I must be getting old!

[gibbsy]

Yesterday was our annual get out and meet old friends at a championship dog show held in Builth Wells in the middle of the Brecon Beacons. If ever there were roads made for a sporty drive then they are all in the Beacons. Except when there is a bike race coming the other way and horse boxes going to a harness race meeting just a couple a miles away from where we were going.

The wife had the honour of the drive to the show, unfortunately she could only manage an average speed of 44 mph with a return of 62.4 mpg. On the return journey it was my turn to drive. A couple of quick passes of the now returning horse boxes and I was away. Then we hit the traffic again, lines of horse boxes and slow moving traffic.

So I put the gentle tones of James Taylor into the CD and settled in for the long haul. 37 mph and 60.1 mpg and I didn't mind at all. What I'm getting at is the exceptional fuel consumption for a 168 bhp engine over a trip with some steep inclines. The power from the engine made for very safe overtakes. It's just that they wern't getting me anywhere. One thing for sure I felt the car really lived up to it's GT status, I could have just kept on driving................even at 37 mph.

[chrisyboyc]

Sometimes the occasional relaxed drive is a good thing. But a boring one isn't. I've driven around that area quite a bit over the last 2 or 3 years fast or slow its a good drive.

[JMC]

I drove that road a couple of weeks ago, from East Lancs down to Carmarthen.
My first log trip in my roc, I kept changing from drive to sport on the box.
Fantastic drive, just sat back and ate up the road where I could.

I used to show ESS, but wouldn't be able to get more than 1 in the Roc, what breed do you show?

Edit - just seen you have a cocker

[Rob]

Done pretty much the same yesterday, drove upto Alnwick Castle (around 40 miles up the A1) doing around 60-65 all way and got 65mpg. And the best thing was the little uns face when she saw Dumbledore and Hagrid off Harry Potter. They filmed the first 2 films there and obviously use that to help with tourism.

[gibbsy]

I used to show ESS, but wouldn't be able to get more than 1 in the Roc, what breed do you show?

Edit - just seen you have a cocker

We used to work as pro canine photographers in the 80s and 90s under the name ''Gibbs''. A lot of ESS customers and friends.

http://www.pbase.com/gibbsy/image/57218823" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JMC]

Used to handle Jean Taylor's Clevehill Springers in the '70's and 80's. I was her first kennelgirl from 1971-74 then went to Bellmead in Windsor.
I do remember seeing your photo's in DW

[gibbsy]

Used to handle Jean Taylor's Clevehill Springers in the '70's and 80's. I was her first kennelgirl from 1971-74 then went to Bellmead in Windsor.
I do remember seeing your photo's in DW

Jean was a customer. Most of her dogs were being handled by Gareth Lawler, it was her stock that started off his Rockfolly line.

[JMC]

Gareth's first springer from Jean was C Tangerine Treat a Liver tri. took him 3 days to decide which pup to have from that litter (Glad he is a bit quicker when judging these days)
When I said in my first post I was on the Brecons road that is where I was going to stay with Gareth and his family for the weekend, he had invited me to judge at their local agricultural show.
Gareth is coming to stay with me in a couple of weeks he is judging cocker bitches in St helens (Forgotten for which club) then we are going to Darlington the day after.
Small world - Seven degrees of separation ha ha.
Gareth loved my roc. - just to keep on topic ha ha