Brecon

On the road again! Today I cycled the shortest distance of the trip - good for a warm-up and to test everything. First, my nice Welsh flag fell off - picked it up; then, my water bottle - picked it up; then the whole pannier rack - fixed it up. After all that happened, I managed to leave Cardiff. :)

proud of my nice flag.

With the wind behind me the first thing that could stop me on Route 8 was a super-tight, one-way passage - I was on the 'give way' side. Behind that short road were hiding all the hills of Brecon Beacons. The wind wasn't strong enough to help there; the up-n-downs stopped me a few times. Twice I had to push the bike, once go mud-surfing on a temporary chunk of the Taff Trail, and do 2 extra climbs because I got lost.

Today's fun expedition cycling wasn't the only reason why this leg took me 6 hours. Cycling through Brecon Beacons is also hard without slowing down and being amazed by the stunning landscape (another reason for having a break there is the thought that I have a box of my Hannah's delicious flapjacks in my bag).

After a very warm welcome and a refreshing warm shower at a fellow cyclist couple's house in Brecon, here are some spots that you shouldn't miss out on!

at the tight lane with my travel-buddy LostnFound Bunny

levitating lake

No cyclist-blogger can avoid these road-pictures.

Traffic jam in Wales

shephard style

hmm, this just simply cool

Good night from Brecon, the place where I am having my first (brilliant) Warmshowers experience!

THE PLAN

Empty keyring - I don't need a room anymore - just the road!

Cymru Cycle starts on Monday, the 5th of May.
Here's THE PLAN:

Day 1

  Cardiff - Brecon (50 miles / 80,4 kilometres)

Day 2

  Brecon - Machynlleth (72,8 miles / 117 kilometres)

Day 3

  Machynlleth - Caernarfon (60,8 miles / 97,8 kilometres)

Day 4

  Caernarfon - Holyhead - Caernarfon ( 66,1 / 106 kilometres)

Day 5

  Caernarfon - Machynlleth (72,8 miles / 117 kilometres)

Day 6

  Machynlleth - Felinwynt (53,9 miles / 86,7 kilometres )

Day 7

  Felinwynt - St. David's - Haverfordwest (60,3 miles / 97,1 kilometres)

Day 8

  Haverfordwest - Llanelli (51,2 miles / 82,4 kilometres)

Day 9

  Llanelli - Cardiff (60,9 miles / 98 kilometres)

+ one wild card rest-day when I want (or need!!!) one.

At the Rocky statue in Žitište, Serbia on a cycle tour in 2011

After receiving lots of good luck wishes from family and friends, and getting amazing support and sponsorship from my workplace, Café Junior, the time had come to say thanks to all of them, and to my very special Hannah and her family for their kindness (especially for lending me a bicycle - quite an important part of the trip). 

Your help will be a very good downwind up the hills!

I'll keep you updated from the valleys!