Persistent worries from the committee, coupled with our recent triumph in Llandovery meant we were determined to make a success of Mission Llangadog…
On a Mission
We started the day with another fulsome breakfast: curtesy of the Castle Café (upstairs from The Cellar), then bid farewell to Steve and his crew. There was, once again, a lot of climbing early in the day. This took us up and over the chain of hills that culminates in the Preselis to the west. Among these were some sharp ascents and one long slog that went on for over 2 miles. However, this remained steady and we scaled it at a decent rate.
In fact, I was on a bit of a mission. I wanted to get to Llangadog in good time to set up and prepare. Knowing this was a community-run space, with unknown technical equipment, it was conceivable that we’d have our work cut out to get a decent sound. Plus, I was bristling from the constant drip of negative messages from anxious committee members.
Alarming Incline
Mostly, like yesterday afternoon, we were following Sustrans’ Route 82. Which thoughtfully picks its way along river valleys on quiet roads. As we neared Carmarthen, however, we found ourselves back on the dreaded Route 47.
Fortunately, we joined this after the series of plummets into valleys and gut-wrenching climbs back out again. So, we only followed this route for one long descent into Carmarthen. And descend it did. At alarming rates of incline. For an unfeasibly long way. All of which we’d climbed only last week. As our SUV-driving friend had attested: ‘madness’!
Dramatic Blow-Out
Such was the severity of this descent that Rob’s rim brakes heated his wheels until they were too hot to handle. And this melted his front inner tube, causing a dramatic blow-out, just meters before the incline bottomed out.
Rob made efficient road-side repair in a handy lay-by and we were soon back in the saddle. We hoped to visit a cycle store in Carmarthen to get everything checked over. But it was Sunday and Carmarthen was closed.
Magnificent Valley
Which also meant we couldn’t revisit the lovely café we’d found on our previous visit. Instead, we sat and ate sandwiches outside the old castle gates. These (the sandwiches – not the gates) had been procured earlier from a rather grumpy sales assistant at a garage, who’d begrudgingly allowed me to use her bin, since there weren’t any publicly available.
Having an early start this evening, we were keen to press on. Before long, we reached the magnificent valley that leads to Llandovery and beyond. Here, we were backtracking along the path of our outward journey. And the quiet B road along the valley side was, once again, fabulous to cycle. This has enough hills to keep you honest but they aren’t steep enough to slow your progress.
Llanga-dogs
We zipped along at quite a lick, enjoying the scenery, complete with castle ruins and flying displays from curious red kites. A short stretch of main road took us the final few miles to Llangadog. Here, we encountered the usual suicidal dickheads but were afforded a welcome breather when some brave cow-herds stopped the traffic to lead their beasts across the carriageway.
Finding our B & B for the night took a little bit of searching but we got there in the end. The room was very clean and well-stocked with holiday essentials. On arrival, our hosts were out in the fields but heard the barking of their two very boisterous dogs. Inside, everything was dog-themed. Everything. The shower, however, was – in Rob’s words – ‘ a winner’.
Good To Go
Arriving at the Community Centre, we were determined everything would go smoothly, in the face of the committee’s reservations. We were greeted by the organiser, Sue, and her partner Derek. He was profoundly deaf and insisted on talking over us as we attempted to ascertain what the PA had to offer.
Derek was actually very helpful in patching through the channels from the stage inputs (something we’d have been hard pressed to work out ourselves). But then we had to more or less ignore his persistent chatter in order to get everything set up. The hall was high-ceilinged and echoey but the PA, in conjunction with the natural acoustic, delivered a remarkably good sound. Once Derek had fetched some gaffer tape for a mic stand that was missing its adapter (he really was very helpful) and an extension cable for onstage power, we were good to go.
Llandovery Faithful
Sue and her team had provided some much-appreciated pre-show grub, which we gratefully devoured, leaving a little for an after-show snack. We also managed to tease a couple of pre-show beers from the bar. Then some interval ones. And a couple to take back to our digs later on.
The gig went really well and was – after all – well attended. Our friends, Brian and Trish – plus one or two other Llandovery faithful – came out to see us for a second time. They were – once again – very enthusiastic and introduced us, after the show, to some locals that are involved with events. A beer festival was mentioned, which is located next to a place known as ‘tepee valley’. This – not surprisingly – has a reputation for being home to progressive and alternative folk. Sounds good to us.
Worth It In The End
One of the committee members also came for a chat after the show. He said he’d not seen anything ‘that political’ in a long time. Maybe he doesn’t get out much.
Anyway, Llangadog committee, you can stop belly-aching now. It was all worth it in the end.