3rd October 2023

This place has changed since I was last here.

I was the tourist.

The pub had only opened a couple of weeks before after being closed for a long time after a fire.

I stayed in a cheap room at the local forestry centre. Don’t know if it even exists any more!

The local store is much as it was but now sells dehydrated food packs for the cyclists and walkers. The cafe is still doing brisk business.

But there’s a fancy new visitor centre and cafe. Wow!

And I’m not the only tourist.

There were dozens of cyclists, mostly out for the day and the local bike hire shop is now in a much more prominent position than it was when they fixed my ailing bike last time. And busier too.

Did I mention how good a hot (as opposed to a rain) shower is? And a comfy bed – not that I remember much about it as I was asleep almost before my head hit the pillow.

Spent the day doing laundry, food shopping and eating. And resting.

Steak and Guinness pie and a couple of beers in the pub and another good nights sleep.