my Ceredigion and my Cardigan Bay » transport

Photo: Award Yourself a Gold Aston Martin DB5

Paul Williams — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:26:00 +0000

Sometime in the next few days this blog will have clocked up an amazing 5000 visits.
Give that man an Aston Martin!

You Don't Expect Me to Talk Do You?

Coracle Racing on the Teifi with Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuiness: Summer 2009

Paul Williams — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:31:07 +0000

It’s sad I know but celebrity does bring out the worst in me. I recall walking into my shop to be greeted by my rather chuffed assistant: ‘Paul, meet Mr Grant Baynham from TV’s That’s Life! I managed a barely polite ‘Hello’ before I announced ‘I can’t stand that show’. Retreat of customer. Anyway, a long time ago. I’m better now.
Tipped off that Rory, Paddy and film crew would be filming coracle racing for the next series of their somewhat indifferent TV show, Rory and Paddy’s Great British Adventure we warm-footed it down to the River Teifi at Cilgerran. I hadn’t seen coracle racing there since I was 12 or so but I had become temporarily and boyishly interested in the little hide and willow tubs that for at least two thousand years have graced these shores.
Anyway, opportunities to gongoozle are these days rare, so there we were watching woeful red-faced Rory and wretched Paddy getting it all wrong while the river pros paddled the one hundred yards in a flash. Then former funny-man Rory got a bit grumpy with his producer and then they re-shot some cheering and then I started muttering something about it being ‘Clarkson Lite’ (which when I think about it is probably a good thing); and before I started shouting ‘Which one’s Jeremy Clarkson?’, Shevaughn insisted we leave. A good job no drink had been taken. Anyway here’s a picture of a chunky guy who came last and some river tough guys who came first…

From Coracles and Rory McGrath

Mmmm… I wonder if they visited Martin Fowler’s National Coracle Museum at Cenarth?
‘A unique collection of coracles from Wales & around the world.
Set in the grounds of the 17th century flour mill overlooking the salmon leap & falls.
Craft & souvenir shop & Forget Me Not Antiques.’
01239 710980
01239 710507
martinfowler7@aol.com
Easter to end October, daily 10.30 – 17.30. All other times by appointment

4 Great Books About British Railways Marchant Engels Martin Wolmar

Paul Williams — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:11:07 +0000

I’m up early today because the blacksmiths from Teify Forge (passim) have added to their duet of generator and reversing truck; a quartet now, they have recruited a youth with a chainsaw and an ancient with a lump hammer.

Aware of the need for rehearsing their expanded repertoire they have gathered in Victoria Gardens for a 7.00a.m start.

The chainsaw is restrained in the first bars, coaxed repeatedly into starting. As it catches and finds it’s place the mood settles allowing the sharp high attack of the hammer to be introduced. The Hammer of the Sods.

I give in and get up.

Anyway in homage to the navvy here are three great books about railways.

Barley Saturday Cardigan 2009; Horses and Vehicle Photography by Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:34:30 +0000

Barley Saturday has come and gone and I realised that in the nearly 40 years I have lived in Ceredigion, mostly around Aberporth and New Quay, I had never joined the throng for Barley Saturday. Living ‘in town’ there’s no reason not see the fun and UMSINGA has become a stopping off point for those from further afield. And of course a wonderful opportunity to float around snapping the horses and trucks, tractors and cars. Oh and this year, though VeloTivy cyclists were a no show (presumably even the hint of rain makes your lycra clench) there were TWO scooterists, Ian and Danny. A fine sight weaving amongst the other vintage traffic.

No shots of scooters here though; here’s my favourite from the afternoon.

And here’s a slideshow of the rest.

Cardigan Cycling Club, Velo Teifi, the Criterium and Barley Saturday

Paul Williams — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:48:54 +0000

Recently I found myself undertaking some light reseach in Cardigan town library. It was prompted by a conversation with Carl Davies Chair of Velo Teifi Cycling Club, ‘West Wales’ best cycling club. The club is based in and around Aberteifi and Carl is planning a Criterium event for the town. He had made approaches informally to the Barley Saturday Committee hoping put his event on while Cardigan’s streets were closed in readiness for the running of the horses.

The outcome of his overture was not positive, it seems because the Barley Saturday event is seen as a ‘traditional’ event, implying that a cycling event was not. Now, Barley Satruday is a long-established and well-seasoned Cardigan event; started in the 1870′s it has had a chequered history but is now nearly 40 years into its post-war revival. In its present form it could be argued that it has little in common with its hiring fair roots. However it is obviously an important part of Cardigan’s social calendar particularly if you ride and your business is horses; it is also an exciting and well supported spectacle.

Anyway that is why I fould myself in the library gleaning what I could from photocopies of Donald Davies’ invaluable ‘Those Were the Days’ columns which he wrote for the esteemed Cardigan and Tivyside Advertiser. Cycling it seems is no less a tradition in Cardigan municiple life than Barley Saturday. Formed in 1893 Cardigan Cycling Club flourished into the early years of the 20th century. Indeed in 1894 it could boast 100 members. It’s Wednesday afternoon (then and now early closing day in Cardigan) club events took riders to many places of local interest and in 1895 there were inaugurated Cycling Races in (if not around) Cardigan town.

These Cycling meets were incredible popular pulling in riders from across South and West Wales and inspiring fierce competiton between local Teifi Teams. Declining in the years before the First World War but revived between the wars, the club and the cycle meets faded out.

And a little bird (the Velo Teifi web site) tells me that there will be news of an event for this year. I’m guessing it wont be in ‘tandem’ with the Barley Saturday event (which is this Saturday anyway) but will probably be some time in the autumn. No tweedy sit-up-and-beg Edwardian velocipedes but modern lightweight bikes with riders in primary racing colours.

The horse is dead! Long live the bicycle!

Due acknowledgement given to Donald Davies, and the Cardigan and Tivyside Advertiser for the material used here.

An addendum! It’s the time of year when birds are a-twitter and another little bird tells me that Velo Teifi will be tagging along behind the Barley Saturday Parade this Saturday after all; mind the poo!

Gateway to Wales: History of Cardigan