Reply To: Sunday 23rd November 2014

[ValleyMan]

Having selected one of the three options on offer (no sign of Mr Field to lobby for his chosen route; as likely to be adopted as a Liberal Democrat in Rochester…) it was a surprisingly successful trip to Angle with all six of us sticking largely together.

However, things took a turn for the worse when we reached Angle as the Cafe did not open until 12.00. It was 11.00. Concious that my already flagging popularity could be dealt a moral blow I pressed an anguished face to the window and persuaded them to do a couple of takeaways as there were only five of us (Huw and Gary left us at Pembroke but we came across one of Dan’s mates on route).

Little did they know that we had sprinted past a group of young ladies just outside Angle headed in the same direction to bag the best tables. Who said chivalry is dead. The Cafe therefore ended up serving a bit more coffee than anticipated.

The route out as usual proved to be my finest hour (well two) as I realised heading up the hill out of Angle that chasing Simon and John along the lumpy route from Monkton had taken its toll. I soon found myself enjoying the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside bathed in autumnal sunshine on my own.

Pete eventually dropped back to try and raise my sagging spirits as Kim carried on up front in disgust. ‘How many times do I have to tell you not to go off too fast and eat something?’

A couple of GeoBars (other brands are available) and an emergency gel did eventually reduce the burning in my legs but did not appreciably increase the pace. Simon, concerned that he would be late for work on Monday, understandably went on ahead.

Thankfully over coffee, and without the influence of Messrs Greener and Field, we collectively had decided that the ‘flat earth’ route back would be preferable (missing out Stackpole and Fresh East) and Dan’s mate, a local of the Angle peninsular, obliged with a route that got us back to Pembroke without too much (vertical) drama where he bade us a fond farewell.

Once in Pembroke, it was back the way we came with Dan leaving us at Carew and Pete at Templeton International Airport leaving Kim and I to make our way home.

Penance for yet another embarrassing display was to wash both bikes….

Lets see what ‘Learnings’ I can take forward to next week.