Taking advantage of an unexpected day off, Thursday the 15th saw me testing myself against the hills and valleys of North Wales.
Starting off in Chirk, I quickly dropped into the Ceiriog Valley, before taking a detour through Bronygarth to pick up the Ceiriog Cycle Route, to allow me a view of the famous Chirk Castle.
Carrying on along the route for roughly 2 miles, I crossed the Ceiriog River and dropped back onto the Ceiriog road, before passing through Pontfadog and into the centre of Glyn Ceiriog.
Just as a point of interest, I am told that in Pontfadog lives the oldest oak tree in Britain, estimated at 1600 years old. Quite a claim!
However, not wanting to publish any false information, following a little research I have discovered that it is also claimed by the people of Lincolnshire, that in fact, the oldest oak tree in Britain resides in Bourne and is a ripe old age of 1000 years. Again quite a claim: You just don't know what to believe
Now, not wanting to see any English / Welsh conflict, I would suggest that some type of oak tree inspection party be set up to determine the age of both trees, otherwise who knows were this might end.
Anyway, back to the ride. Once in Glyn Ceiriog, I took a left at the roundabout, following the signs for Oswestry. Unbeknown to me, the route was pretty much all up hill for 4 miles, till finally a small downhill stretch to take me across the border into Shropshire and through the village of Sellatyn, then thankfully back to Chirk and the end.
Before I sign off, I have to say the one thing that was noticeable throughout the ride was the need for increased effort due to riding alone. It is definitely much harder to cover the miles on your todd.
On the upside, I was kept company by thousands of flies, I don think I’ve ever seen so many. I wonder if the numbers were related to the fact I’ve not washed my cycling shorts for 5 weeks and I’m now being forced to keep them in a plastic bag due to the smell. Maybe?
For the record, I don’t plan on washing them until we reach the Arc de Triomphe.
Starting off in Chirk, I quickly dropped into the Ceiriog Valley, before taking a detour through Bronygarth to pick up the Ceiriog Cycle Route, to allow me a view of the famous Chirk Castle.
Carrying on along the route for roughly 2 miles, I crossed the Ceiriog River and dropped back onto the Ceiriog road, before passing through Pontfadog and into the centre of Glyn Ceiriog.
Just as a point of interest, I am told that in Pontfadog lives the oldest oak tree in Britain, estimated at 1600 years old. Quite a claim!
However, not wanting to publish any false information, following a little research I have discovered that it is also claimed by the people of Lincolnshire, that in fact, the oldest oak tree in Britain resides in Bourne and is a ripe old age of 1000 years. Again quite a claim: You just don't know what to believe
Now, not wanting to see any English / Welsh conflict, I would suggest that some type of oak tree inspection party be set up to determine the age of both trees, otherwise who knows were this might end.
Anyway, back to the ride. Once in Glyn Ceiriog, I took a left at the roundabout, following the signs for Oswestry. Unbeknown to me, the route was pretty much all up hill for 4 miles, till finally a small downhill stretch to take me across the border into Shropshire and through the village of Sellatyn, then thankfully back to Chirk and the end.
Before I sign off, I have to say the one thing that was noticeable throughout the ride was the need for increased effort due to riding alone. It is definitely much harder to cover the miles on your todd.
On the upside, I was kept company by thousands of flies, I don think I’ve ever seen so many. I wonder if the numbers were related to the fact I’ve not washed my cycling shorts for 5 weeks and I’m now being forced to keep them in a plastic bag due to the smell. Maybe?
For the record, I don’t plan on washing them until we reach the Arc de Triomphe.
It’s a good luck thing.
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