(Go to bottom of page for pictures {Thanks to Ray and Ros for the pictures})
This run was a little different in that it was combined with a photographic competition.
12 cars met up at McDonalds drive thru at Briton Ferry. First timers Martyn and Wayne came along in a beautiful Silver Angels special edition, and most of us had the roofs down. It was a cold day, but the Great God Mazda blessed us with dryness again.
Once we'd all had our Egg McMuffins, it was off along the A48 towards the Mumbles, then on to Bracelet bay and Castella Mare for coffee and more chatting. When we got there we were joined by one more car (David) but lost Clive and Penny due to Clive's suffering from a raging cold (sniff, sniff). So we were 13 cars briefly, but then back to 12. Also there were Mark and Jean who don't yet own an MX-5, but maybe the Birthday Bunny will be delivering one to Jean in February.
From Bracelet bay, we headed off past Kathryn Zeta-Jones' new house (she didn't wave us past), then through Caswell Bay and on through Bishopston. Gradually making our way to Oxwich Bay. It had been my intention to stop there for another chat, but it was £1.50 to park! (not that I'm mean or anything), so we carried on to Rhossili and lunch. The National Trust centre at Rhossili was descended upon and their free mulled wine and mince pies went down a treat. It's amazing how some people seem to find shopping opportunities anywhere we go.
At Rhossili, we had arranged a sandwiches, cakes and tea lunch in Thomas' Tea Rooms. This was quite an honour as Mrs. Thomas is usually closed, but opened up and made lunch especially for us. The food was excellent, but there was some unpleasantness when some foreign visitors tried to add some extra coffee onto the bill without my permission.
I had arranged to stitch Clive up for the cabaret, but as he had gone home early, it fell to Ray. He read an extract from Under Milk Wood which I had prepared based on a rash promise by Clive; it was the prayer recited by the Reverend Eli Jenkins "Every day When I wake..."
Zoe and Joe met up with us during lunch and when we got into the car park, it became clear that Zoe has a major problem with the bottle (and she's so young). It's an expensive habit with a refill costing about £50.00, and then it only lasts her about 6 minutes! You'll have to check out the pictures to see what it's all about. Their car is a beautiful Eunos in a "Splash Green". So then we were 13 again (huzzah!)
After a long session of gawping at Joe and Zoe's Nitrous Oxide system, we set off in convoy towards Llanrhidian.
The road across from Rhossili is great, but proved a little narrow when a service bus and our convoy met. Idris heard some horrible noises when he was forced to drop a nearside wheel into the gutter, but no major damage appeared to have been done.
On arriving at Penclawdd, we pulled up at temporary traffic light behind another MX-5. The driver waved through the back window and then sped off into the distance. Later that day, I had an Email from Mick Loney to say that it was him, so thanks Mick for making our convoy even longer.
Eventually we got to M4 Junction 47 for a final chat before everyone set off for home.
It was a shorter drive than usual, finishing about 15:30, but as days are now so short, it was probably better that way. All along the way, people were snapping away with the cameras, so hopefully over the next few weeks, the entries for the photo rally will come in and we can announce the winners in the January meeting.
Hi Ho Silver