Why does everything seem to get worse ?
Does it really, or is it just me getting old. Take Youth Hostels. When I was a teenager the whole of Britain seemed to have these cheap places where we could stay overnight for a couple of Shillings.
All it took was membership of the YHA, easily done by a visit the thier shop in Town, and getting my Mum to make a sheet sleeping bag, buying a cheap rucksac and off we went ! First to Ilam as it was close and in the Peak District. Got there by bus to Derby and bus to Ashbourne. That was Easter 1970. Then Ilam again in whit (All the other places like Hartington were full), then a tour from Buxton to Castleton to Edale, with a lift home from Edale. That was fun. Later we went by bike, Ilam first, one weekend in October 1975, then Staunton-on-Wye the following weekend, then a week tour of;
Clun, somewhere near Llangurig, nice simple place (closed), Kings near Dollgellau, New Quay (Closed), TynCornel(closed, now a camping barn) in the middle of nowhere, Staunton-on-Wye(closed), then Wheathill (closed). On the mountain road from Tyncornel to Staunton broke my back wheel descending the Devils Staircase, memded it. Had many, many punctures. On the road to Wheathill destroyed the last of my tyres. Had a lift home off my Dad (Which was welcome as I could then rush to buy the dilapadated BSA I had been dreaming of all week).
The following Autumn we did Elton the first weekend, then Clun next. For the week we did Bala (closed), Colwyn Bay(closed), Dinas Mawddy (closed), Ystumtumen (closed), Glascwm(closed) then Wilderhope Manor. Looks as if all the primtive, nice places are gone. So whete the fuck is the YHA about ? On its website it says;
To help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, and appreciation of the cultural values of towns and cities, particularly by providing Youth Hostels or other accommodation for them in their travels, and thus to promote their health, recreation and education.
What a bunch of arse. The hostels are no cheaper than a decent B&B. The YHA should have its charitable status removed, its operating like a cheap hotel chain dressed up as a youth movement.

Charabancs warning at Wookey Hole.


The road was fine for 4WDs.

Went for a day out with Joanne on Sunday. The dinosaur/pirate thing at Wookey hole was crap.
Just some averagely poor plaster-cast type dinosaurs, a puzzled looking King Kong, and a pirate kids sort of show. Very poor, but the cave was good. Not sure it was worth the £62.50 it cost me for five people though.

A modern stylish man, after eating too many XL burgers and thus growing man-boobs.

Then went up to Priddy and had a very good meal (beef sausage and chips) at the New Inns.
New Inns, near to Swildon Hole.
Nice pub, had a pint of some sort of local bitter. a bit fruity for my taste. Put my Skilt on, much to Joannes and Jordans amusement !

Back in Essex. Felt really depressed on Monday, the woe of reaching another autumn and achieving none of the things I wanted too; No trip to the Pyrenees, No bike racing, fuck-all cycling apart from only one mtb trip to Cannock Chase. Now the weather has turned, the dark nights are here, oh woe is my. My daughter has left home, her boyfriends dropped out of University and isn't even working because of depression, oh woe is me. My son is maybe going to go off to University sometime (if he works hard and gets decents grades, that is) oh woe, woe and thrice woe. My Dad seems getting more confused or more deaf. Seemed quite compos mentis when I spoke on the 'phone yesterday evening. Woe is me.
So all the things I planned to do, I didn't. Cleaned my winter bike last Saturday. Can at least drag meself out for a spin this weekend. Trying to eat less. Working so far, might have some wine this evening. But NO CRISPS.
Weight; Officially 90 Kilos.