Mick's Motoring Wales Wander

[MattBLancs]

Jim, thanks for sharing your back story too. Get well soon

[CitroJim]

Jim, thanks for sharing your back story too. Get well soon

Thanks Matt

[Paul-R]

Thanks for the best wishes Jim. I am aware of ME/CFS from reading articles in the New Scientist magazine and the possible relationship with long covid. I hope that the interest in long covid will prove beneficial to you.

I just reread my medical post and realised that I had completely missed out the radiotherapy that I underwent! What would have been a big thing to most people was just one more treatment to be undertaken as part of the process. Ten sessions of so many Curies in total immediately before I had the BEAM treatment and stem cell transplant.

[CitroJim]

You really have been through the mill Paul...

I hope that the interest in long covid will prove beneficial to you.

Yes, Long Covid being a well recognised condition has already helped. ME/CFS is now beginning to loose it's old 'Yuppie 'Flu' tag and many in the medical profession recognise it for what it is.

Even when I was diagnosed a good proportion of doctors refused to acknowledge it and dismissed it.

[mickthemaverick]

Having had to postpone the Wales Wander back in the spring Jim and I thought we'd do a dry run on the southern part with just one night away and a run round the Elan Valley, the site of many of my rallies in the past. We set off yesterday morning and took the opportunity to call in on Gibbo to ruin his day!! We were both very glad to find him definitely on the mend from his recent issues and still retaining a positive outlook with his sense of humour fully intact! We had a great chat before heading off to the Elan Valley for me to show Jim it's splendour.

As I was driving Jim took the photos and I'm sure they will appear in the next day or two. Having achieved that we stayed in a Golf and Country club overnight which was a very nice place in Coleford. This morning we set off home via a certain nice place to visit near Burford. When we got there the car park was full of very expensive cars making the Subaru look very old and shabby. There was obviously a special event going on so we elected to capture a few shots and make a discreet exit!!

As a result we got back on the road and headed back to Paggers via Thame, Princes Risborough and Aylesbury in order to find some suitable food for the car and for us. Vpower was available in Princes Risborough but we got as far as The George in Little Brickhill before stopping for a very light lunch as we had had an enormous breakfast at the golf club. A brilliant dry run for the Wander and it really was good to see Gibbo on the mend.

[CitroJim]

That was a truly epic couple of days away and enjoyed it hugely Thanks Mick!

It was really great to meet you Eric and I fear we could have chatted all day given half a chance!

The tour of the Elan Valley really was amazing.. It was awestruck and it took my breath away It's absolutely beautiful and one of the most lovely places I've even visited... And it's a well-kept secret too, nicely free of any commercialisation and Grockels. And long may it stay that way...

We almost had it all to ourselves and saw only one other person. And an interesting one too

We were there near sunset and got a few good photos... It was notable just how low the reservoirs were, given the time of year... Hopefully not a sign of a potential drought next year...

A typical road I'd love to ride my bike around there!

The reservoirs and dams:

One of the big (and low) reservoirs:

The supermoon at sunset

Some describe it as the Welsh Lake District... Yep, I can see that... Do visit if you can but don't tell anyone, the secret of this beautiful place must be maintained Tourism would spoil it...

[mickthemaverick]

STOP PRESS - TOUR IN JEOPARDY- STOP PRESS

Unfortunately Jim has advised me this morning that he has picked up a nasty flu type bug which may or may not be COVID. As such he feels it the sensible thing to do is to withdraw from the tour as a precaution, allowing me a little time to cancel the arrangements without significant cost to us. I have asked my September Stroll mate Bob if he would like to fill in but as yet I have had no reply, I suspect he is at an archery competition !!

Ironically a few minutes ago I had a call from The High Tor hotel in Matlock, our intended Sunday night stop, to ask me to cancel the booking as the hotel had a maintenance issue and would be closed on Sunday. The wind is not blowing in a good direction!! If Bob can make the trip, then it will now have a significantly different route on Sunday bringing us from Colwyn Bay back down south to be home for Sunday night. This inevitably means postponing the proposed Sunday meets for another time I'm afraid. Sorry Paul and Matt. However if Bob can make it then the Coleford dinner will be fine and I will confirm one way or the other after I get his response.

FURTHER STOP PRESS..............FURTHER STOP PRESS..............FURTHER STOP PRESS

I am pleased to announce that the Wander is back in business. Following the April Adventure I will be setting off on the revised Wales Wander on Sunday 11th May with my mate Bob, from the September Stroll in 2020, accompanying me around the valleys. I have now rebooked three of the four overnight venues as in the original plan and contacted the fourth for the last night but still awaiting a reply. I have to revise the start and finish to accommodate Bob taking Jim's place but once that is done I will post the plan as normal and look to members to join us along the way as and where possible. Watch this space!!

[mickthemaverick]

I have now completed the replot so time to shout out if you can meet us along the way. Here's the schedule, click on it to enlarge!

MTMO The revised Wales Wander route and dates

[Gibbo2286]

Lydney Coleford and Monmouth all within easy reach for me Mick.

[mickthemaverick]

The original plan had us having dinner in Coleford that evening with Forester joining us, hopefully we could revive that plan?

[Paul-R]

Damn, Wednesday is a bad day for me as we normally go out for lunch with a friend then. Maybe something workable even if it's just to wave at you when you go past When you have better times let me know.

[mickthemaverick]

Willdo Paul, at the moment the framework will have us having lunch around Warrington at 13.00ish. Hopefully Matt will be able to join us in that general area but at the moment it is a wait and see situation. We could also stop for a coffee and a leg stretch around the Wirral area I should think!

[Paul-R]

This is one of the places we go to for lunch (it might even be their time for us that day!). Depends on the time I suppose.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Blueb ... FQAw%3D%3D

[mickthemaverick]

That looks a very decent place for elevenses!!

[MattBLancs]

Willdo Paul, at the moment the framework will have us having lunch around Warrington at 13.00ish. Hopefully Matt will be able to join us in that general area but at the moment it is a wait and see situation.

Sorry, not seen the updates here till now.

If midweek, I'll have to book a day off but plenty far away still think should be do-able. Bear with me I'll see what (if anything) is in the work calendar that far ahead, will try and confirm asap.

Short form: Warrington-ish, Wednesday midday -ish - got it!