Children in Need 2023 Road Run

We took part in the 2023 Children in Need Road Run which rurned out to be quite an adventure on some flooded roads 

The start was at Stratstone jaguar Land Rover in Cardiff where Bronwyn had kindly laid on coffee and breackfast items and we had a lot of fun parking our older vehicles alongside some of the latest (sorry abot the oil on your nice clean tarmac) 

There was a prize for the best dressed vehicle and this was a clear winner along with Tom and Sandra 

At the alotted time we lined up ready for off, but of course it took a few more minutes to get going so sime for a few more pictures 

Then it was off to the Cardiff Rugby ground for a quick stop (made all the quicker because we had lost time in setting off and in the traffic) and then to the Tesco car park where there were already some running repairs needed on Fluffy

After that we headed out into the country for some real fun with a whole load of unplanned water features on a load of lanes that had become flooded 

I was licky that Brobwyn was following in the brand new Defender 130 and she managed to get some excellent pictures from the in car systems that show us having such fun 

This shows us plodding along at a suitably slow speed because you don't know what you will fund in the water even if it is a tarmacced lane 

And a bit later when it got a bit deeper. You can see that we are going even slower in this deeper water

And finally what the fantastic in car video systems were showing in the 130. from talking to her later on she was able to clearly see a tree stump or rock on the verge that  she needed to avoid whis was hardly visible in the near dark by that point 

I have to say that I'm very impressed with the new Defender. 

I hope thay sell well and one day I'll be able to afford one to go on my drive (second or third hand) 

Chocks Away

Yesterday was the day for the Annual South Wales Land Rover Club Road run, 

A great event for which we were "promised" good weather so you can imagine our delight to be standing waiting for the start at Asda Dowlais top in the rain

I'm not sure whether it was the delays, but I think we were all very happy to jump into warm cars (well most of us) when we were given the off. 

The first part of the route took up up past Pontsticill and Talybont reservoirs, but with the rain there was not really much point in stopping so the first stop we had for a picture was this "convoy collection" location as we came out of Brecon town

After that it was a nice run up through to the Eppynt Ranges where we stopped at one of the entrances for a photo shoot with the Reg Danger flag flying behind us

The new decals looked good apart from the front one I messed up applying (another one is on order)

And we took the opportunity for a picture with Rhian looking on as a WAAF and me in an RAF boiler suit fixing things underneath (nothing actually wrong).

BTW the Series to the left is wearing a "Red Arrow" suit for the event... the event was fund raising for the Welsh Air Ambulance hence the RAF in particular and general military theme.

From there it was up to Builth Wells for lunch where we saw an impromptu rocker cover gasket re-sealing and then back to base via a very narrow bridge on the old road from Bwlch to Llangynidr.

All back safely it was time for some pictures so I stated with a simple picture of Katy in her new decals

And then with Rhian and Wendy in their WAAF outfits

I was then asked to do a photoshoot with our three Land Army girls and with Peter's Series 1 Land Rover

Which looked really good being a farmyard vehicle again

It wasn't just the Series that ended up in pictures as this nice 110 was posed in the sun

And this Series II (A I think) made a nice picture driving into the field in the sun

All in all a wonderful time and hopefully we have raised a decent sum for the Welsh Air Ambulance 

True Colours

The SWLRC Road Run this year was for St John's Ambulance

So the theme of the run was Medical and therefore there was only one real option - put Katy back to her Bosnian military colours. We know these from the pictures we found http://landroverkaty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/its-official.html

A full respray was out of the question for a single day out so some rather amateurish printing took place late on Friday night and we left with a collection of symbols and letters to be put in appropriate places once the bodywork had dried out from the overnight rain

Saturday morning was a bit of a rush as I decided to fit the CB I bought some time ago. It was just jury rigged in time and we grabbed some fuel and and headed out to meet the team just in time for the 11:00 meeting time.

The inevitable faffing around took place which gave me time to put the signs on.

The first part of the trip was through the coast road from Cardiff to Ogmore which meant a keeping an eye out for pedestrians as we went through the villages. It did generate some looks and some comments, and one couple who were waiting for a bus came up as we stopped for the lights and had a right natter with the nurse in the passenger seat of the rather strange ambulance to try and find out what was going on

Ogmore on sea was our lunch stop and it was an opportunity at last to have a wander around with a camera and take a look at some of the old timers. This shot includes a Lightweight, a Series 1 (1952) and a Series 2A (abeit with a 200TDI engine)

Then on with the route that took us through a very small lane (spied out by the series drivers !)

The reason for taking this route became very clear however when we reached this very photogenic ford. A perfect place for getting a few action shots.

If you want to see all the water spraying type shots then head over to SWLRC where those who had sealed vehicles and were not planning to sleep in them had some right fun, but for us it was a more sedate and "proper overlanding style" approach

With success as we rejoined the rest of the convoy.

With fantastic directions coming from "Dave at the front" via the CB we had fitted, we had no problems keeping up and enjoying the drive. Finally arriving at Happy Jakes Campsite just before 5pm.

We finished the day with a final gathering of the cars in the campsite

Which we had to have 2 goes at because we missed a vehicle (mind you we lost 2 more in this version)

The organizers had done a wonderful job and we all had a great day out. Katy and "Sister Jones" (Rhian in her Mom's old uniform) included

Cardiff to Langorse for the Air Ambulance

Getting Katy was about many things and fun was high on the list 

This event was all about that, and making money for charity too. It was a road run from Cardiff to Langorse for the Air Ambulance charity

The team from SWLRC gathered at the start, minus us at first because Katy would not start with a flat battery so I am now the proud owner of a new Ring battery charger purchased from our Local Halfords (thank goodness they had it on stock) with instant charge so you can start your vehicle from the mains - wonderful gadget so I have no worries recommending it 

picture from Halfords web page - used as fair use, get in touch if you disagree and I'll take a picture of my unit

We did make it in time for the group picture. Rhian and Misty at the front there on the left

With all the vehicles at the side of the road we looked a wonderful sight. Stratstone have never had so many excellent vehicles on show

Including Chris's excellent ex-military Land Rover fully decked out and ready for action

There was of course plenty of opportunity for people to admire the new offerings from Land Rover, no-one succumbed, but I think Martyn was tempted

But we were soon off on the run which you can watch highlights of here

Another stop at Likes of Brecon where some of the team took on the off-rad course to get their tyres dirty including Wayne and Amanda's "Wobble" still looking good after the photo shoot at Blaenavon they did for Classic Land Rover Magazine

And then to the fun and games at the lake including the Knobbly knees competition

Here we have our Chairman Edwin and Noel Harper our guest for the day and Chairman of the Land Rover Enthusiasts club from Dunedin, Otago  (in the black T Shirt) comparing. Neither won!

Many people admiring Peter's wonderful Series 1 and he even let people do things in the engine bay whilst we were there (Brave man)

And just to prove we were still enjoying ourselves as the sun went down