The forecast for Monday 2nd January was not very good, gales and heavy rain/sleet storms was the order of the day. I really didnt expect many members to venture out but I was wrong, thirteen top class cyclists started out, this included a visitor, Deborah's dad and a CTC member who had cycled from St Clears to cycle with us to day!. Going north over the Cleddau bridge we hit the father and mother of all hail storms, it almost blew us off our bikes but as I said being top class we battled to the far side of the bridge, avoiding the large amount of glass some low life had scattered in the road, before we stopped to draw breath.
We cycled along the cycle path for almost two miles before we turned left at a sign post to Hepzibah chapel, this led us to along a quiet lane to Mastle Bridge, a village seemingly lost in time and rarely visited on club rides, then the hamlet of Leonardston with a steep drop down to Llanstadwell. Passing the Ferry in we climbed up to Waterston, passing close to the wind turbine we dropped down to Blackbridge and immediately a steep short climb to a left turning to the beach. Here several members decided to go the easier way leaving the rest of us to climb Cellar Hill up to the Rath. Fighting against half a gale along the Rath we made it to a steep lane leading to the slipway, most people walked DOWN as it would have been a swim if the brakes had failed!. Along the front of a block of attractive apartments to our coffee stop over looking the marina at 1110hrs, good timing!. Continuing along the path , rear of Tesco , rather a twisty dangerous path to Lower Priory under the railway bridge to the B road and up to Steynton. Across the traffic lights, again on the cycle path , to Sentry Cross. Taking the first left led us down a steep hill to the Brunel cycle path, both Debs dad and Mike were impressed by the surface of the cycle path and the sheer beauty of the surrounding area. Having checked that the cafe would be open and that we could use their tables to eat our lunch having bought drinks in the cafe, a pleasant half an hour passed. Black clouds were looming over the Haven so we started our last leg. reaching the second railway crossing cottage Ted and Ross carried on to Haverfordwest whilst the others climbed the steep hill up to the main road. With the strong wind behind us we made a fast return to thr Cleddau bridge, by now it was again spotting with rain so we said our good byes and left for home.
Being the first club ride of the year I was asked to keep it fairly easy, I hope we had more down hills than up, sorry about the wind but thats always with us in Pembrokeshire and I think we ignore it most of the time. I think we were lucky to find two cafes open on New Years day plus one, other years we have not been so lucky.
22 miles done, cycling time 4 hours. I enjoyed leading hope you all enjoyed as well.