5 CASTLES IN AN MX-5 ~ October 2003

This drive had all the makings of a potential disaster. Mark Jones had planned a route based upon last year's charity drive but was unable to lead the run due to work commitments.

I stepped in as a late replacement but due to other commitments only had the opportunity to recce the run in the dark - not something I would recommend. In the week leading up to the drive several of the regulars dropped out and I had visions of turning up to the start point to find we were the only car.

The morning of the run and we headed to Cardiff Gate Services with the roof down, grateful that we had some dry weather. There was an impressive display of machinery at the Services including 3 Jaguar E-Types as the South Wales Classic Car Club had chosen to meet at the same venue. The really good news was that there were 8 MX-5's although one was part of the classic car group and not our group.

We headed towards Penhow Castle, picking up Les on route and then on towards Monmouth via the A466 through Tintern. The autumnal colours of the leaves was certainly impressive although as lead car I had to concentrate on the road rather than looking at the trees.

After a very quick stop in Monmouth we headed to Pembridge Castle. The front runners had to stop to allow three young deer to cross the road, a sight you do not often see in South Wales. The road past Pembridge Castle was rather narrow so we decided not to stop and headed on to castle number three at Skenfrith. Some of the more foolish of us decided to walk around the castle while others more sensibly retired to the pub for coffee.

The lunch probably should pass without mention as the beef was very pink and the food somewhat overpriced. Suitably refreshed we headed towards Grosmont Castle although in my eagerness I overshot the turning and just managed to reverse up before the second car reached us. We had a brief walk round Grosmont Castle and there then followed a vote as a result of which we decided to bypass castle number 5, White Castle, so we headed towards the finishing point in Abergavenny where the usual Sunday crowd of motorcycles had gathered.

Abergavenny saw us consuming a quick cup of coffee, saying goodbye and heading off in various directions until the next time.

Mark Spashett