Peacocks, Pheasants and Rabbits end of week 4 Cycle Training
19th June 2015
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| Afon Clywedog River |
5.30am start with 10.3C showing on Pentre Motors Garage electronic display outside the building as I cycled past on my last ride on week 4 of my training schedule. Within a mile I cross over the bridge spanning the Clywedog river before I turn on my usual route towards Rhewl. But this morning, as I am away over the weekend, I woun't be turning back when reaching Llanbedr but carrying on to Llanelidan, a 27 round trip.
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| Capel Rhewl |
After 3 miles I passed the Rhewl Grade II listed Chapel built in 1844. Luckily being attractive as a building is not prerequisite to being listed. From here I head towards Llanbedr.
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| Llanelidan lies in the foothills of the distant hills |
At this time of morning it is amazing how much wildlife is out and about. Rabbits as already described in a previous blog are out in their hundreds, but also pheasants aplenty having missed the guns of the local shoots, a number of buzzards out early to get some of the rabbits but also herons patiently fishing, rooks, blackbirds, collard pigeons, thrushes and more.
After 5 miles I pass through Llanbedr and this is where my journey takes a turn south instead of my usual route back home. I head towards Graigfechan with its excellent Three Pigeon Pub that serves Real Ales.
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| Three Pigeon Pub |
This is where I came across a bird I did not expect to see this time or any time of the morning on the back roads of Wales, a Peacock. This resplendent bird with shimmering feathers calmly sat on a garden wall as I cycled past.
A mile later I passed Pentecelyn school which is shamefully under threat of closure by Denbighshire County Council. This Welsh Medium School could possibly disappear in the next year, another blow to the Welsh language.
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| Ysgol (school) Pentrcelyn |
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| Not far to Llanelidan |
Once past Pentrecelyn I crossed the main Rhuthun to Wrexham road and head towards Llanelidan with 3 miles to go.
With the miles quickly disappearing I come into the old village of Llanelidan with its old pub, Leyland Arms which dates back to 1354. This is my half way point and I finally turn towards home.
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| View back down the Vale of Clwyd from Llanelidan towards Rhuthun |
Once again I am amazed at the rolling beautiful green fields that makes up this land of ours that can only be truly be appreciate when you take time to cycle through it. After a mile from the village I join the main road from Corwen that leads into Rhuthun itself.
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| The road through Pwllglas |
As I am now heading back down the Vale my speed picks up and I quickly pass through Pwllglas and a few miles later enter the medieval town of Rhuthun and into it's square with St. Peter's Church dominating one end of it.
Instead of carrying on the main road which would have brought me quickly home I decide to take the more peaceful back road to Gellifor, then to Llandyrnog and over the river Clwyd. After 27 miles I arrived home, quick shower, breakfast and work another weeks training over.
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| Bridge over the River Clwyd with my faithful bike |
