DAY 4
Keys trees and automobiles
The day started with a Spoons breakfast and departure assigned at 0800 sharp. Our resident time lord again arrived 8 minutes early, a matter that we feel for his own wellbeing now requires medical intervention. After the mandatory unnecessary fiddling with his bike and a full six minutes before departure Bowie kicked over Pansy’s starter, repeatedly and to no avail with ignition failing to occur. More fiddling ensued and then Bowie stood up, reached into his pocket and pulled out Pansy’s ignition key, thereafter matters ran more smoothly. Dee and Monkey witnessing this debacle obviously passed mild and light hearted banter to Bowie.
Today was on the whole a matter of progressing up the Somerset county to a point non motorway to cross the river into Wales. Other than a short blip on a narrow lane with Monkeys preferred central grass feature the remainder of the route was on mainly principal roads.
It is with immense reluctance Bowie and Dee have to concede that today under difficult circumstances Monkeynav was flawless. That said however the blossoming relationship between Monkeynav and his indicators appears to have somewhat stalled. For example arriving at a T junction with Monkeys bike indicating and positioned to go left at the stop line suddenly the right indicator illuminated and Monkey then took that direction. Furthermore Monkey has with malice afore thought deliberately with menace engineered Average White Band moments. Indeed approaching one roundabout he indicated right, did two full circuits of the traffic island and then went straight on tunelessly hollering “let’s go round again”. This was not an isolated incident. After this incident the indicators periodically refused to come out to play, alas we feel that harmonic integration between Monkeynav and indicators will for some considerable time remain a matter of fanciful daydreams.
Arriving at the Clifton Suspension bridge the team did a bit of sightseeing, walking back to the Cub’s Dee spotted the toll bridge commander and inquired if he could buy a ticket for three bikes to save repeatedly swiping a card at the traffic barrier. Na he replied just ride up to the barrier three abreast and swipe your card once – top man.
Whilst filing up at a byway petrol station Monkey was astounded to see a pump marked 4 Star petrol a product last seen in the early 90’s. Obviously time moves slowly in Somerset.
As we were mainly travelling on principal roads we were overtaken frequently, one such incident as a line of traffic passed one poor soul came within a foot of Monkeys bike. Instinctively he attempted to kick the cars passenger door narrowly missing in the process. The lady driving the car behind upon seeing this nearly mounted the pavement on the other side of the road to keep out of monkey lashing out distance., following drivers passed with caution.
A total of 177 miles ridden the team arrived at the Future Inn in Cardiff our overnight accommodation at 1700. After a shower and beer the question of dining was raised, Dee and Monkey suggested Indian, Bowie having had chicken tikka wheatabix for breakfast wasn’t so minded. A quick google search revealed two Indian restaurants five minutes walk away, which has the better reviews says Bowie, this one says Dee, we’ll go there then. Upon arrival it was discovered that this place was unlicensed apparently this is Dee’s fault – sorry for breathing grumbled Dee. Surely it’s illegal for an Indian not to serve Cobra or Kingfisher larger???
Oh yes and Bowie wanted me to mention that we saw many trees.
