Tangled up in blue ride 1

This is the Tangled Up In Blue Ride because that’s the song whose lyrics I sang from 12:30 until 20:00.

I’ve struggled to get out for rides this summer. Last year was bike heaven – The Found Summer of a Motorcycle Hermit.

Today I packed a bag with books, bottle of water, glasses, note pad, pen, engine oil – all the essentials.  I wasn’t sure the engine would start.   I used to be an all-weather biker once.  Now I’m fifty-two and a fan of sunshine.  The engine turned over – just.

Under scattered cloud and blue sky, I pointed the bike north up the M5.  A spontaneous plan had me at Tintern Abbey, then through the Brecon Beacons to Llandovery and the biker café in the middle of the town.  That was the objective.

Tintern Abbey – the majestic ruin alongside the deep twisting cut of the Wye.  Hidden from the road until the last minute by high trees, the great end-walls soar towards the sky.

The car park was jammed but there are bike spaces in awkward corners where cars won’t fit.  The pub opposite was doing brisk lunchtime business.  August Bank Holiday.

I stared at the walls of the Abbey for a while, imagining its heyday.  Then I walked past the pub, the café and the souvenir shop selling fudge and fridge magnets.  I found the river Wye.  I’ve dreamt of sitting and reading somewhere like this for ages.

I sat down on a patch of grass across from the ticket office.  There was a steep drop down to the river and an old rocky landing.  It could be reached with a bit of a scramble.  I pictured the monks carrying provisions up from boats.

The rain was holding off as I pulled out Philip Larkin and started reading, randomly, “Livings” and “To the Sea”.