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Perfect Weather And Parking Problems
Ride Date 10 July 2025
By Ren Withnell
It's still warm, dry, and the sun is rising in the sky. There's a catch, there's got to be a catch surely? We did get absolutely DRENCHED on Sunday but since then the weather's been good. I mean heck, even I'm managing to sleep in the tent pretty well and I'm only getting up at 0715. Sharon's not even dangerous when she wakes up, marginally aggressive perhaps but not lethal. How odd.
In there lurks a dangerous monster, however with good weather and tea we may survive.
I reckon we've 150 miles to cover today, if all goes to plan we should be camped in The Elan Valley this evening. We have been to The Elan Valley before but only passing through, we've not stayed or explored there much. It is already known that Sharon is indeed solar powered and as the sun cuts through the trees she's awake and getting herself packed and loaded.
We're on the road in the glorious sunshine and blue skies by around 1000. We pass through Marlborough and skirt around Swindon via the ring road. The A419 and A417 are dual carriageway, moving us swiftly and uninterestingly through the endless hedgerows and fields. I have a cafe set in my sat-nav - Crickely Hill Country Park. After a dose of roadworks we arrive and park in a random gravel patch by the cafe.
"Excuse me! Excuse me!" She's ever so polite this lady, yet firm too. "You can't park there, that's not a car park, sorry, you must park on the car park" - pointing away. We replace our helmets and scrabble then heave the bikes back to the narrow tarmac. There are in fact 2 quite large car parks - pay and display.
Really? We're in the middle of nowhere atop a hill beside a cafe? Every sodding man and his dog wants to charge you for something ANYTHING these days goddamn it! If it's not the tax man it's VAT, frickin Solicitors charge a blummin' fortune to do simple paperwork, there's a bloody form with a fee to tell the government that your dead for Pete's sake!!!
The parking charge ain't the real problem is it. My mother died in November last year and I'm trying to sell her house. Every Tom, Dick and Sally seems to want to take money from me just to get permission to do the things to get permission to fill in the form to allow us to get permission to accept the form before we can even look at the costs. Yes. I know. Nothing is for free. But I'm not paying for the parking.
We take a few snaps then get back on the road again.
The view from Crickley Hill is splendid - I would have paid for a brew but not for parking. Pfffffft.
We'll get a brew at Hereford Morrisons, and pick up more supplies. Good call Ren well done. Guess what. Parking charges. I have calmed down and there's too much blood in my tea stream. We will pay.
Gird your loins folks, grab a brew and settle in.
If I were in the right frame of mind a person such as I of normal intelligence should be able to realise the following. You get one ticket to put in your screen, and another which you give to the cashier when you make your purchases. The cost of the ticket is taken off your bill - hence the parking is free subject to you spending more than the cost of the ticket in Morrisions. Simple, and fair.
However the wording on the signage is "poor". Operation of the machine is appalling - and it's not just Sharon and I, everyone is struggling. Bad wording and bright sunshine washing out the low quality LCD display is creating a queue. With my already bad attitude and ineptitude I'm getting a tad frustrated. It's not just myself cursing though, several other shoppers are fighting the equipment too and they're locals.
Eventually we have not 2 but 3 tickets apiece. One does look like it should stay with the bikes - we take pictures in case they are simply stolen. One quite clearly states hand this to the cashier. Dunno what the other one is for.
Right, stuff it. We're in and we have 2 hours. We not just having a brew we're having a proper meal, we'll just have a snack later this evening. As I pay the cashier I hand her the tickets that clearly state "hand to cashier".
"That's not the bit I want, it's the other bit"
"But it says here..."
"No it's the other ticket"
"But it says here..."
"No, it's the other ticket" Fortunately I have the other tickets in the tank bag. And people wonder why people get cross.
Otherwise everything is hunky dory! The food won't win a Michelin Star but it's simple, tasty and does the job. We grab snacks and supplies. My teastream levels are restored to standardised settings. The toilets are used appropriately. The bikes and their tickets are still where we left them in the car park.
Hills! As we move away from Hereford towards the Welsh Border the hills grow taller and the road starts to curve more often. With the good weather and dry tarmac the speeds rise a little, a few more degrees of lean are enjoyed with a smile. With time on our side we make one more brew stop just before Llandegley at a roadside van with an enthusiastically friendly owner. Rhayader is pronounced "Raider"
Hills! Quick brew and a friendly chat, not far to go now.
