Crossing the Valleys – 25th July 2004
Being our first attempt at organising a run, we
arrived at the ASDA car park with more than a few butterflies in our stomachs
hoping all would go smoothly & that the sunny skies would hold out for the
day.
We were pleased
that a total of 13 cars turned up (including first timers David and Tina &
Cai and Gaerwen) which we felt was a good turn out but not so many that we
would have trouble keeping them all together. Ray arrived modeling the high
visibility jacket he had won in last month’s raffle, prompting Ros to dig hers
out to compare! That done we were ready for the off!!
Heading towards
Castell Coch, in true club style we managed to lose one car at the first
roundabout. Dropping down through Caerphilly (which was well decorated for its
annual festival) we continued via the lanes up the Rhymney valley and
underneath Hengoed viaduct to our first stop at Parc Penallta. After sorting
out the lunch orders there was still no contact with our missing car so
reluctantly we had to continue. Passing through “Roman” Gelligaer, we made a
brief toilet stop at the 17th century Llancaiach Fawr manor house at
Nelson. Michelle thought it might make a good venue for a future monthly
meeting so took away some brochures.
Crossing over
to the Cynon valley we continued to Mountain Ash and over Llanwonno mountain
through the St. Gwynno forest entering the Rhondda valley at Blaenllechau,
where we played a new game of “just how many MX-5’s can you get around a
mini-roundabout (no photo sorry)!
We continued
through Ferndale taking the beautiful mountain route into Aberdare and onto
Hirwaun for lunch at the Mount Pleasant Inn. Driving into the car park our eyes
light up as we spied our missing car in the car park & found Maureen &
Bram safely installed in the bar!
Everyone seemed
to enjoy the meal, some even managing to squeeze in a desert. It was at this
point we had to say farewell to Mike & Michelle who were returning home to
pack for their holiday to Mexico, leaving the next day (not by MX-5 I should
add)!
The weather had
become somewhat overcast during lunch but we all set off hoods down for the
spectacular mountain journey back into the Rhondda valley to Treorchy. Another
mountain trip took us to the Ogmore Valley and then on towards the Garw valley.
Unfortunately our day had taken longer than planned and we had to cut out our
“mystery” stop, which was to have been the “Scruffs” kiting center at
Pontycymmer. Hopefully we will visit there another time.
Our tour of the
valleys finished at Sarn services, where there was just enough time to finish
off our flasks of coffee and say our good-byes before everyone headed on their
homeward journeys as the rain set in for the evening.
We breathed a
sigh of relief that the day had gone with only minimal problems and Wayne was
already looking forward to organizing another event in the future.
Many thanks to
Ros for supplying the majority of the photos!
Pictures
Martyn & Wayne