Day 17 - Port Talbot to Ilfracombe (Trimstone Manor)

Actual Miles Driven Today - 247

Receiving my Welsh Credentials in the new Morgan M3W at Newtown Motors later in the day.

What a day of mixed fortunes yesterday had been.

The bleak view from my bedroom. 

 The Mog is just visible in the car park below.

All Washed Up and Ready To Go at Port Talbot

Before leaving the Hotel for Newtown Motors in Cwmbran the Mog needed yet another wash to remove yesterdays 'caked on' Sand and various Farmyard byproducts.

No sooner was the shampoo in the bucket than the heavens opened so no rinse or Chamois needed today. 

As I was wrapping the Suitcase in its waterproof cover the Knot on the Bungee came undone so I sat in the Lobby re threading it into its tunnel and then re tying it ( It's getting a good Test Run Keith!)

Photo taken and off we went to find the coast road to Porthcawl. 

There we were approaching a junction signposted 'Waste Disposal Site' well ahead. 

Right on the bend and at the Junction, there was a sign for Porthcawl so I missed it. 

I turned back after a mile or so and turned into the correct road.

Two Miles down this road there is a 'Road Blocked Ahead' sign so back we went again and that was that for Porthcawl. I had to give up.

The landscape is fairly bleak looking on this misty morning 

At this point I am not sure where I am going - just following the road. 

Already I can see across the Bristol Channel to the North Devon coast. 

Next we tried Ogmore by Sea which was found easily and a lovely spot it is too with its views across the Severn Estuary.

Ah! There is what is left of the Windmill.

Entering Barry, and heading for Barry Island

If I remember, I took a right here.

Must be getting close as there is the sea.

The sign welcomes me as I get ready to cross onto Barry Island.

Ahead is the Fun Fair if I am not mistaken.

For those of you who know of the TV show 'Gavin & Stacey' here is an easily recognisable Beach Scene on Barry Island

The coast road took us all the way to Barry Island (or Chip Island as the locals call it) and there on the beach head was the 'Gavin & Stacey' snack bar corner.

On my way through Cardiff next!. 

No fear, the High Level Trunk Road to the Docks took us all the way and fast, straight through the tunnel.

Today, Her Majesty the Queen was visiting Cardiff so I had to try and avoid an impromptu audience with her. 

It was guess work after that, trying to find St Brides, Wenlock, so I gave up and used the Motorway to Newport before turning north to Cwmbran. 

One circuit of the town and a helpful car dealer's map took me straight there to meet Peter Constable. 

The Newtown Motors 1st Floor Access Ramp

The Newtown Motors Morgan Showroom

The Famous Dragon Mog M3W

Inspecting a New Purchase

There is always work to do.

Unfortunately my old schoolmate Barry Murray-Upton could not join us as originally planned due to his business commitments.

It is always nice to see the memorabilia when visiting dealerships - I have no idea what the association with the Spitfire was. 

A few photos of me sporting my Help for Heroes Rugby Shirt.

This one is more like it.

Marilyn Monroe & Elvis? 

CP30 & R2D2 ? - Very Odd ?

The Morgan Paint Standards.

We had a coffee and Peter was kind enough to give me a full overview of the companies Recent Morgan Sales and Activities and let me take photos.

Everyone was busy with Customers arriving and Deliveries to make so I bid everyone farewell and got back to my mission.

I was also fortunate to meet owner Tim Alan just before leaving.

I headed for the road to Caldicot to complete my Welsh tour at Chepstow. 

There must have been some 'Horsey' Event coming up at Chepstow, Matt, judging by the two slow Horse Boxes using MY route.

For most of my tour of Chepstow I had a Police Panda Car just in front of me so was unable to use the camera ( Mobile Phone Ban)

During my tour of the town I waited until the Panda Car turned away before resuming my photography.

Heading back out of town.

About to return through the Gate in Chepstow.

It was Bye Bye to Wales as I sped over the First Severn Crossing Suspension Bridge with £10 note in hand for the £6 Toll. 

Then I realised that you only have to pay to Get Into Wales. Therefore travelling the coast Anti Clockwise has its benefit; No toll to pay.

The size of those cables amazed me.

I managed to get a couple of snaps of The New Second Severn Crossing to the south of me.

I am deliberately driving slower than the Truck so that I can take my photos unimpeded.

Nearing the English side of the Bristol Channel.

I am off of the bridge now and heading south.

