Wern Watkin club weekend away Fri 26 - Sun 28 Feb 2016
Moderators: WorcsPhil, David Cole, laurence_cooley, George, Beacon RCC
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Wern Watkin club weekend away Fri 26 - Sun 28 Feb 2016
As the days become shorter and the nights grow longer and colder, it's time to think of the Beacon February escape. Rolling hills, fine food and fantastic company await you at the Wern Watkin Bunkhouse, (Llangattock,near Crickhowell, Powys) while the surrounding countryside offers great opportunities for cycling, sightseeing, canoeing, or walking.
Those of us who stayed at Wern Watkin last year thought it to be the best bunkhouse that the club has used during this successful series of early Spring escapes, so do join us in 2016.
More details can be found for the 5 star bunkhouse at www.wernwatkin.co.uk
I am now taking names and deposits.
The accommodation cost will £44.00 per person for two nights plus a modest charge for the meal in on Saturday evening, menu to be revealed nearer to the time.
Please post below if you would like to go and let me have a deposit of £20.00 per person, cheques to be made payable to 'Beacon R C C'.
It would be great to welcome some new people as well as the loyal regulars.
If you would like to know more please send me a pm or telephone on 01527 834921.
Those of us who stayed at Wern Watkin last year thought it to be the best bunkhouse that the club has used during this successful series of early Spring escapes, so do join us in 2016.
More details can be found for the 5 star bunkhouse at www.wernwatkin.co.uk
I am now taking names and deposits.
The accommodation cost will £44.00 per person for two nights plus a modest charge for the meal in on Saturday evening, menu to be revealed nearer to the time.
Please post below if you would like to go and let me have a deposit of £20.00 per person, cheques to be made payable to 'Beacon R C C'.
It would be great to welcome some new people as well as the loyal regulars.
If you would like to know more please send me a pm or telephone on 01527 834921.
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Those signed up so far
Steve Smith
Tony Webb
Jane Herrin
Dave Cole
Ann Cole
Charlie Skinner
Andrene Skinner
George Barker
Bob Green
Carole Green
Alan Nicholls
Dave Hughes
Anne Hughes
Gary Mac
Michelle McGuirk
Andy Terry
Clare Abbiss
Martin McGowan
Laurence Cooley
Ken Haddon
Pat Haddon
Sheila Shayes
Chris Hudson
Mike Kedian
Alan Weaver
Lucy Weaver
Dave Little
That's brilliant keep the names coming for this great weekend.
Steve Smith
Tony Webb
Jane Herrin
Dave Cole
Ann Cole
Charlie Skinner
Andrene Skinner
George Barker
Bob Green
Carole Green
Alan Nicholls
Dave Hughes
Anne Hughes
Gary Mac
Michelle McGuirk
Andy Terry
Clare Abbiss
Martin McGowan
Laurence Cooley
Ken Haddon
Pat Haddon
Sheila Shayes
Chris Hudson
Mike Kedian
Alan Weaver
Lucy Weaver
Dave Little
That's brilliant keep the names coming for this great weekend.
Last edited by Jane Herrin on 15 Feb 2016 17:15, edited 9 times in total.
- Andy Terry
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Hmm....I wondered about riding there, but fearful that if I suggest it then MrsW might have something to say...George wrote:I shall be riding there and back. If anyone else is doing the same, I'd be pleased to link up (although, of course, I'm already a third of the way there).
"You only need two tools: WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape"
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I was in two minds whether to ride like last year, or get a lift and take my bike and plan a longer ride for the Saturday instead.George wrote:I shall be riding there and back. If anyone else is doing the same, I'd be pleased to link up (although, of course, I'm already a third of the way there).
Martin, are you keen to ride there again?
It's a much shorter ride from my house. I haven't planned a route yet, but I would think it's only 60-70 miles. Anyone who doesn't fancy the whole slog both ways to/from B'ham may want to consider getting dropped off at our place by a partner en route, or driving over and leaving the car in our lay-by for a couple of days. (Parking space is limited; 2 cars max, in addition to ours.) Drawback is that my pace may be a little sedate for some of the younger/keener members of the group. At that time of year on a heavy bike, I would probably expect to do 15-16mph, but if there's a SW wind (quite common in Feb) it may be a case of grovelling down and flying back.
- Andy Terry
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Nearly time for our second visit to the 5 star luxury bunk house that is Wern Watkin. The format will be much the same as last year, fish and chips on the Friday evening and the traditional fine feast on Saturday of :-
A glass of bubbly and nibbles to start
For the main course a delicious spaghetti bolognese. To be accompanied by whatever beverage alcoholic or otherwise you choose to bring.
Followed by the famous Cartmel Sticky Pudding with either custard or cream
Tea or coffee
Here are a few reminders of stuff to bring for the weekend:
Torch
Food for breakfast, packed lunch, snacks etc.
Drinks
Towels
Money
Things provided:
Bed linen and pillows
To save there being several cartons of milk etc. I will bring for a bulk supply of :-
Milk (semi skinned)
Sugar
Tea bags
Coffee
Red and brown sauce
Vinegar
Salt & pepper
Kitchen roll
Tin foil
Napkins
The bunkhouse is available to us from 4pm. on Friday. The owner of the bunkhouse is happy for cars to be parked outside the front doors for unloading but request they be moved to the parking area afterwards.
I look forward to seeing you all there.
A glass of bubbly and nibbles to start
For the main course a delicious spaghetti bolognese. To be accompanied by whatever beverage alcoholic or otherwise you choose to bring.
Followed by the famous Cartmel Sticky Pudding with either custard or cream
Tea or coffee
Here are a few reminders of stuff to bring for the weekend:
Torch
Food for breakfast, packed lunch, snacks etc.
