The Green Bridge of Wales

 It's been a while since I've got the boat out, almost three months in fact, my longest 'dry' spell.  A few reasons.  The obvious one being the weather, I've also had and still have an elbow injury, and simply a lack of enthusiasm.  Finally however halfway through April, for one day only, it feels a little like Spring.  After a 5am wakeup call I join James, Gareth, Marcus, Simon, Gerwyn and Gary for a long awaited trip along the southern Pembrokeshire Coast.

A low water launch from Freshwater West makes for a very long carry.  Notice those who brought trolleys have began to launch while Gerwyn and myself carry our heavily laden boats the entire distance of the beach.

James above breaks through the surf to the calm waters beyond to begin our trip, which will eventually see us finishing at Stackpole Quay.

Almost this entire trip is within the military firing range, notice the various military buildings above the sands.

Around Linney Head and the limestone cliffs rise steeply out of the water preventing any chance of escape from the elements of the sea for quite some miles ahead.  What a fantastic start to the journey...

James clearly dwarfed by the 350 million year old rock.

Various stacks and arches reached out into the sea up ahead.

A gentle swell allowed us to get up close and explore the nooks and crannies while allowing for a little fun... 

Time to explore some caves and this one was absolutely huge and passed right through the cliff.

Above Simon waited patiently beneath this huge overhang, clearly waiting for a few subjects for a photo opportunity...

..And what a photo it made!  A natural iconic landmark of Pembrokeshire usually photographed from above, The Green Arch of Wales.

You may have to look very closely in some of today's pictures to spot the kayakers dwarfed beneath the huge towering cliffs. 

Just beyond the Green Bridge tower the Elegug Stacks...

I struggled to get a good shot of the stacks because they were so huge so I paddled quite a way out to get this shot above, again spot the kayaks.  

This section of coast just kept giving and giving.  This narrow causeway was spectacular, again rising high out of photographic reach.

It then led into a cave like entrance.

 Looking back I don't know really what to call it, a causeway within a collapsed cave?

Further along Marcus spots a cave but paddling in reveals it's a collapsed cave (cave without a roof) with emerald green waters.

Further along the coast is Huntsman's Leap, where tradition has it that a horseman jumped the gap, only to look back and die of shock from what he saw.

You can spot the kayaker, Gareth, above but can you spot the two climbers?

A short distance in a small cove is St Govan's Chapel, built in the 13th Century on a site of a holly well that once attracted pilgrims.   

Around St Govan's Head we make our way into Broad Haven for a long awaited lunch stop, by now I had my breakfast 9 hours ago.

Back on the water in the bay of Broad Haven with Church Rock on the horizon.

It was only a short paddle to Stackpole Head and we were able to pass though two of the caves through the headland, popular with nesting sea birds.   

We glide now through glassy waters in the afternoon sun past the beautiful Barafundle Bay and though this sculptured small arch and onto our destination at Stackpole Quay.

We finally land after 5 hours on the water at Stackpole Quay, originally built for the export of Limestone for a nearby quarry.  We get out of our damp kit and relax in the sun outside the tea room with a warm drink.

I take a short stole up the coast path with superb views to the east as far as Caldey Island near Tenby while the rest of the group go back to pick up the cars. 

A track our our paddle off my phone app which I usually use for mapping my running and cycling but seems to work well with the paddling also.  A brilliant paddle once again made all the better for the great company. Not quite sure if it beats the Witches Cauldron paddle but definitely up there with the best.

Vale Easter Cycling

Second ride out on the new bike and today I decided to push the distance, 40.9 miles in all.  The route vaguely follows Nicole Cookes, former Olympic and road race champion, training run from Wick.  

The sun was set to shine this Easter weekend but it remained cold and windy with a high of around 7 degrees.  I layered up on top to keep out the wind chill and set off late morning.

From St Athan I passed through the historic old town of Llantwit Major and followed the sea view country roads linking the coastal villages of St Donats, Marcross, Monknash and St Brides Major.

Views over the Bristol Channel near St Donats.

There were plenty of lambs in the roads along the way.  Plenty of Buzzrds too, one of which I nearly ran over, he was too preoccupied plucking at a road kill and I clearly didn't spot him until he took off inches from my wheel, wow.

