If you buy an old house, such as the one here at Plas Efenechtyd Cottage, you buy into more than just a house. You buy into a lifestyle. Our house is the southern ‘wing’ of a larger Welsh Hall or Plas, built in about 1820 of stone and brick and oak. The roads around the house haven’t changed much since it was first built. In fact, we have a copy of an 1899 Ordinance Survey map showing that they hasn’t changed at all. However in all that time, water and weather and wind have taken their toll and done their damage. So this summer has been spent up a ladder painting windows and walls and replacing rotten bits with new bits and generally cursing.
And all this means that time spent out on the bike has been severely limited. No big rides since the Big One (the National Rally) and very few little ones. The Triumph has had a couple of short trips but the Sunbeam has stayed put, quietly sulking. I have had some success with the Midget, though. You may remember that I bought a lovely looking MG Midget off eBay (by mistake). That was about a year ago and I’ve only just got it running properly having replaced the whole ignition system, overhauled the carbs and sorted out the brakes. From a top speed of 38 mph when I bought it, it will now hit over 70 mph on the flat! Allegedly. Officer.
So there are no new roads to write about and no new cakes emporia to describe. But we did have a few days in August when we had no guests at our B&B and so went a-touring. Chirk Castle was first, a really interesting place with amazing gardens and a truly depressing dungeon. Then on to Pistyll Llanrhaeadr, the highest waterfall in Wales. Pretty, easy to find and worth a visit. A bit smaller than Victoria Falls but easier to get to. But next day we went on to Ty Mawr, near Betws y Coed. Google it and when you’re read about Bishop Morgan and the Welsh Bible, go and have a look. But stop off and see us on the way and stay at our B&B. Find us at www.plas-efenechtyd-cottage.co.uk
Chirk Castle
Pistyll Rhaeadr - the highest waterfall in Wales
Our house is ancient one. You can’t scratch it without half the windows falling out. Not that we care really.