The train was half an hour late into Fishguard, but I was in no rush. I set off about 13:30
I’d been recommended to stop at the Dyffryn Arms or Bessie’s as it’s known locally, if I went near it. My route actually passed the pub
so I stopped for a pint of Bass… it’s the only beer they sell 
. 
Onwards and upwards, literally. Having plotted an obvious cheeky shortcut I had to earn it by lifting the FULLY loaded Rooster over 4 stiles
but found some really scenic little trails as payback. 
After collecting the BCQ at the superb Pentre Ifan burial chamber, I headed on up the B4329 road for what I hoped to be a great off-road section along the Preseli Mountains. Sadly, it was crap, a hike a bike DOWNHILL across tussocky bog. I'd only just recovered from the WRT nightmares of Afon Hengwm.
Heart breaking. However this led me to the second BCQ. By now I was 22 miles in but it had taken 4 hours and I was about 35 miles from where I wanted to camp. I best get a move on!
More road and another BCQ an Cenarth, before Newcastle Emlyn. One of the tiny country lanes I’d routed was closed. Hmmm how closed. ? Closed completely, 10’ trench dug across it or closed due to hedge cutting? Who knows.
I took the risk and after several miles found a detour through a field, so it was actually open ! I kept plugging on but realised I was unlikely to make it to my planned camp spot
so I started keeping an eye out for a wildcamp spot. Whilst I’d actually avoided all the rain, it patently had been raining heavily as the lanes were flooded in places and so I wanted somewhere slightly elevated. An open gate led to a field of long grass and I decide to pitch . 51 miles done.Day 2 and I woke early and made tracks by 07:30. I knew I had a 60+ miler ahead and I was a few miles short from day 1. A gentle start as I made my way to Lampeter and breakfast and a BCQ.
Just before Lampeter I was overtaken by a sleek hand cranked recumbent…
I did catch up on a short stiff climb, and we got talking. Turns out it was Luke Jones, a world class para Olympian ( Google him ). We chatted for a couple of miles. He was in a training ride for the World Championships in Canada at the end of July. Anyway after a while he needed to go and simply left me for dust. Incredible! After Lampeter and up to Llanddewi Brefi ( the location of Little Britain's Only Gay in the Village sketch ).
From here it was up. For ages. Brutal. I was chased by a playful but potentially painful Vizsla who fortunately just liked barking.
Over the hills (Cefn Cnwcheithinog ?)
The drop down into Doethi Valley was steep, loose & entertaining
but it was immediately back up the track to Llyn Brianne. I’ve come to the conclusion I don’t much like anything about Llyn Brianne. Not nice to get to, not particularly nice to ride round, certainly not when you’re trying to make progress. Anyway I collected the BCQ on the dam and made my way around the very undulating perimeter road.
After a while I headed off and up on a fire road to drop down into Abergwesyn. I found a lovely spot near the river to brew a cup of tea and rest.
I had planned to take in the Ifron Forest MTB trails or a section or two thereof, but a local looked at me aghast and said it's all been destroyed by forestry work. So a quick reroute round Allt-y-gest road and a pleasant though now drizzly ride into Beulah and then onwards down into Builth Wells.
A (poor) Chinese and two cans of warm Guinness
later and I headed off to find a pitch. I'd scoped out a possible spot a mile or so passed Builth and this proved to be near perfect. 64 miles done.Day 3… tbh I was now in some significant discomfort due to bad saddle sores and took the executive decision to just head for home. Leaving Builth I headed for Hundred House and on to New, then Old, Radnor and my last BCQ , and a couple of pints in the lovely The Harp Inn. I continued onwards to Kington and therefore back into England, and on via Shobden and Richards Castle . Most of this ride was VERY uncomfortable. A 45 mile day and it was good to be home.
160 miles and 12,700' climbing. And a very sore arse.
Update…
2 days on the butt is healing. Sudocrem and now Germoline have improved the situation. I’m supposed to Bikepacking North Shropshire on Thursday and Friday but am currently considering my options.
And I found a tiny tick on my little toe !
