To Gower?

Today my target is the Gower peninsula. First I had to ride down the magnificent estuary  form Carmarthen,  well, from my campsite  at Ferryport.  It was fairly flat with occasional views of the river until near Kidwelly, which is at the top of a salt marsh now turned nature reserve.  For the first time, the wind has dropped and it was serenely beautiful overlooking the water.

Kidwelly

Kidwelly

I followed  a stretch of the Millenium Cycleway along the coast to Burry Port, an old coal port,  where I stopped for breakfast. 

Millenium Cycleway 

Burry Port 

My legs are tired today and complaining about every tiny incline. I don't  seem to be able to eat enough, or eat the right things, to get enough energy.  It's a beautiful day but I'm getting fed up with camping every night, although it's going well.  A bed for the night would be nice, but it seems that YHAs haven't yet opened shared dorms round here, and the private rooms are all fully booked.  Things took a further turn for the worse when the café toilet had run out of paper!  Luckily I was well prepared and was able to improvise.

The Millenium Cycleway continues on beautiful smooth, wide, flat, summy tarmac to Llanelli bay,  a wide sweep of sand which I'd admired from the train a few days ago.  It was lovely, but I was dreading the Gower peninsula.  Hills - maybe not huge, but quite a few with chevrons.  Another campsite (or a boutique bunkhouse(!) for £220 a night).  My legs were empty, and my panniers were full.  Too full.  In hindsight, I could list half a dozen things I haven't needed.  Especially cooking stuff and food, which is heavy.

As I approached Gowerton, the sign said "Welcome to Swansea".  I started thinking that I could do with a day off.  A rest day.  Maybe catch the train to Swansea, or Cardiff,  and stay over there?  Then another thought: why not catch the train home?  And within half an hour  I'd decided.  The Gower peninsula is supposed to be a treat, so I'll come back and enjoy it another time, maybe later this year.  Maybe with a few pre-booked hostel or B&B stays.

I arrived in Gowerton just before 1pm.  Booked a bike space on GWR, bought a ticket (in that order), bought an unhealthy lunch; three trains, and I was home before six pm.

I'm sorry that I haven't  done more this time,  but for me it's not about the miles clocked up, it's about the journey: doing new things and visiting interesting places.  I've loved the variety, the scenery, the camping and even most of the weather, and I'll be back ...