Days Without Alcohol - 84.
I managed to find a gap in the weather to climb a Brecon Beacon. Well, a small hill at least. Walking through the bleak, brown, blasted Welsh countryside reminded me a little bit of being
on safari, except instead of lions, zebras and elephants there were just sheep and some cool hairy cows with big horns, like off the front of that Scottish toffee bar. Still it felt good to be communing with nature again, with nothing but the sound of the whistling wind in my ears and no need to jump in the car to drive 200 miles for a gig (though a text did come through asking me if I wanted to play Nottingham tonight! I declined). There were some cool looking steep hills covered in clouds and snow, but they looked a bit far away and like it might be too much work, so I was pleased to get to the top of the mini hill that I had selected to conquer. In the distance I could see dark grey clouds and rain and snow swirling down over less fortunate hikers, only a couple of miles away, but the weather held for me and I only got wet when my boot got stuck in a mini bog on the way, though my jeans were flecked with mud by the time it was over.
I got my photo taken at the summit, forgetting that I was wearing my slightly uncool cycling waterproof, which isn't very Edmund Hillary. But then again at least I am alive.
Then I drove round the area taking in the sights, stopping for a roast dinner in Brecon, then heading off to see what Abergavenny had to offer on a Easter Sunday afternoon. Not much as it turned out. Though my big city preconceptions were confounded as I walked up the slope to the town centre and thought, "The problem with a town like this is that it would never have a Caffe Nero and if it did it wouldn't be op..." and literally before this thought was fully formed I turned a corner to find a Caffe Nero that was not only open, but giving away free broken ginger biscuits that had once been in the shape of Easter bunnies. I felt as happy in here as I had on top of my own personal Everest, which just goes to show that whilst I enjoy the country, I am a city boy at heart.
Having a lovely time though. Simply marvelous to have 48 hours without a gig or a script to have to think about.
