of terrifying misdemeanours. I expect a full apology published in a prominent place on this travel blog and in penance I will post a quantity of the said creatures for your displeasure to your home address. Not Sharon's, she's lovely.
Upon the arrival of the English Midge you will place on your protective helmet and through the open visor empty the beasties within before closing said visor. A YouTube video will be required to show full compliance. If you fail in any way then I will have no alternative but to withhold my subscriptions.
As an aside, does anyone (?!) pay for a TV licence anymore, thought not.
Upt.
21/11/2025 09:59:43 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
The English midge? We occasionally endure the odd random English midge here in the wilds of Bolton, but they are indeed a rare sight. I presume you get them in Wooler? If so - how can you be sure they're not simply Scottish midges raiding over the border into England?
I was trying to come up with some notion that the Scottish midges wear kilts and play bagpipes, the Welsh midges form male voice choirs and prefer sheep. But I thought better of it because that would be offensive to someone somewhere I'm sure of it.
I have a TV licence - admittedly I'm beginning to question why. I inherited a nice TV from my mother and I've not even plugged it in yet.
21/11/2025 10:21:58 UTC
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