BLACK ROCK
22/07/01
We started cycling at 5.00pm from Croesyceiliog , our route would take us on the cycle track to Blaenavon. It was a Sunday and quite warm and there were a lot of cyclists on the track, which is a pleasant way to get around. We climbed up the hill toward the tumble and then took the narrow and frightening lane to Clydach, this lane has been eroded over the years and has a few sheer drops into the valley below. Our plan was to cross the valley and climb the old road up Black Rock, in Cydach Nick decided he wanted to make a social visit to a Fireman colleague who lived nearby. I waited and ate some bonk rations. After talking to some local kids who were very curious about why I was cycling, I started to look for Nick I cycled up the road which he had disappeared earlier, this lane rises steeply, I looked over the other side of the valley, to my disbelief I could see Nick charging up the road across the valley. I screamed out, but to no avail, I had to make a quick decision, I would not catch him if I went back down the valley, so I had to climb the steep lane that took me to the Brynmawr -Blaenafon road . Some how we had missed each other and Nick thought I had carried on up the mountain , I figured he would be in Brynmawr, sure enough he was, I found him eating curry and chips in the square! After viewing the semi demolished Dunlop factory, we lit our lamps in the dusk and took the old road through Nantyglo, Blaina, Bournville and Abertillery, the going was fast as it was mainly downhill and we soon arrived in Llanhileth where we took the climb to Swffryd and Hafodrynys. The old road into Pontypool made pleasant cycling in the dark, we soon arrived back in Croesyceiliog via the cycle track....40 miles.
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