THE BIG RIDE!
Yes on a hot and dry Saturday morning in July a group of Newport Scouts, leaders and parents met before the start of the BIG RIDE!
The challenge was to cycle along the Monmouth to Brecon Canal. After the final checks to see what had fallen off the bikes before we started and time for a quick service so we might get as far as Cwmbran before the need to stop for repairs! We were off!
The weather was just right dry sunny and a light breeze. Soon we were enjoying our first ice cream of the weekend at Pontypool. Then having filled up the water bottles we where off again. This next part was going to the first of several testing areas as the cycle track became little more than a mudded, hole- pitted path unlike the nice fast track we had enjoyed from Newport to Pontypool.
Lunch time and we where glad to sit down [Very slowly] on the soft grass and have our sandwiches and drink. Just before lunch a bike lost it’s peddle, which was sent for repairs. Lunch over and back on those very hard and uncomfortable saddles!!!!!
Moving along at 9miles hours not bad as we had to move round people and canal bridges and other objects in our flight paths! [Bikes, scouts] all over the Welsh country side! GREAT FUN.
With the sun still bright in the sky and little of any breeze the group had divided to the fast and the not has fast [Lucky the DC] was tail – end Charlie [No change there then]! By the time we’d arrived at Taly-bont it was time for another break and a long cool coke [Thanks Mr Richards].
The final part to Brecon all up hill and to the very welcome Youth Hostel, where a wash, drink and a chip supper all waiting for some very tired Scouts and leaders. [The DC was ok just in case you where worried].
Sunday morning a good breakfast a quick check of the bikes followed by some warm up moves before the down hill return trip to Newport! What a difference a good night sleep makes as we quickly got in our stride and before we new it we travelling though Taly-bont on our way CrickHowell.
This time a bike kept losing it chain so the lucky scout was toad by two of the leaders too just out side Pontypool and yes a much needed ice cream was waiting. After a hot drink and a quick sugar boost we were all ready for the drop down to Pontypool, again this proved to be the test for all as the path seem to suck the bike into it! Pontypool and yes it’s still warm and sunny and only about an hour or so before touch down back in Malpas.
The scouts all seem to forget how tried they where and with a much increase in speed arrived back hour and half late! Whoops! All back safe, a quick hug from the parents who all seemed very please to see their lads back safe and tried from two very full days some 18 hours in the saddle [no it did feel like on the saddle].
Home just after 18.00hrs a hot bath and a couple of hours sleep and we where ready for school [Walking]. Thanks everyone for making this a weekend one we will all remember for sometime. Great fun great scouting!