Rhayader (Raider) is a pretty town, small with just a few shops and pubs, narrow lanes and a small clock tower right in the middle, right in the middle of the road junction right in the middle of the town. Beyond on the B4518 the hills grow ever larger and steeper as we approach our campsite. It is pretty, I'd like to watch the small tractor flailing the hay on the steep hillside but the next bend is approaching rapidly.
It's one of them days innit. Barrier with a code. I figure the code will be in one of the many booking emails I've received. While Sharon wobbles precariously on the sloped entrance I unhook the mobile from it's mount and start the search. As I do a van is leaving so we scoot through before the barrier closes. Naughty ain't we, we're really bad roughty toughty bikers we are.
We're in! Now - can we get booked in?
The main building is modern and crisp, reception is empty. Yup, it's one of them days. There's 2 signs with 2 numbers to call. One goes to nothing, the other rings. It must be me, surely - I'm struggling to grasp the concept of pitching "down the hill to your right" but not "near the Duke of Edinburgh" and "I'll be there later". Yeah. Definitely me. Probably.
We pitch about 20 metres from 2 tents with 2 bikes. Eventually it all starts to click into place. Yes there's a large number of yoofs with matching tents and rucksacks - that'll be The Duke of Edinburgh ie teenagers doing their DoE. Yes we are down the hill among other campers. Considering this is a Thursday it's quite busy actually although the weather will be a factor.
Sorted. Brewtime now.
As I explore the facilities I find modern showers and toilets, rooms for washing up, a laundry room, and now reception is open. Our host is relatively young, super energetic, a real dynamic go-getter and we learn he spends his time in London and here and another place and so much more besides. With phones a-ringing and customers awaiting and a sense of chaos I fear he's taking on just a little too much.
It's hot. Uncomfortably hot now the sun has had time to warm everything. I sit in the shade of a tree beside a river, the river is bubbly and swirly, a few of the DoE youths dip in the edges. Once again Sharon is gleeful because there's trees, it's warm, and it is all rather beautiful. We drink tea and unwind.
Even a grump like myself has to admit it is "nice".
With the evening sun and time on our side Sharon leads me on a walk up the valley a little. The road is quiet save for the river, the grasses are green, the trees in full leaf, it is all rather enchanting. Sharon is practically gleeful in the sunshine and surroundings, it takes a lot of persuasion to stop her leading me on a 10 mile hike that would see us returning in the dark.
Look how happy she is!! So annoying...
The weather has been on our side today, as have our surroundings. Today's problems have been man made - parking mostly. I have my concerns that the Duke of Edinburgh youths might be noisy this evening, I figure their leaders ensure they're all worn out as they're all in bed and quiet before Sharon and I are settling in. Yeah - we're doing alright ain't we! Night night.
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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.
Reader's Comments
ROD¹ said :-
The Elan valley is lovely, and last time I was there the traffic was very light.
I await your camping experience next to Duke of Edinburgh award scheme youths.
I camped near them once in Wales and they were very quiet. I settled down to sleep at around 21:30 and was awake again at 23:30 with loud thumping music sounding out around the campsite.
The reason they were so quiet earlier was because they were not in their tents!!!
23/10/2025 10:28:40 UTC
Bogger said :-
Elan Valley? Rhayader?
Did you visit Blobbys field. It's at Rhayader you know.
Bogger
23/10/2025 11:15:59 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Modern life....arrrgggghhhhhh.
Kids......arggghhhhh.
Parking......arrrrgggghhhh.
You may be pleased to know your pain has eased mine. Thank you.
You're lovely campsite and perfect weather.......pffffffftttttt.
Upt and waiting for THE gas man!
23/10/2025 11:39:15 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I don't truly care how any unpronounceable name is pronounced. I've reached an age where I read it and say it like it's written. I am a wascally rebel. I know.
23/10/2025 11:37:09 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I won't keep you in suspense any longer ROD - either we both were tired enough to sleep through any antics from the DoE yooofs or they didn't get up to any antics. Yes it's a lovely area. We hadn't fully realised quite how lovely.
We might well have visited Blobby's Field Bogger - alas I know not the precise location therefore I can neither confirm or deny our success of failure in visiting said field.
THE gas man Upt'? Is there only one gas man in the whole of Northumbria? I wouldn't be surprised, I believe they only got gas there a couple of years since. No wait... perhaps there is no gas there and you're waiting for THE Calor gas man (other bottled gas brands are available) to deliver a bottle to keep 'Er Indoors warm this winter? Maybe you mean gas as in petrol like the yanks call it gas? Oh I dunno, the suspense is too much!
23/10/2025 15:07:43 UTC
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