[Flapjackman]

Following the comments made, I’m considering entering the “The Great British Bake Off” as alas the front wheel seen in the photo is now well and truly in the recycle skip! I may get better marks from Mary Berry than I’m currently getting with my cycling skills, although following 40 years of uneventful cycling my few months with the Dynamos has certainly been eventful! I got back to Haverfordwest via the very helpful holidays makers who turned out to be triathlon enthusiasts, hence the spare bike rack on their car, they said they saw what happened as they were following us, and in their words “the lone cyclist moved out, causing Andrew to move out into me and bizarrely his derailleur cable caught in my front quick release lever” although in this case not quick release, as I found myself attached to Andrew’s rear end, I was quickly flung off into the verge which unfortunately contained a lateral drainage ditch, which I hit with force, hence the cut face, sore arm, buckled wheel and embarrassment of yet another rear end collision with the chairman!

[Flapjackman]

Valley girl asked me for my Date Bars recipe, here it is:

INGREDIENTS

250ml water

200g (stoned weight) chopped dates

175g plain flour

0.5tsp bicarbonate of soda

175g soft light brown sugar

100g porridge oats

175g diced butter

Pinch of salt

200mm x 200mm cake tin

PREPARATION

1. Line the cake tin with grease proof paper.

2. Place water and chopped dates in medium saucepan and bring to simmer. Cook for about 10min uncovered on a low heat until the date mixture is very soft and thick by stirring and prodding. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

3. Sift flour, bicarb, sugar and salt into large mixing bowl. Add the oats and butter and using fingers rub it all together into moist little clumps like the top of a crumble pie.

4. Firmly press half of the mixture into the bottom of the cake tin smoothing over with the back of a spoon. Spread the date mixture evenly over this, then sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over this and flatten gently with back of fingers.

5. Bake in pre heated oven at 180 C for approx 40 mins or until golden brown on top.

6. Allow to cool and cut into bars. Can be frozen.

7. Got me to Cardiff and back together with flapjacks recipe already supplied!

[Flapjackman]

Following an unforgettable two days for which I am very grateful and wish to add my thanks to all, I have, as a precaution before Valley Man puts a story or two on the Forum, taken advice from counsel regarding two alleged incidents! The advice received is:

Should Butcherboy consider taking any further action, my evidence of secretly filmed torture whilst in a shared room could be used as mitigating evidence.

Should Sweaty Eddie consider an insurance claim for whiplash, then he may have to wait a long time. The custodial sentence for an alleged offence, for which I have now obtained, name and address of a cyclist witness, would be considerable.

I rest my case!

[Flapjackman]

I confirm I would like a room and breakfast, I don’t mind who or what I share with, as long as I can keep my bike with me! I had an email from Carten yesterday confirming that all the riders packs, shirts, route, numbers etc. will go out early next week so should be with us for the weekend. I’m also up for the cycle there as long as you don’t mind waiting for me!

[Flapjackman]

I concur, it was very enjoyable I’m just sorry I didn’t live up to my reputation of providing the flapjacks, all I could offer was bought fruit loaf! Good conversation though ranging from the merits of whether the weight of two bikes is greater than a single tandem to whether a chicken will survive the day!

[Flapjackman]

I’ll go for the FULL Welsh breakfast please plus room if there’s one going.

[Author]

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