The Pembrokeshire Freewheelers
2002 Annual Club Review: June
The first weekend of June heralded the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Mike had suggested a Jubilee ride and after several ideas it was decided that he would lead a ride with some Regal significance. Instead of the proposed Palace to Palace, he had settled on a 50 mile circular route visiting as many castles as possible, with an estimate of 13.
Setting off from Haverfordwest, we went through Walwyn's Castle, Tiers Cross and Rosemarket before taking refreshment in Port Lion. Along the way we were told that "just over that fence is the site of an old castle" and "beyond that hill lies an ancient royal burial mound" and other fancies alike.
On crossing the Cleddau bridge, the plan was to cycle in to Pembroke, where at least we would have seen one proper castle, but Peter Brake, having just cycled past it down the hill to join us, didn't want to go back up, so we missed that one out and headed to Cosheston. Here it was also decided that the road up to Upton Castle was too steep and out of the way, so that also was missed. Finally, having ridden through Milton, we turned left and arrived at Carew castle, where Henry Tudor also stopped for lunch many moons ago.
From Carew we passed through Canaston before climbing up to Llawhaden, where we did espy the castle on our right, before cycling on to Whiston, and repeating the experience.
We continued through Crundale and over to Camrose, where Brian and Linda left to return to their home in Roch, in the shadow of the castle there. The main retinue returned to Haverfordwest to see the castle of the county town.
So 50 miles might have been achieved but the total number of castles seen turned out to be the Princely sum of four. We had done our bit to celebrate the achievement of our Monarch, but had she known Mike had short changed us, I think she would have thrown him in the dungeons of one of her many other unseen castles.
Three club members, Barrie, Mark and Teifryn, together with Barrie's friend Kevin completed the end to end ride from Lands End to John O'Groats. They undertook this ride to raise sponsorship money for the Pembrokeshire Stroke Association. Mark drove them down to Lands End and did a short ride with them to see them on their way. Barrie's bike frame cracked during the epic ride, but using his handyman skills he held it together with six inch nails and jubilee clips! They completed the ride successfully in two weeks, travelling just under one thousand miles in doing so.
It had been suggested, and agreed upon that the club should purchase a bicycle trailer, to enable us to travel further afield. Having seen one that the Swansea D.A. had purchased, we decided to try and find a similar model. We had tracked one down in Trago Mills in Devon, and on his return from Lands End, Mark was able to buy it and to load it on the van and deliver it to Pembroke. As it was in flat pack version, Mark assembled it once back home, and Vic has since offered to store it at his farmhouse.
Another Greenways ride was held, this one during National Bike Week, and in an evening, with the hope of attracting some more families. The venue was County Hall in Haverfordwest, and Mike led this one. He brought along Christine and their grand-daughter Chloe, and several other club members attended along with the Greenways Officer herself. Apart from these there were just two newcomers out. Mike led them all out through Creamston to Picton Point and then through Rhos and Millin, before taking the bridle path across to Uzmaston. It was a lovely evening to be cycling the quiet back lanes and off road route and it was disappointing that the turn out was again poor.