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So it rained as expected last night, but it was nice and sunny in the morning. My stuff more or less dried out and I got on my way.
I haven't managed to get my usual super early starts yet. Probably because I keep getting woken up in the middle of the night by weather!
Anyway, I made my way back down the insanely steep hill to the coastal cycle path.
The first thing I noticed as I turned west was the wind! This was to be my enemy for most of the day.
The path was very good and I was soon passing through lots of places I'd heard of before but never been to.
It was quite the spectacle of civil engineering around the coast. New sea defences and the jumble of the railway, the North Wales Expressway and of course the cycle path weaving its way through all of it.
I stopped in Conwy for a bite to eat. What I saw of it looked very nice. Perhaps worth a proper visit in future.
By this point I was starting to head around the corner - so two sides of Wales done, two to go!
My next point of interest was the Menai Bridge and Anglesey. I had plotted a rough route around the island, but even when I did that I knew I wouldn't do it! 75 miles just to end up in the same place? Nah. I decided I'd just go to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch and be done with it. That's still further on to Anglesey than the only other time I've been there!
Anyway, over the bridge I went and a few miles on to the famous sign. It's a bit rubbish really as to get it all in a photo you have to stand well back. You then get all the roof pillars obscuring the shot, not to mention all the inconsiderate sods sitting at the tables in front to eat their lunch!
Of course, it's just a made up name for tourism purposes. All the road signs just say Llanfairpwllgwyngyll which is its proper name and much easier to say!
After that I headed back the way I came and got on to NCN5 again. Once I got to Caernarfon the cycle path runs alongside the old railway for a bit before turning into full on disused railway path. These are often fast and smooth and this one was no exception. Apart from the headwind of course!
Although today had been all flat (with the occasional insanely steep hill) it was very slow because of the headwind and my loaded bike acting like a giant sail, so at this point I needed to start thinking about camping.
There were quite a few choices fairly near by and more just out of reach. I wanted to stop sooner rather than later as the skies were starting to look more and more threatening!
I picked the easiest one. It's right on the path, so no end of day spirit crushing climbs like the last few days and a quick getaway in the morning.
The site's ok. Not as nice as their website makes out, but it will do. I was the only one here to start with, but a small group has since turned up. I was a bit put out by their audacity to show up to my campsite, but their presence actually brightens up what was a fairly desolate field! Actually, it would be lovely if the sun was out!
Anyway, I'm all showered and fed, so I'll get to bed early for an early start tomorrow. That does of course depend on the weather. Wetness is forecast again for tonight...
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