We got off early and were only 20 minutes in when we stopped for coffee at Rubens in Bangor. It poured with rain as we rolled down towards the seafront and had cleared up when we stopped to walk along Britain’s Pier of the Year.
I adjusted my brake cables using one of those handy tool stations that are installed next to cycle routes and felt better that I might once again stop if I pulled the levers.
The real story of the day is North Wales’ Route 5 infrastructure. We got our first taste of it heading up to Abergwyngeryn (we stopped for coffee) and Llanfairfechan. A dedicated, protected cycle route built alongside the A55. Okay, it’s not going to win any prizes for interesting riding. It is a perfect way of getting from one place to another under your own steam.
When the road passes under the hills or round the cliffside at Penmaenmawr and Penmaen bach, the cycleway transfers seamlessly to ramps and overpasses and back to the roadside. There is the small matter of a 10% climb to negotiate over Penmaenmawr.
We cruised into Conwy with the sun in the sky and the wind in our direction. Conwy is a beautiful sight on any day. It sparkled in the sunshine, it thronged with tourists and day trippers. It was lovely to see it so busy.
We decided on lunch at the Rest and Be Thankful cafe on the Great Orm. Great views and neither of us grumbled about the climb in the warmth and dryness of the lunchtime sun. We’d have bitten someone’s arm off for that yesterday.
A little essential supplies shopping in Llandudno while I had the chance, and we were off again. The cycleway joins the coast at Penrhyn Bay and sticks to it. The seaside towns came thick and fast. Rhos on Sea wins the most-likely-to-go-back-to trophy for the day.
We were getting used to easy riding, fast and flat. The quarry jetty at Penmaen Rhos had a surprise for us as the cycle track climbed steeply to get over it, when it would happily have passed under it. The sudden, sharp incline caught me off guard and struggling for a gear.
Dopamine levels at maximum as we sped along to Kinmel Bay and its cycleway contraflow s past the sea defence construction work that’s going on along there.
Coffee and ice cream in Rhyl was a chance to assess the day.
Finally we trundled on into Prestatyn.
I checked in at my hotel and we headed to the station to get back to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll and pick up Karen’s car so she could get on home.
Day totals: 53 miles, 2008ft of elevation gained
Tour totals: 1,309 miles, 56,852ft of elevation gained