Thurs 17 Sept: Bristol to Barry Dock, via Penarth

The unbroken chain continues from Bristol, over the Severn Bridge cycle path.

It’s very hard not to exceed the 15mph speed limit on the downhill side, as my good friend and regular Severn Bridge user, Dave discovered last summer. He is the only person I know who has been officially stopped for speeding on a bicycle. Onwards, up & over some big but gentle Monmouthshire hills, passing the amazing old Newport Transporter Bridge,

through Cardiff City Centre and on to Penarth ILB Station (but not before greatly amusing a jolly local sailor who took great pleasure in informing me that the steep hill I’d just bombed down into Penarth Marina was an unnecessary detour and had to be re-climbed, as the marina is in no way connected to Penarth sea front). Never assume. Oh well..

Thanks Laurie (Penarth ILB) for fascinating tales of the history of Penarth Lifeboat Station over a welcome cuppa. Great views from your boathouse across to North Somerset.

On to Barry Island, where the Barry Dock Trent Class All-Weather Lifeboat was alongside the harbour wall, about 15 metres below the quay. An aerial view at low tide, as this part of the Bristol Channel experiences the 2nd highest tidal rise&fall in the World (17metres?)! I’m already beginning to witness how our coastline really throws up a whole range of different challenges for the RNLI crews.

Thank you Chris (2nd Cox’n and Barry Dock Pilot) and Richie (Mech) for the cheery welcome, coffee & chat.

Another 65 miles, 873m climbed and 3,131 Calories burned in 4hrs:46mins in the saddle. Many more miles of Welsh coast roads still to conquer.

Day 8