Drinks
Towels
Money
Things provided:
Bed linen and pillows
To save there being several cartons of milk etc. I will bring for a bulk supply of :-
Milk (semi skinned)
Sugar
Tea bags
Coffee
Red and brown sauce
Vinegar
Salt & pepper
Kitchen roll
Tin foil
Napkins
The bunkhouse is available to us from 4pm. on Friday. The owner of the bunkhouse is happy for cars to be parked outside the front doors for unloading but request they be moved to the parking area afterwards.
I look forward to seeing you all there.
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- Andy Terry
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I dont know what plans people are doing in terms of riding there/back, but Steve Smith and I have discussed catching the train to Ledbury and then take a leisurely ride (via a pub stop for lunch) to the Bunk House.
The return trip will be riding back to Hereford and then train it home from there.
The return trip will be riding back to Hereford and then train it home from there.
"You only need two tools: WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape"
I'll be riding both ways, but I'm not sure that my plans easily fit in with what you describe, Alan. From the responses to my earlier post, I guessed that I would be riding on my own this time, and have accordingly planned an outward route of 113km (lunch at Eardisley) and a return route of 107km (lunch at Newent). Both routes look like being quite slow going. I'm targeting 24kph, but will plan for the possibility of a slower speed if the weather/wind are against me.AlanW wrote:I dont know what plans people are doing in terms of riding there/back, but Steve Smith and I have discussed catching the train to Ledbury and then take a leisurely ride (via a pub stop for lunch) to the Bunk House.
The return trip will be riding back to Hereford and then train it home from there.
What about the Saturday? Who's cycling and who's walking? I shall be cycling, but have no fixed plans. Laurence and Martin: are you still planning a longer ride? How long and how fast?
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I was planning on following Steve and Alan's plan of getting the train part of the way, so that I could get a decent ride in on the Saturday, but I haven't looked into routes yet. I'd probably plan something close to 100 km, but some company would be nice so I'm happy to listen to suggestions, including for shorter rides.
Fish and chips with mushy peas for me, please. No vinegar.
Fish and chips with mushy peas for me, please. No vinegar.
Anything up to 100km is fine by me, Laurence. My only reservation was that you and Martin might be planning a hard ride by your own standards, which would probably be an impossible ride by my standards. Since I'll be riding alone on Friday and probably a lot of Sunday (I might start out with the train party), a group ride on Saturday would suit me well.laurence_cooley wrote:I'd probably plan something close to 100 km, but some company would be nice so I'm happy to listen to suggestions, including for shorter rides.
Inevitably all plans are provisional, because in that area at that time of year, the weather is always liable to intervene.
- Andy Terry
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I have planned an 11 mile walk for the Saturday. It should take 5-6 hours and we will need to take packed lunches.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11811674
The walk starts by descending from the bunkhouse to join the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal near Llangattock. The canal is followed for about 2 miles before we leave it to follow a south west course, gradually ascending, over fields, lanes and a couple of road crossings to reach Craig y Castell. The walk then heads south east on high ground to skirt the south side of the impressive cliff face of Craig y Cilau before dropping down to Darren Cilau. From here it is an easy mile back to the bunkhouse for tea and cake.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11811674
The walk starts by descending from the bunkhouse to join the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal near Llangattock. The canal is followed for about 2 miles before we leave it to follow a south west course, gradually ascending, over fields, lanes and a couple of road crossings to reach Craig y Castell. The walk then heads south east on high ground to skirt the south side of the impressive cliff face of Craig y Cilau before dropping down to Darren Cilau. From here it is an easy mile back to the bunkhouse for tea and cake.
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Wern Watkin club weekend away Fri 26 - Sun 28 Feb 2016
Fish & chips for 1 please Dave
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Re: Bunkhouse
Hi Bob, I've arranged to get bag to bunkhouse with Mrs Weaver but thank you for the offer.bobg wrote:Hi Martin, I can help with the bag if. You can get it to me in Bromsgrove on Thursday.
Cheers Bob
How could I ever take offence at that Mart, you calling round later to drop your bag off? Or do you want to borrow my panniers now.....martin mc wrote:Sorry Alan, didn't know if Bob would know who I meant if I said Lucy so no offence meant. Oh dear I think i'll need panniers at this rate.
"You only need two tools: WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape"
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Pressure of work has prevented me properly researching any interesting routes/destinations for cycling on Saturday. As a fall-back option, I've quickly plotted a 39km route past the two reservoirs to Brecon Mountain Railway at Pant, where there's a café. If someone else has a more interesting cycling proposal for Saturday, I'll tag along. Otherwise, I'll ride to Pant and back (round trip 78km), if necessary on my own, but preferably with a bit of company. Current forecast is for a dry, overcast day, about 5C - not at all bad for cycling. But it looks as if I (and others) may get a shower of rain on the way down on Friday afternoon.
Unless things change between now and tomorrow morning, but the plan so far is for Martin and myself to jump on the 10:08 train from Bromsgrove station. And fingers crossed that Steve and Laurence will also be on the same train!
Arriving at Ledbury for 10:57
Arriving at Ledbury for 10:57
"You only need two tools: WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape"
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See you on the train, Alan.
George, I plotted this route, which is part of a ride that I did with Tim and Stuart on New Year's Day: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/11704244. Quite a lot of it is on main roads, so perhaps not it's the most attractive option, but I'd like to revisit parts of it. Perhaps we can compare routes tomorrow evening and decide on what to do?
George, I plotted this route, which is part of a ride that I did with Tim and Stuart on New Year's Day: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/11704244. Quite a lot of it is on main roads, so perhaps not it's the most attractive option, but I'd like to revisit parts of it. Perhaps we can compare routes tomorrow evening and decide on what to do?