Crossing the River Avon from Bristol which joins the Channel here. 

My next mistake was to use the road to Avonmouth which goes through the Docks. 

I had 20 mins of hell dodging Giant Lorries and Heavy Spray. 

Despite trying, without my Sat Nav., I was lost and still had to come onto the M5 to cross the Avon again on the Bridge there.

Then I spotted Gordano Services where I knew I could get a decent Cappuccino & Pannini lunch. 

During Lunch, a lady called Bernice Brady introduced herself to me. Being the Volunteer Help for Heroes County Coordinator for Wiltshire, she had spotted my H4H shirt and then the Morgan with its stickers,  Strategically parked at the entrance.

Bernice's husband is currently serving in Afghanistan and she operates as an Ambulance Driver at RAF Lynham where the wounded are repatriated to the UK. 

Her overview of the situation there, and the excellent work that H4H does for these so unfortunate people, brought home to me the importance that the generous donations you have all made to my project are to them.

We said our farewells and I set off to get fuel and then find Portishead.

Up to the next junction I left the M5 for my next town Clevedon and onto Weston Super Mere 
( Now Renamed by me as 'Bleedin Awful Mare').

Lack of Sat Nave played a big part during the next two hours. The sign said left hand lane for 'M5 Portishead'. As I swung onto the M5 I saw Portishead in the next lane.

Without the Sat Nav to help me and the total lack of any road signs, I got terribly lost.

Before Long I found myself heading away from the coast with no opportunity to make a 'U' Turn.

The traffic flow into Weston was directed right across the width of the town so that I arrived at the Promenade at the southern end and not the northern end as I would have expected. 

I now needed to drive all the way back up the coast before turning south again. 

Setting off to the north.

Still heading north I pass Weston's famous Pier.

The Pier Head.

Ahead, in the distance, I can see my turning point.

Coming back out of Weston there are no signposts for ages and not one for Burnham on Sea, my next place of call.

I went around and around and eventually mistakenly took the road to Cheddar where I knew a road the ran back into Burnham on Sea.

The traffic was so slow. Always 10 to 15 mph slower than the speed limit. 

It is a good job that Mog does not carry a voice recorder. The air was blue by now.

The road from here to Minehead was trouble free if slow at times.

It was past 5pm so everywhere was closed for the day but I had to pop into Dunster for a photo shot of the High Street and Corn Exchange. 

The Corn Exchange, Dunster

The Luttrell Arms Hotel, Dunster 

The Luttrell Arms Hotel were we had a weeks holiday many years ago, and of course the Castle.

Dunster Village & Castle (National Trust)

Next place was to visit Minehead (not the Holiday Camp) and its harbour before setting off to via the back road, which I had not done before, or so I thought until I refereed to the map afterwards.

Entering Minehead

Seaside Sculpture in Minehead

The road through the village of Porlock takes you up a narrow hill climb of 45 degree incline with two hairpin bends where the angle increases at the apex to around 55 degrees. 

So with the Mog in 1^st gear and up we went. That is until we reached the apex of the second bend where a VW Gold was stopped for why I do not know. 

Pulling away again in such a position was for me 'Scary'

Porlock Village with the Hill in the background

Half way up Porlock Hill, just about to get stuck on the Hairpin Bend.

The drive over the High Road to Lynmouth is a dream including the steep decent to the town.

Somehow, as I went through Lynton I took another back coast road which led to a £1 toll at Lee Abbey / Monastery.

I wonder who the chap in the Mirror with the Camera is?

 It was single track with grass in the middle and wet loose gravel. 

This was even more Scary as it climbs and climbs higher and higher.

 It runs along the edge of a very steep cliff side with the only protection from the deep drop being the row of mature Trees that line the road edge.

This Cliff Edge lane runs to a place called Woody Bay but having had one tight squeeze with an oncoming large BMW,  at the first opportunity I cut back inland to Parracombe.

Heading into Combe Martin on the A399.

Heading through the town to the beach.

All I could see of Combe Martin Beach.

I then got onto the A39 for my run through Combe Martin and Ilfracombe on my way to the Trimstone Manor Country House, where I arrived as it was getting dark just after 8pm.

Driving through the narrow streets of Ilfracombe

Trimstone Manor Country House

The weather was awful all day. Only 5 days left after today.

I am off to Lands End, down the West Coast, tomorrow and staying overnight in Penzance.