What started off as a day-trip into Wales somehow mutated into a poorly executed 'Tour de Farce'! Enjoy!
Wednesday 14th May
Mileage: 58497
1:30 pm
Left home. Still have to get last-minute items. Groceries, tools and a subframe mount
Decide to go into Hereford for these items.4:20 pm
Set-off (eventually!) from Hereford, heading North to a Stone Circle, just north of Bishop's Castle. Rang up and made an offer for Nipper!
Owner says that he will think about it and get back to us!5:30 pm
Arrived at Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle! (After missing tiny, over-grown directions to it!) Got out and stretched our legs, before walking up to the main bit. Stunning views over the border into Wales, but pity it was a little misty.
Stopped for a cuppa and then planned the first stop-over in Wales. Found Llangollen, as it has a few local placed of interest, and a picnic site that we can hopefully stay at!
Left at 6:40
Mileage: 58553
7:50 pm
Stopped for break at Tony's Stop, just short of the border. Perfect timing! Got a call back from the seller of Nipper! He say YES! We say WOOT!
Decided to get a burger and chips to celebrate! (But also as time was getting on
and we still needed to cross into the badlands!Set off at 8:40
Mileage: 58575
8:50 pm
Welsh border! Woot!
And we just had to get a piccie! -
Continued to Welshpool before heading north on the A483. Found ourselves back in Blighty for 20 minutes as the road crossed the border again. Time was getting on and as we neared Llangollen, it was quite dark!
Stopped at one caravan site (where they didn't do tents!), where Arthur (a nice fella from Leeds), directed us to another place, just over the River Dee - With the immortal line 'Turn left at the smart Taxidermists!' :s
Arrived at 'Wern Isaf' campsite at 10pm. Got a pitch for a tenner! Tent was easy, even in the dark (3 poles and the cover, then guy ropes and inner liner - Shelter!)
Thursday 15th May
4:50 am
Woke full of the joys of spring! - Before falling promptly asleep!
7:30 am
Woke to the delights of the farmer's tractor going past! Slowly! Started on brekkie - Sausage sarnies! Yum yum! J-Lo for drinkies! Decided to also cook up some bacon for lunch - BLT perhaps?
Checked route and wrote diary.
10:30 am
Mileage: 58617
Set off for Anglesey, via Bangor, as this gives us a chance to see some stunning mountains, twisty roads and also a bit of sea! Nice scenery for Reggie!
1:40 pm
Mileage: 58695
Arrived at Bangor Harbour - Got a few pics of Reggie enjoying the sea air. Crossed the Menai bridge, to Anglesey, heading for the Sea Zoo! (As Bean has not been to one before!
)
Whilst crossing the Menai bridge - Look what we spotted! - We both went a little mad and I think we may have scared the other driver!
4:55 pm
Left for Caernarfon to re-stock for cheeseburgers for breakfast!
6:10 pm
Leave for the next stop-over point at Dolgellau.
9:30 pm
Arrived at Ton Y Pen campsite. Lovely Kentish owner shows us to our pitch. Only tent on site - rest were caravans and mobile homes. Site has showers! WOOT!
Quite late so just grabbed a quick sarnie before bed!
Friday 16th May
7:50 am
Woke to a cold, rainy day
Decide not to do burgers as barbeques don't work very well in the rain
Make ham salad sandwiches for lunch! Made use of hot showers on-site! Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!
10:00 am
Head into town for a much-needed top-up of fuel for Reggie and decide to get two sausage paninis! And, obviously, two teas!
Overheard a conversation between a paramedic and a local old-boy! Absolutely astounded at the extent of the Welsh Language in every day use! We may sound ignorant, but it never struck us as being that common.
11:00 am
Mileage: 58754
Top-up on Go-Juice! Set off headed for the Centre For Alternative Technology, near Machynlleth.
11:30 am
Arrived at CAT.
On turning in, we both squealed and yelled 'MINI!!' at a red Mayfair! I jumped out to take some pictures, when I spotted a BRG Cooper, parked two cars down! Woot!
6:00 pm
Leave CAT. Weather still not improved. Decide to head south to Cardigan, as we didn't fancy sitting on the beach in Aberystwyth in t'rain!
80 mile slog along the coast, going OK. But soon after Llanrhystd, Reggie started to judder! Pulled over at the side of the road to check. All seems OK, but everything was fastened, plumbed and connected as intended.
Bemused, we jumped back in Reggie and are off again.
7:30 pm
Barely 5 miles further on, whilst trying to get up a rather steep hill, Reggie started to splutter badly! Made it up the bank and pulled into a layby on the cliff. Suspect fueling problem.
Opened up Reggie's bonnet and upon checking the carb, found a half-inch split in the rubber fuel pipe
Heath Robinsoned a piece of pipe from a breather vent, but on reflection I called on the RAC - Kris knew that we'd be sat here for an hour at least, but if we get to Cardigan without risk of Reggie going up in flames, then what the hell! He's worth it, right?
Mileage: 58810
10:45 pm
After another sterling job by the RAC, taking 2 1/2 hours to travel 4 miles to a stranded Reggie, we set off. Still intent on reaching Cardigan!
11:15 pm
Mileage: 58827
Park up for the night in a lay-by. Reggie sick!
Saturday 17th May
7:00 am
Wake after a restless night's sleep. Clean out Reggie's float bowl, hopefully to rectify the problem.
7:45 am
Leave lay-by. About 4 miles on, Reggie starts to splutter again. Find a petrol station to re-fuel, in the hope that it may help the situation.
Seems OK!
Not for long. Spluttering returns again with a vengeance. Managed to limp to Cardigan and dump Reggie in a canal, after setting fire to him.
No, not really - Couldn't find a match!
8:30 am
Limp into Tescos - We go for brekkie! Suspect severe blockage in carb.
Mileage: 58839
9:30 am
After a decent brekkie, decide that it's not fair on Reggie to continue the trip.
Phone RAC again. Be here in 30 minutes.
10:40 am
RAC turn up. Jovial little fella and happens to be a Mini owner! Checks over Reggie thoroughly. Checked that the fuel was correct and then goes onto carb. Repeats the exercise Nightflier performed earlier. Seems to work well.
Go on a 3 mile run, following the RAC man.
When we pull-over, as agreed, all seemed well. We decided to set off for Pendine Sands and the Museum of Speed! If we can, we'll stop for some new plugs and a dizzy cap.
All seemed OK for 4 or 5 miles, when it starts again and we come to a holt, 10 miles north of Pendine.
Having just cleared Narberth, Reggie starts to lose power on a hill, despite gunning the engine. We lose power all the time and just make it to the entrance of Allensbank Holiday Park.
We have a long chat about the rest of the trip and eventually decide that it's too dangerous to continue.
1:00 pm
With a heavy heart, we contact the RAC and are given a 2 hour window. We decide to break out the Pringles and dip!
2:00 pm
Kris finishes getting the passenger door switch for courtesy light to work when a tall, gangly fella announces - 'This must be the shortest pick-up I've ever had!' - Turns out he lives on the holiday park!
Load up Reggie. Advised that the journey home would take 2 1/2 hours. Oh, joy!
5:00 pm
Arrived back at chez Bean. Dumped Reggie on the driveway. (I'll speak to him later!)
Thus endeth the tale!
Nevertheless, despite the mishaps and the disgrace of arriving home on the back of a low-loader, we both thoroughly enjoyed the trip! Met some pretty interesting characters and saw some stunning views.
It's something that we would both definitely do again - but with a bit more planning, perhaps!?
