Mick's Motoring Wales Wander

[mickthemaverick]

The Old White Hart does have a website but not a good one and no mention of food. https://www.oldwhitehartinn.com/
The Orepool only serves food on Sunday lunchtimes unfortunately.

Its looking like Amici's is going to be the choice!!

[Hell Razor5543]

If you are going anywhere near Whitchurch in Shropshire might I recommend a meal visit to 'The Horse and Jockey' in Grindley Brook (SY13 4QJ)? I have a very pleasant lunch there yesterday (03/05) of Roast Beef and Horseradish sauce wrap (Yorkshire Pudding wrap!), with some vegetables and a bowl of PROPER chips (not matchstick ones) and a Pepsi Max for £17:50. That evening Mum and I went for an meal, and I had Chicken and Ham pie with vegetables and mash, Mum went for beer battered fish, chips and peas, and the total (including a non-alcoholic drink each) was just under £40. If you are wavering as to whether or not to go there, the Essar fuel station directly opposite has petrol at £1.22.9 a litre, and diesel at £1.26.9 a litre!

[mickthemaverick]

Thanks for the suggestion James which I shall log for future trips but it won't work for this one. Wednesday morning will see us travel along the North Coast of Wales from Colwyn Bay to meet Paul and Matt in Sealand and then on eastwards to the peak district where our overnight hotel is in Matlock!! The petrol would not be of use to me as I am a strict one brand man and Vpower is the name of the game!

[mickthemaverick]

Bob has confirmed he is happy with the menu so:

Table booking at Amici

[mickthemaverick]

I've managed to make the alterations to the original route map to take in the lunch on Wednesday and the resultant reroute, together with the adaptation of Tuesday's route to take in the caves and zip wire!

MTMO Click on the map to enlarge

[mickthemaverick]

I woke up this morning and for some reason thought about the brakes on the Legacy. I have both front and rear new pads in stock and I thought 'Maybe its a good idea to change them with the two trips coming up in the next three weeks!' However I started thinking about it and have now given myself a dilemma:

When I serviced the car pre MOT in March I found 3mm of meat on the rears and 4mm on the fronts. I have done a couple of thousand miles since then so I'm thinking it might be an idea to replace them today before heading for Snowdonia. Then I thought, 'What if something goes wrong during the job and it means I can't fix it in time? ' So I have decided to pack the new pads and necessary tools in the boot and head off as it is, but at least be equipped to deal with it if I get any signs of the need.

I'd be interested in other opinions on the dilemma?

[Gibbo2286]

I've got the tools and the space to do it if it comes to that, don't have the necessary enthusiasm to do it myself though.
The rears will be ok they hardly do anything and the front possibly if you don't drive like a boy racer.

[mickthemaverick]

OK thanks Gibbo, I'll have the necessary but it will be good to have somewhere to do it, should it be required, while you and Bob drink tea and watch while passing helpful hints and tips no doubt!!

[MattBLancs]

I'd leave it, if you'd 4mm about 2 months ago then I'd think you'd thousands of miles worth still now. Snowdonia will take it's tole more than motorway cruising but I'd be surprised if you'd end up down to the metal on your up coming trips.

If I'm wrong then you're welcome to pop up to Leyland at about the half way point and we can swap them here

[mickthemaverick]

Thanks Matt, hopefully it will survive but better be prepared as someone taught me while I was wearing a neckerchief!!

[mickthemaverick]

As you're going to be in Coleford Mick here are a few of places of interest:
https://www.puzzlewood.net/
https://www.perrygrove.co.uk/
https://clearwellcaves.com/
Perrygrove and Puzzlewood are just outside the town, Clearwell caves just a mile away..

Just bringing these links for easier reference for tomorrow

[Gibbo2286]

Here's another one for the brave: https://clearwellcaves.com/adventure-deeper/.

[Gibbo2286]

A warning in the news pages today says "Don't go out between 11am and 3pm."

[mickthemaverick]

A quick catch up while waiting to go out for dinner. The day started as planned with an early rise and set off to collect Bob in Reading and then we set out on the pre mapped route aiming for breakfast in Lechlade. When we got there I was very pleased to spot this gem in the car park :

An HF Integrale, LHD, no less!!

What better sight to have breakfast beside? it was parked just along from the cafe outside a hotel I have stayed in before so we sat and fulfilled our needs before a quick stroll round to stretch our legs:

The centre of Lechlade with the church and hotel

The speciality Christmas shop which has moved across the road since I was last there!

After Lechlade we headed off to drive some cracking roads on our way to Coleford where I now sit typing this!!:

Beautiful valley on the way!

A cold Guinness 0 went down very well for lunch!

Coleford market square

Our hotel

The quaint hotel staircase!

My room

So that should give you a feel for the trip, now it's time to get ready to go and meet Gibbo!!

[Stickyfinger]

All Integrale were LHD........