This was Michael's first national cycle tour, advertised in the CTC's national magazine last December. This tour was unique in that it was run separately to the group's own tours, but co-leader was Andrew Billington from Torbay Section and some of the participants went on to take part in our 1986 tours.

Sadly no report was ever written for this tour, but we are able to write a few details about what happened from documents that have been retained from the time.

The Newton Abbot starters caught the 10.05 train to Exeter, then changed for Birmingham, then changed again for Crewe and finally changed again for our destination, Colwyn Bay station, where we arrived at 17.00. The London participants took a train from Euston and met us at Birmingham along with the Wellesbourne crew who had taken a train from Stratford. Finally Chris took a train from Preston and met us at Crewe.

The ride from Colwyn Bay to Rowen youth hostel was around 10 miles.

Our route today took us southwards along the Conwy vallwey to Betws-y-Coed, then east past the Swallow falls to Capel Curig. We then rode up to Llyn Ogwen and then down the valley to the hostel at Idwal Cottage.

Today we probably rode to Ffestiniog hostel via Capel Curig, keeping us within the Snowdonia national park. No doubt the poor weather was the reason for the total absence of photos today.

Today's ride took us through Dolgellau and then up a long clim before descending past the Alternative Energy Centre (which we probably stopped to look at) to Machynlleth. The final miles to the hostel at Borth were generally flat or downhill.