Day 3 - Let the Train Take the Strain!
Tuesday 9th September (Coz I'm loosing track of the days!)
Today, as usual, started off dry, windy but warm-ish. We knew it wasn't going to last but Hey-Ho. Both Ali & I were looking forward to today with an excited, slightly apprehensive sense of impending doom!!
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| Part of Today's Route |
When planning this Gower walk I had to find a way of connecting both ends of the Pilgrimage section.
Whilst planning I noticed a cycle-path from Gowerton to the Mumbles, The Clyne Valley Cycleway.
On researching a bit further I discovered the track made use of an old railway line from Gowerton down to Blackpill on Swansea Bay.
The thought went through my head that railway line equals gentle gradient.
Gradient from inland to sea probably means gentle downhill.
That would make for easier walking!
The next thought that popped into my head was after a conversation with friends from our WRAC Walking Group. Elaine and Phyl mentioned that, as well as their "proper" bikes they had two folding Brompton bikes: "folding," as in, would fit in the boot of a car!
Now, normally I hate bikes with a passion. I find cycling so painful on my rear-end that no amount of persuasion can get me on one!
However!!
Light bulb moment!!
Downhill, virtually free-wheeling, little or no cycling involved.
It would certainly be easier on the poor tootsies than trudging down the same route on foot.
I put the idea to Ali and she seemed as warily up for it as I was!
Well, how difficult could riding a bike be? For me the last time I had ridden a bike (briefly) was about 40 years ago. The last time I'd ridden a bike seriously was when I was in secondary school about 60 years ago!!
A fortnight ago we got the bikes from Phyl and Elaine. The first hurdle was unfolding and folding them. YouTube to the rescue. That was the easy bit. Next came actually riding the thing! The wheels are about the size of a toddlers training bike but, unlike a toddler, I have a much higher centre of gravity on said bike which makes balancing interesting. Denise tried to take a video of me practicing in the back garden and I'm afraid to say that my language was not complimentary. I think Ali had similar joys on her bike.
Nevertheless we both persevered and decided that, come the day we'd see how we felt and probably, possibly give it a go.
That day arrived.
Today!!
We both were of the opinion that this could well end in disaster . . . . but also might be quite a laugh.
I think Denise felt that, a) we were totally bonkers (we agreed), b) that she would get a phone call saying either come back & pick us up or that we'd crashed!!
Things didn't get off to a good start when neither of us could remember how to unfold the bikes!!!
Ali was able to get a phone signal to ask the Internet and we discovered what we were doing wrong and successfully set the bikes up.
Waterproofs and crash-hats were donned, we tried a few circuits of the car park before we decided to brave it.
Denise waved us off as we wobbled past her.
Mumbles next stop!
Wow! What an enjoyable start to the day.
The track is usually flat, smooth tarmac and, once we'd set off and gingerly picked up a little speed, we were able to glide easily down the anticipated gentle slope towards Blackpill Car Park where we were due to meet Denise again to relinquish our bikes for the next bit.
I was in front as we rolled onward. Every time I tried to turn my head round to chat to Ali I tended to wobble & swerve a bit so she banned me from doing that!!
If ever you are round that neck of the woods it's a marvelous ride and there are walks off the track, picnic tables galore. There's a coffee shack (it was closed!) beautiful woodland either side. Streams and fishing pools beside the track. The sun was shining (well, trying to) ; it really was a glorious start to the day and put huge smiles on both our faces.
Yes, I know it wasn't walking but it also wasn't really part of the Pilgrimage, it was just connecting both ends. More importantly it was immense fun! And, bonus points, no bums were damaged in the process.
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We arrived at Blackpill Car Park a lot sooner than we had anticipated.
Fortunately Denise had also had an uneventful car journey to greet us.
Her biggest problem was spending quarter of an hour trying to work out how to get the ticket machine to work with her in English and not Welsh!!
We folded and packed away our bikes (mine proved problematic, a bit like its rider!!).
We swapped our kit for walking attire and set off along the seafront towards Oystermouth and Mumbles lighthouse.
In the car park Ali had remarked on how the wind had dropped. When we got on the seafront we realised that had been untrue; it was blowing fit to bust. She's definitely sacked from the weather forecaster position.
No sooner had we got rid of the bikes than it not only got very windy but, before very long, it started to rain. The weather has been really odd the last few days. Sunshine then light rain, heavy downpours, sunshine again. All the while its been fairly warm and humid meaning that every time you put a waterproof on it made you feel hot & sweaty, especially when any climbing had to be done. Our next port of call was St Teilo's church inland in Bishopston which, of course meant a fair bit of climbing.
Due to the very blustery conditions we didn't think it too sensible to use the coastal path so we chose a gentler route through housing and up onto the start of Clyne Common.
The common was a fairly rough, grassy area with plenty of bracken, heather, shrubs and a little gorse. The route we wanted off the common was not marked as a pathway so we had to find our way through the scrub land. We took it in turns leading along narrow animal tracks.
Unfortunately Ali was in the lead when we came across the only patch of gorse. There was no way round so she chose to step over . . . . with her shorter legs that wasn't the best idea as she ended up astride two bits of gorse. Very painful!! Having seen her dilemma I chose to step on & squash down the offending bit of gorse on the right meaning I could safely step over & around the bit on the left. Alison Brown - my hero - saving me from a painful experience!!
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| Journey's End & still smiling!! |
The remainder of the walk was unremarkable (apart from the on and off rain). Most of it was on grassy lanes, quiet residential roads and fenced pathways beside schools. My map reading went a bit awry at the end when we were so euphoric that we'd nearly reached journey's end that I didn't look closely enough. We ended up having to backtrack a bit to find the entrance into the churchyard.
I nearly did another Bambi trick trying to take a photo of the unusual bell housing on top of the tower. I was under strict instructions for the next 100 yards or so to hold the handrail!! Ali does look after me: I think it's her bit for charity - "Help the Aged"!!
So, Last day of the actual Pilgrimage tomorrow; it'll then be about halfway through my 100 Miles. As I sit here writing this it is absolutely pouring down outside so I'm glad that, thanks to the bike ride, we finished a bit earlier today! I wonder what the weather has in store for us tomorrow?
