Articles from the Newsletter November/December 2006

Rough Stuff Fellowship - Easter Meet 2006 by Jean Stevens

Fred and I had attended the RSF Annual Meet so often and knew the members well over many years so I felt there would be friends there to welcome me on my own. Having decided to go I set about finding how to get to remote Tregaron, mid-Wales, 18 miles southeast from Aberystwyth! Three years before we had travelled to Machynlleth on the same line, detraining at Newtown, so 1 knew the route I had to take East Croydon to Watford Junction (easy), then to Birmingham (not easy), and then to Aberystwyth (easier). I duly went to Euston station to book it all up, a complicated procedure (the booking clerk, a very friendly helpful man, said "rather you than me"), and sent me off with a handful of tickets. The day arrived and I set off on my journey. At Watford Junction I changed to platform 10 via a lift where I had some coffee and a cumfort stop (having made a reciprocal arrangement with a fellow female cyclist to look after my bike!) After this I was most impressed how well looked after I was: advised to move up the platform to a certain spot and the staff member would join me there when the train came to put my bike in the guard's van. All was well, then it was the three floors plus lifts at Birmingham to negotiate. I found my way to the concourse where I bought a sandwich for lunch and visited the disabled toilet, taking my bike with me! The platform for Aberystwyth was back down to the basement, then up one floor to the platform. Here again staff (in their red jackets) were most helpful pointing out where the cycle space would be and that's all it was, one cycle space. Fortunately it was only me, and I parked it and then thought how can I keep an eye on it as there were several stops. A young man came forward to offer me his seat as he was getting off at the next stop, saying I would be able to see my bike from this seat. So 1 had coffee from the trolley and enjoyed my sandwich three hours to Aberystwyth. Brilliant! I had booked a B&B there, and had sussed out a recommended restaurant Harry's. Three young men were standing near so I asked them if they knew Harry's – “Oh yes, it's over there just beyond the orange building and a very good choice!” I booked a table for 8pm, then a short walk to find the B&B, then bath and change and back to the restaurant and it was a very good choice delicious soup, delicious salmon and sauce, followed by coffee (no room for a sweet). Next morning, the bill paid, my bags packed and bike ready, I settled down to wait for my chauffeurs, Charlie and John, at 11am, but they were already arriving so no time was lost before we set off to Tregaron, HQ for the weekend. I disembarked here and the others went on six miles to the Black Lion at Pontrhyrdfendigaid where they were staying, to leave the car and ride back here for lunch, and a short spin before dinner (at the HQ, the Talbot Hotel). I had spotted a cafe as we drove in (it being about midday now) but it was the wrong one - more of a takeaway, so 1 had a coffee then a walk round the small townl/large village and found two other better cafes. But since I was waiting for the others to come back I thought I had better not hide away in a cafe where they couldn't see me, so I bought a delicious roll and butter from one cafe and sat outside in lovely sunshine in the square, enjoying my roll and attempting a crossword. The wait for the others was longer than I anticipated and after a while I had a wander around and checked the signpost yes only six miles to Pontrhydfendigaid. Eventually they swept across the bridge and we went to a pub for lunch. While I was waiting I looked at the map and found an interesting looking very short rough stuff – half-a-mile on a track/rough road joined either end by a minor road. But of course it wasn't like that! OK until the farm where we consulted the farmer which way through the farmyard, he said (muddy) and on to the "track" more like a stony stream, a very nice walk! On arrival at the other end, a nice touch Charhe produced a flask of tea, a pleasant stop in the sunshine, photos taken, and an easy ride back to Tregaron for tea at the other cafe, where some other cyclists were gathering, and I felt the weekend was really happening now. I put my bike away under cover at the back of the hotel and noticed my bike was no longer clean (my friend Tim had been very kind and given my bike a check, pumped the tyres up, and even more kindly cleaned it!) but distinctly muddy (as my shoes were). At dinner I had a lovely welcome from those who were staying there, and later there was a slide show where we were joined by lots more old friends staying in the area. Next day I wondered what to do the organised rides were too ambitious for me! As I left the hotel with my bike a non cycling member was setting off for a walk to the Red Kite Centre nearby, so 1 joined her, but it was closed, and as we walked back we were met by her sister in law on her bike, so a coffee stop was called for at the other cafe where we joined some other cyclists. A long coffee break was enjoyed, lots of chat, and Chris (the cycling sister in law) said she didn't want to go far, was thinking of Lampeter 12 miles away, so we went together, quite a level ride, and a very pleasant lunch (and chat) at a pub there. Chris is a member of the Mersey Road Club and it was interesting to hear of the activities of those tough hardy cyclists in their cold northerly wastes. Back to Tregaron and more tea and more cyclists to meet, followed by dinner and the AGM at the hotel to discuss the past year and the year to come. A vote was taken where to hold the Meet next year, unusually there were three options to choose from, and Whitby was eventually chosen. Then it was Easter Sunday and I wondered if there was a church service but being in Wales the main service at 11am was in Welsh. I met Janet and her dog while looking around, so it was coffee time again. Janet's husband Erie was cycling with the other rough stuffers but Janet only cycles locally now and she and her dog were enjoying bus rides and walks. She was looking for a church service too and we found out that at 2.30 there was a Methodist service opposite the hotel in a room of the craft centre, so after a short walk together I had a nice lunch at the hotel then to the service, attended by about 20 people, including