EISTEDDFOD RIDE
29/06/03
The Bike
Brothers mother, Merle Henderson, had planned to cycle a sponsored ride to
raise funds for the Cwmbran Eisteddfod appeal committee. An Eisteddfod
is a festival of arts held every year in a different location throughout Wales,
next year it is going to be in the city of Newport. The ride was to be from
Croesyceiliog to the Garn lakes near Blaenafon and back again, a total of
30 miles. Nick and I were to escort our mother for the entire ride. We left
at 11:30 to join the cycle track at Bevan’s lane near Panteg. The cycle
track follows the old line of the railway all the way up the valley, Mum started
at a fast pace, Nick and I had a job keeping up as she cycled up the valley!
The track is a gradient all the way, with no let up, it is not particularly
hard but it is a slow constant grind for mile after mile with no downhill
to ease up on. The weather was warm and sunny and before long we were in Blaenafon.
Here the cycle track ended, so we carried on through the village of Forgeside,
past the Big Pit mining museum
and then on to another track to the Garn Lakes. The Garn Lakes fete was in
progress and there was a warm welcome from the Eisteddfod committee. We stopped
here for a short time and then made our way back down the valley on the cycle
track. It was now downhill all the way and we made short work of the 15 miles
home, bringing a total of 30 miles. Mum hoped to collect over £200 ($332US)
from all her sponsors not bad for someone about to celebrate her 71st birthday!
Well done Mum !
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