I went through Hampshire, Wiltshire and over the M48, then Abergavenny, Brecon and over mount Epynt. I took a break at the spookily quiet visitors centre, there's never been anyone else there in all my visits and for record, there's a loo. Shortly after the outbreak of WW2 the 219 inhabitants of the 54 farms in the area were given three months to pack up and find somewhere else to live as the MoD needed their land for training. They were told they would get their land back, but never did. More info here https://www.nfu-cymru.org.uk/campaigns/ ... -community
Day 1 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-33-12 by Trinity 765, on FlickrView from the north end of Epynt
2021-09-08_05-34-20 by Trinity 765, on FlickrClywedog dam, nearly at Mach.
2021-09-08_05-34-46 by Trinity 765, on FlickrSaturday I dug up some potatoes and prepared the soil for more planting. I'm not a gardener at all but Caroline has become an expert during her 15 years at the ranch. She was told "no one has ever grown anything up there" when she moved in and has worked hard to prove them wrong. There is only a few inches of top soil above the bedrock and it's dusty with shale when it's dry. She lives mainly off the land and when she hosts groups, they do too - potatoes, corn, kale, cabbages, peas and strawberries to name some of her current crops. Their water comes from a borehole and is limited.
I had a chat to the farmer next door - he lost 5 cows a couple of weeks ago to TB and he won't know about the rest until they are tested in another months time, but it is likely he could loose his whole herd. It's tough in them mountains.
I saw Nick off to Ireland for three weeks, he's writing his way around the coast for a magazine (I can't remember which - it might be MCN).
View from my cabin
2021-09-08_05-35-14 by Trinity 765, on FlickrAn oak tree on the right that was home to a woodpecker who joined in with me hammering in the staples on the bridge and Cadir Idris in the background.
2021-09-08_05-36-49 by Trinity 765, on FlickrPotatoes dug up
2021-09-08_05-36-03 by Trinity 765, on FlickrCaroline doing something with a hoe
2021-09-08_05-36-31 by Trinity 765, on FlickrA view of the ranch. Caroline's yellow Land Rover (I love bimbling around town with her in it - lots of waving at people she knows). Caroline mentioned that if someone is seen driving around Mach in a clean Land Rover they assumed to be a tourist.
2021-09-08_05-35-50 by Trinity 765, on FlickrNick's bike saddled up
2021-09-08_05-35-27 by Trinity 765, on FlickrTheir two collies on sentry duty
2021-09-08_05-35-39 by Trinity 765, on FlickrA morning view
2021-09-08_05-40-57 by Trinity 765, on FlickrSunday I recce'd a north Wales ride that I'm perfecting and stopped at the Riverside Chocolate House, Pentrefoelas where I met and had a chat with a Goldwing group who had been at an Air Ambulance event (each to their own). Pink was my intended route but the road past Bala was closed for a cycle race so green is the detour.
Day 2 by Trinity 765, on FlickrIt was 9.5c when I left the ranch which went up to 18c near the cost. This created an amazing, hazy light in the morning sun. I had no chance of capturing the beauty with my Samsung S8 camera but I tried.
2021-09-08_05-37-10 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-37-23 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-38-00 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-38-15 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-38-31 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-38-40 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-38-55 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-39-06 by Trinity 765, on FlickrMonday I worked on the bridge and when running out of staples I offered to run to Rhayader to get some more. Bumped into a welsh biker at a cafe there who was out with his Mrs in his Morgan. Stayed in Rhayader an hour longer than intended while we talked bikes and roads. He asked me if I was retired which will stay with me forever as that is the first time I've ever been asked
Day 3 by Trinity 765, on FlickrStoped at the Hafod, Devils Bridge
2021-09-08_05-39-23 by Trinity 765, on FlickrMorgan in Rhayader
2021-09-08_05-39-33 by Trinity 765, on FlickrView from a road that I don't know the name of. See here https://www.google.com/maps/dir/52.5307 ... m2!4m1!3e0
I prefer to do it west to east as it seems to channel a headwind, probably because of Snowdonia and being a light rider on a light bike there are some nice fast corners where it can push me off my line. On this day though I did it east to west as it was particularly calm.
2021-09-08_05-39-43 by Trinity 765, on FlickrMonday I headed home. It was hot, 25c to 30c and was hard work. I took some morning parting photos. Stopped for donuts and coffee in a shaded area - living the dream. My bike was filthy but I washed it yesterday and gave it an oil and filter change, all ready for the weekend.
Day 4 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-40-30 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-40-47 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-41-06 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
2021-09-08_05-41-14 by Trinity 765, on Flickr
). I used to get a 2 year free servicing deal thrown in but again, now they know me and they know that I can get the "big one" in if I try so now they will only offer one year 
