Wye Usk weekend

Sunday 13th February 2011

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random 'Wye Usk weekend' image

[32 photos] Another weekend away kayaking! Clywedog and Upper Wye on Saturday, then Middle Usk for most on Sunday

Exploring Hartpury

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Things to do on a dull Sunday afternoon, having already wimped out of going kayaking on grounds of there being massive amounts of water in the rivers (and wanting a lie in) - take the bike out for a first ride of the year! (yes, I realise it's February, shush)

A small consultation with CycleStreets later, I decided to head for Hartpury.  5 and a half miles of NCN 45, conveniently avoiding any main roads.

Half a mile in I realised a slight flaw in my 'relaxed Sunday afternoon' plan.  Strong, gusty and quite annoying winds.  But turning back and giving up because of weather would be lame, so I kept going.  Also Hartpury is higher up than Gloucester.  I dislike cycling up massive hills (might have got off and pushed a few times).  But nevermind.. the way back would be downhill, so better for tired legs. hoorah!

Arrived in Hartpury and sat on a bench to eat chocolate and get my breath back.  What to do now?  What actually is there in Hartpury anyway?  Other than the college...? Then I remembered having previously seen touristy road signs to "Hartpury Bee Shelter".  How exciting/unusual, that'll do..

Three small points to note here:

  • the bee shelter is in a churchyard
  • said churchyard is not in the middle of the village.. it's another nearly 2 miles away
  • bee shelters aren't really that interesting

Bee Shelter

Each alcove (called a 'bee bole', apparently) would contain a straw 'skep' (close up here) with bees etc inside it.  No bees there now, of course.

Still, it was a nice addition to my ride!  By the time I got home it was twenty past 5, getting dark and threatening to rain.  Oh, and still really very windy.  Total distance: just under 15 miles (with max speed of 43kmph down a big hill on the way home, wheeeeeeeeee)

Hello Fabia

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As previous mentioned, Important Job #1 for 2011 was 'buy a new car'.

Today, I have done just that - waved goodbye to my little green polo (bit sad to see it go, actually), and driven away in a very clean and shiny Skoda Fabia.  Of the estate variety.  So basically, a newer bigger polo with a different badge on.

my lovely new car

54 Plate, diesel, and only 37,000 miles on the clock :)  It's also got all sorts of fun things like heated seats and a trip computer so I can obsess over how many miles per gallon I'm getting.  Gadgets, yay

It's quite ridiculously clean and shiny, having been freshly valeted today.  That won't last for long, given that my main reason for needing a bigger car is so I can fill it with boats and bikes and kit and stuff (and people). hah

Downside to this large bit of shopping - I'm now very poor.  But I have bought some bargain ebay roof bars, for half the price of brand new ones, so it's not all bad I guess...