I woke at 5:30, for a quick stroll up the hill to the portaloo (the only facilities for camping), it was a glorious morning. The River Severn curls around the camp field, and as the sun was just rising, mist was coming off the river. I took loads of photographs as it was hard to capture with the low sun.

I slipped back into my sleeping bag for 5 minutes, it was a bit early to start packing up, and the next thing it was 8:30 and there were lots of canoes being set up to launch all around me. It didn’t worry me, I was already planning a shorter day (in terms of distance) just up to the River Wye near Rhayader. I have canoed on it (many years ago) and thought it would be nice to see again. Eventually I packed up, with no porridge (no washing-up place) and only a coffee (and obviously a cheese sandwich).

As yesterday it started with beautiful tiny country lanes with no cars. I think the countryside got a little more rolling, but nothing serious. As I hadn’t had a proper breakfast, I’d spotted a couple of villages with a shop on the map (the ncn routes are usually so quiet, they avoid shops!). The first one I got to was perfect, halfway up a hill, a proper table (in the shade) and it sold ice creams – my first of the week!

I continued and here was no announcement that I’d entered Wales. I had expected a modest welcome (maybe sandwiches!), but not even a “Croeso i Gymru” sign seemed like someone must have forgotten. Athough there were the obvious tell-tales signs! To be fair, it seems the road I was on had gone into and out of Wales a couple of times.

The first big town I came to was Newtown, which has a new bypass (which I know about as I’ve been involved in the drainage, tricky job due to steep hills/pipes!), but I headed into the town. A few grand buildings, shops and a chance for a photo opertunity for my biggest sponsor! I did have a Vegan sausage roll.

I had been checking the maps, as all my routing apps had been putting me onto the NCN 81 and it was clear that this was up and over a big hill, while the main road A489/470 went around the hill, yes at a longer distance but even so. The main road hadn’t been too pleasant for the short section I’d done (in fact the two “closest passes” all week  were on it). [I’ve removed my close pass rant, but still worth recoding that I had one]. Anyway I digress – as normal. I couldn’t believe the national cycle way would be as bad as it looked on the map, and obviously it was worse. Lots of pushing.

One of my sat-navs gave me a short cut, but after climbing higher there was a gate across the path, keep out, blah blah. The OS map (£2/month online – a bargain), showed a series of green spots on the route, which was a new one on me. It means, it is a route that most people accept is a right of way, but might not be!!

It was good to have that evidence in your pocket, it was a rough track and incredibly steep down and I had to walk down some of it. I also became an impromtu shepherd, not wanting to chase sheep the wrong way. I had just seen them be driven up the hill, and waited for the straggler, only for there to be a big gang of 20 around the corner which I was forcing back down the hill. I managed to slip past them, only to meet a farmer who said they were coming back down his way anyway – had I known I could have had them down in double speed.

Back onto the main road, and generally a lot of gentle climbing as the cars, motorbikes, buses and lorries whizz past. I’ve taken to listening to my handlebar speaker – and Michael Kiwanuka blasted over the engines and tyre noise. The last town before my destination was Llanidloes, a very impressive town with great old buildings, lots of pubs and full of what I can only assume was a hen party, with lots of women with pink sashes staggering between pubs – it looked like they had spread themselves out across the town (for covid rules, or just to leave the weakest behind!).

With only 10km to go, I needed to shop. The campsite I was heading for was near a pub (presuming either/both were open) and I couldn’t find anything I fancied in co-op, so I opted for a pub dinner. I bought a backup pot noodle for emergencies. This plan assumed it was 10km downhill to the River Wye. It wasn’t, it was even more up hill. When I reached Llangurig,  both pubs were open but it was quite a ride to the campsite and it just started to lightly rain, so I had the feeling I wasn’t cycling back. It was another Camping & Caravan Club site, really basic, but really nice and only £5. Had to cross the River Wye, its a tiny river here.

As expected I decided not to go to the pub, so it was Pot Noodle, supplemented with food from the depths of my bags- my emergency Meat Balls and Pasta (expired 2020, has been on many tours!) and a tin of rice (not pictured). Should give me enough energy for the same but a bit longer day tomorrow- I hope! Washed down with a proudly Welsh beer, I’m going to save the bottle top.

Been on the road for a week and it’s just started to rain gently. Very unusual for a half term week!