PTW

First things first, my apologies for not announcing todays long 'un on here last night, but it had gone 10.00 p.m by the time I'd found 2 minutes to myself. Anyway, 8.00 a.m saw me leave B/ferry police station and head out towards Neath with a cracking tail wind, just as I approached Stockhams Corner Ian was heading in my direction and battling into an equally cracking head wind. After Ian had turned 180 degrees and got back on we headed up the Neath Valley passing through Tonna, Resolven, Pentreclwyddau, Glyneath up the old bank and turned onto the Rhigos, into the head wind Ian had been pushing through at Neath.
As you can guess, nothing else you could do, but grin and bare it. We battled the wind to the hairpin bend and made use of the tailwind to the top of the climb. Descending was something else, with a blustery wind coming up the valley and ripping over the side of the road (not for the faint of heart). Treherbert, Treorchy and then up the Bwlch into what seemed like a head wind from start to finish. The descent the other side was just as blustery as the Rhigos and we were both glad when we arrived at the bottom, although we then pedalled into a head wind to the bottom of the Mini Bwlch, but did have a bit of shelter from the hedge row when we climbed it. Dropping down into Llangeinor we turned left and rode into a head wind down the valley all the way to the Cafe. A welcome sit down and a cuppa, Oh! and the bit of Welsh cake Little John left me( the Welsh Cake that me lickle bruvva bought me). It was nice to see all the boys (most of which we haven't seen or spoken to for several weeks) and share a bit o'banter and a few old jokes.
Then it was off, a steady pace set by Anthony and CJ as far as Abercenfig over the level crossing at fountain, a little quicker up Park slip and then BANG, eyeballs out all the way home, well for me it all came to a halt at the A48 at pile, when my legs said you can fork off, you've battered us up every climb you could find this morning and now you want us to get you home on the hurry up, NO CHANCE!, anyway I enjoyed it while it lasted, but had to concede defeat and rode home in the company of Jugsy, Rufus and Andy Lewis, who were also feeling it in the leg department. Just coming down towards the Bagle Brook r/about and who was coming the other way ? David Smith, putting in the extra miles?, or was the zipper of his jersey caught in Dai Abbotts saddle rail?, we'll never know. Anyway, said tarra to Jugsy and then tarra to Andy and Ian in the Ferry, I don't know how many miles we covered, but I remember every one. Ian was heard to say," I'll come up to Skewen with you Andy and then make my way from there".

sorry to disappoint you Kev- sorry Shirley or is it Titu? Anyway Dai was a little way behind me . Rode to Baglan r/about with Rhys Lloyd

Continued.....Bid a fond fairwell to Andy at the top of Skewen and headed up through Birchgrove, down to Glais and turned right at the roundabout, up the Swansea Valley.
Was feeling pretty good 'til I started to climb out of Abercraf up to Coelbren. Pushed my aching legs up and over what can only be descibed as a Bwlch x 2 .Whilst rolling down the hill in to Glynneath, spotted Tim O'leary (who I must say,was looking pretty strong ) coming up the hill. We exchanged Aye!Ayes! and continued on our seperated journeys.After replenishing my water bottle in the Glynneath Co op, I proceeded on my way into an unrelenting head wind.'Twasn't 'til I got to Cadoxton that I remembered, Oh My God, "Penywern Hill".Managed to drag myself up it and reach home. Must admit haven't had cramp like that before. . A very painful 100.48 Miles.