hymn singing, a sermon then tea and biscuits! During the refreshments it was nice to talk to the locals about the area and I discovered that what Chris and I thought had been a railway line and station on our ride back yesterday was originally a depot for the Milk Marketing Board. I then went for a short walk and soon it was time for the Annual Dinner a very pleasant affair, good food and wine, very sociable. While I was with Janet she was telling me that she and her husband Eric had travelled by train from Birmingham to Aberystwyth, but Eric hadn't enjoyed the ride from Aberystwyth, very hilly, and wasn't looking forward to riding back! I had toyed with the idea that I could ride back with Eric (it was only 18 miles after all) but on hearing this I realised I would perhaps prefer a lift! My previous chauffeurs were going home on Monday, as were most others the situation could be desperate. However, a light was beginning to appear at the end of the tunnel. At the Dinner 1 was taking photos with my new digital camera and consulted Mark, who had won two prizes in the photographic competition, to help me with the camera. I knew he lived somewhere south west (Swindon?) and casually asked if he was going home on Tuesday. Oh yes, he said, and I pressed on -and would you have room for me and my bike in your car/van to Aberystwyth? Oh yes, he said my relief was such that Mark received an instant hug and a glass of wine. I am also happy to report that at dinner on Monday evening Eric, on hearing another member discussing his route home asked if it was possible to offer him a lift, and it was! The last day, Monday, I decided to explore the disused railway line, now a cycle/walking route, to Pontrhydfendigaid, which I had heard several people talk about as a pleasant flat ride. It was as they said and 1 was soon at Pontrhydfendigaid hoping for a coffee at the Black Lion, where Charhe and John and Lancashire members had been staying. Oh dear, it was shut, and there didn't appear to be anywhere else.But as 1 consulted my map for an alternative, Harry from Lancaster arrived. He said he would go round the back to inquire and as he said this a young man appeared yes, of course we could have coffee. We had hardly settled down to our refreshment when four other members came in and for the next hour or so a long coffee break and lots of chat, even a look at the menu? Shall we have lunch here? But the others were going to Strata Florida Abbey some three miles away and then some rough stuff before returning to the hotel. I had heard of this Abbey many times and here was my chance to see it so we all set off to look at the Abbey and read all the info displayed. I left them there to return, on the road this time, to the hotel. As I arrived there (nice downhill ride) I met Peter, the Secretary, just returning from his ride so we had lunch in the hotel bar, a very pleasant interlude. I felt I should then go for a stroll to walk down my lunch before dinner! It's a very pleasant area with views of hills all round and it was easy to find a walk, We were a very select band of diners, in the bar this time, and the food and wine was as excellent as on all the other evenings. The next morning I was all packed and ready, waiting for Mark and his camper van to arrive from the camp site he was staying at. He arrived and we set off, together with the other van with Eric and bike on board, while Janet and her dog waited for the bus. I noticed with interest the hills we went up, and down, and managed to conceal my disappointment that I had deprived myself of the pleasure of cycling back to Aberystwyth. Mark had hoped to have a look at, and perhaps a ride on, the steam railway there but it wasn't running at a convenient time, so we parked and went in search of a cafe. Mark was hungry as he hadn't had much breakfast at the camp site, so I treated him to a jacket potato and all the trimmings, and coffee, and toast for me, then I looked for a sandwich to eat on the train, and a loaf of bread for Mark, also a buttered scone for me for later, quite the most delicious scone 1 had ever tasted, pity it was so far away to get a refill. Our next port of call was the station to find Eric, Janet and her dog. We located the bike space, which was supposed to take two bikes but it was a tight squeeze and a bit of push and shove was necessary before they were in place. A very grateful goodbye to Mark and then a comfortable ride. That is until approaching Shrewsbury where a notice was given out that the train was going no further and we had to join another train which was already pretty full, and - horror! - we we were now three bikes to squeeze into one space. Eventually we managed to accommodate all three. But even more horror! I missed my connection at Birmingham as the train was now three minutes late and I had one hour to wait. I located the London platform but didn't go down there yet as there was time to spare. Later the train was in, and waiting, so I enquired of the very helpful young man if I could go on the train. Yes had I a reservation for the bike?, Oh yes, I said, then - oh no! not for this train. Oh well, he'd have to ask the guard. He came back with the message that I had to go up to the concourse to the ticket office and re book my bike. I greeted this with dismay as there wasn't now so much spare time, and how was I going to get to the ticket office with my bike? The young man looked after my bike and directed me to the escalator. At the concourse I asked two important men in suits where 1 should go and they didn't seem sure so I found Customer Services who very quickly gave me a new booking. Then, where was that escalator back to my bike? At last I was there, in the guards van, with the message from my young friend that he would phone Watford Junction and advise them I was coming and to let me off the train there. No more hazards, just the walk home from East Croydon and a call at a convenience shop for some food for dinner even Safeways was shut arriving safely at 10pm. Then of course like all good travellers I firstly put my trusty steed to bed in his shed. I was so glad I had decided to go to the Annual Meet. 1 had enjoyed the company of old friends again plus some new ones, and I had managed to include some cycling and walking, and the food and accommodation were excellent. I look forward to next year's Meet in Whitby, once I've found out how to get there!