England/Wales (Shrewsbury), May 2003 − Travels − Captain Tom

England/Wales (Shrewsbury), May 2003

End of May I was ready to go out into the world with my new bike. A short trip to Wales to Klaus and his family.

Ferry and riding the opposite side of the road was on the list. Short (only three visiting days and 4 ferry days) but at least I was able to go.

First ferry

I started to my surprise with a ferry crossing in Havelberg. I missed the ferry crossing when I prepared the route. There was no bridge but a ferry.

Cuxhaven

The real ferry. This connection of DFDS (Scandianvian Seaways) to Harwich has been introduced this year and replaces the one from Hamburg. The terminal is small. The boat - Dutchess of Scandinavia - is relatively new and quite pleasant.

Cast off!

Oh no, not. I will hold the boat here until everything is alright.

The departure gets observed from the command deck

What do these boats there?

Departure

The mud flat

Neuwerk - an island in front of Cuxhaven in the mud flat

Germany disappears

A crab fisher on his way home

Harwich welcomes me with best holiday weather - England celebrates the Late May Bank holiday

an old light boat

Arrived at the Mahler family

First visiting day

Tour to aviation museum in Longford and to Iron Bridge

Benjamin (6) looks forward to the tour

Rebecca (4) too

And Max (also almost 4) cannot wait to go

The museum has quite a lot of exhibits on display which reflect british airplane construction history. Many prototypes and some unusual things.

A foldable motorbike for parachutits

The little ones are interested...

... and get the mandatory ice cream afterwards

Ironbridge

Here we can have a look at the old bridge...

... and we can walk around a little bit or have a rest

In the end of hte day Benjamin looses his second incisor during dinner

The second visiting day

Hawkstone Historic Park and Follies

On the second day we did the tour with the two younger ones. We went to a really nicely landscaped park with many attactions (caves, gorges, bridges, towers). The park is large and so we were quite exhausted afterwards. On the second day we did the tour with the two younger ones. We went to a really nicely landscaped park with many attactions (caves, gorges, bridges, towers). The park is large and so we were quite exhausted afterwards.

The third visiting day

Wales Tour

This day was reseved for a big bike loop through Wales. 450 kilometers were planned. But it turned out differently

After some miles (about 30 miles from my starting point) I got amused that roads like this are in my GPS map and that my tour was supposed to go along this road

I had seen the sign "unsuitable for motors" before but ignored it

A little bit later there was nothing doing. The path got quite steep and I cound not proceed due to stone stairs and water. I turned the bike with much effort but the tires did not have enough grip to get up the hill again.

I got stuck!

I called the AA but they did not see any way to help me. So I called Klaus. He knew his father in law close by and both came to my rescue

All three of us have put the bike down the hill. Fortunately it was quite steep but there was a lot of stone stairs, mud and gravel.

The rescuers after rescue

The rescue took quite some time. So no big loop anymore. I got Llangollen, Horse Shoe Pass, Minera, Worlds end and Panorama Scenic Route and then I hat to return to the Mahler family.

Between Minera and Worlds End

THE road direction sign to Worlds End

Castel Dinas bran from Panorama Scenic Route

In the evening then the highlight for Benjamin. First he dared to get onto the bike and then he even got a little lift.

At the end of the visit Debbie, Klaus and I had a nice dinner in a restaurant in the city of Shrewsburry. A very pleasant evening. And I took a picture of Debbie to proof her existence. She had to work all the days of my visit.