From St Brides Major I left the main road to follow the coastal road overlooking Ogmore-By-Sea.  This had to be the highlight of the trip and the stretch from Llantwit to Ogmore is a must for any cyclist in the area.

Turning east to follow the Ogmore River back toward the main road into Bridgend I hit a strong head wind.  This stretch should have been a pleasant, relatively flat enjoyable ride that turned into a demoralising slog.  From Ogmore the route took me mainly along busy A roads through Bridgend.  I opted to avoid the main town as much as possible taking the road to Aberkenfig then cutting across to Brynmenyn and Bryncethin. 

I then cut across Hirwaun Common into another gruelling  headwind, stopping briefly to refuel, then on to Pencoed.  The next stretch I was dreding.  I left the A road from Pencoed to take a steep climb past St Mary Hill golf course, brushing past Cowbridge on to Siginstone.

I left the main B road cutting across the country lanes from Siginstone to St Athan.  Taking in the scenery I spotted a rare sight.  I leapt off the bike to grab my camera and watched as a Red Kite swooped and dived along the hedgerow for about 10-15 mins.  I've heard rumours of sightings of this bird of prey around Cowbridge that is usually not sighted much further south of Mid Wales.  That will be the second highlight of the trip.   

Arriving home after 40 miles in the saddle for what was a great trip taking in some of the best roads and wildlife in and around the Vale of Glamorgan.

New Bike

Not much kayaking done in recent months, in fact none at all.  However, having recently had a taste of cycling with my dad's old bike I decided to treat myself to nice shiny road bike...  

Despite the freezing conditions that seem to be unsettling the entire country I took it for it's first ride out last weekend, a twenty three mile ride on my home patch through the Vale of Glamorgan countryside...

I'm really looking to get myself 'cycle fit' and continue to explore some local routes, hopefully combining some coastal roads to get my salty fix between kayaking.  Watch this space.

Paddles for Pedals

For the past two weekends I have swapped my paddles for pedals to explore my local stretch of coastline.  I haven't ridden a bike since I was a teenager.  I have wanted to get a bike to use when the conditions aren't quite right for paddling, which often seems to be the case lately.

My dad offered me his Raleigh Yukon mountain bike, which I used to ride when I was in my teens.  Bikes have come a long way since this was made but it is in excellent condition, my dad has a knack for looking after things.  Browsing the internet it seems to be quite a sort after retro bike.  Adjusted the seat, pumped up the tyres and a few squirts of WD40 and I was on my way.  

I took it for it's first ride last weekend off road along a stretch of my local coast path at Gileston.

A prehistoric ammonite locked in a pebble.

I followed the rough path through muddy fields mainly until the path reaches the end of the beach.

New coast path signs since the opening of the Wales Coast Path.

I sat at the end of the beach to watch the sun go down on the far side of the channel before making my way back along the path.

A few bunny hops over the WWII anti tank defences?...maybe not quite yet.  A really enjoyable ride to get me started.  My leg ached, muscle unfamiliar with the cycling, for a few days after.

NASH POINT LIGHTHOUSE SATURDAY 23rd FEBRUARY

I have been a bit nervous about taking the bike out on the road, but a short trip into Llantwit Major in the week to pick up the van from the MOT garage gave me the bug to take it out for a longer trip this weekend...

I was up just before dawn around 6:30am.  The plan was to pedal into Llantwit Major, through the old town past the St Illtyd's Church.  After picking up some snacks from town I rode along the back coastal road with stunning views over the Glamorgan countryside and Bristol Channel into St Donnats, past the castle into Marcross following the road down to the coast.

Arriving at the gate leading to the light house there was a sign 'No Bikes', which I though was a bid odd as cars drive up and down this road.  I chose to ignore this and carry on to the high light.

An old post card when the low light was in operation and the high light was painted black and white.

I parked up at my destination.  Up until last year I was contracted to cut the grass here.  At the time the lighthouse cottages were let out by a cottage holiday company.  They are now let out long term as homes and the maintenance of the grounds is up to the tenants...not a bad place to live!!

The fog horn station.

I sat up on top of the cliff with a coffee looking out of the clam waters over Nash sand bank before making my way back taking a different route through the country lanes.  28 kilometres in total, not bad for my second ride.  Hopefully more rides to follow...