ARCHIVE Garway & The Knights Templar

Last month the Kingfishers lead me on a journey to visit one of the last remaining churches built by the Knights Templar.

About 8 miles northwest of Monmouth, perched on the valley slope high above the River Monnow sits the tiny little village of Garway. The village itself feels as if it's been hidden from the rest of the world years, and finding the church is like discovering something forgotten to time.

St. Michael's Church

From the outside, the church is modest and unadorned. The tower itself was once used as a defensive retreat against the Welsh.

The zig-zag tooth designed Norman Arch.

The most notable feature inside the church is a Norman arch between the nave and the chancel. It is thought to have been influenced by Byzantine churches seen in the Holy Land during the Crusades. On the left side, just at the top of the column is a mysterious carved head of a man with horns called the Green Man.

The Green Man.

[ Click to view a larger version of the route ]

---

In the rear of the chancel sits the only known surviving altar piece from the Knights Templar. Carved into the top surface are five crosses representing the five wounds of Christ on the cross.

It's important to note that all other known Knights Templar altar pieces were destroyed during the Reformation. The stairs leading up to the altar are made from the coffin lids of the knights and bear large swords carved down the length of each step.

Wood framing above the chancel.

View into the nave from the chancel. Check out the stars in the ceiling...

The original circular nave was destroyed and later rebuilt by the the Knights Hospitaller in the 14th century in the rectangular form present today.

Also of interest are the unusual "graphito" on the exterior of the chancel (shown below...). There doesn't appear to be any specific order to the placement of these elements such that they seem to have been embedded randomly.

It was a fascinating day... a wonderful surprise thanks to John and the Kingfishers.

---

Relevant Links:

• Garway
• The Knights Templar

ARCHIVE Land of Discovery... Llandovery

I was invited to join the Kingfishers this year on a fabulous three-day cycle tour through the Brecon Beacons and Mid-Wales.

So on Tuesday, August 21st, John, Brian, Graham, and I loaded our panniers, looked up the road and headed out toward the small town north-west of Brecon along the River Tywi in the county of Carmarthenshire.

Brian, John, & Graham ready to go!

Our plan was to cycle there on the first day, spend the second day cycling around the area, and then cycle back home on the third day.

Coming into Brecon...

How ya like them cookie bars boys?

John being John...

Brian looking every bit like an elf...

The beautiful old iron bridge at Cilycwm...

Brian contemplates Graham's pontification...

Coming into Llandovery...

Finally at the hotel...

What can ya say?

After a cuppa the boys are ready to ride again!...

Ready, set, GO!...

This was my view mostly...

... unless I race like a madman for this kinda shot...

or wait for them to stop...

but then they are off again...

waiting for you know who...

---

Llandovery is rich in Welsh history to put it mildly. I am so very fortunate that the boys are keen to teach me as they lead me through the countryside. I did a bit of additional research and you should do the same. Read more about Llandovery and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. (Remember the headline?... It's simply mind-boggling to this ole' hayseed from North Carolina.)

[ Click to view a larger version of the route ]

---

The landscapes speak for themselves...

[ Click to view a larger version of the route ]

---

And so on the last evening we said our goodbyes to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd...

True Knights of Wales.

ARCHIVE Maybe Maerdy, Maybe Not...

More from the archive... a blast from the past. I hope you enjoy.

The plan for our ride this day had been to start at Pontypridd, head northwest up NCN 881 past Maerdy to where it joins NCN Route 47, turn right and head back. Simple enough, eh? Well, as time was running short and we needed to get back, we made the decision to head over the mountain, ie "take the short cut".

All smiles as we turned out of Fernwood and headed up into Blaenllechau...

So began the climb...

and climb...

and climb...

and climb...

and climb we did.

Joanne suggested we stop at the top for lunch for the fabulous views.

Proud smiles and cameras document the ascent...

and silliness with the video camera...

and lunch of course!

The background... see the background?

But all was not as it seemed (or as we were told...). For what was ahead...

Wazzup?... Oh, that's up.

At every turn was another spectacular view... (and a valid excuse to pause, catch your breath, and pull out the camera.)

Onward we climbed...

Will said we climbed over 1000 feet that day? And it felt like it! It was truly spectacular and yet another surprising adventure in Wales for this very fortunate cyclist.

We did make it to the top.... we did ride over 40 miles... and what a fun day.

[ Click to view a larger version of the route ]

---

And I cannot forget, before we head home...

"Mr. Fix-it"... fixes signs again. Awesome buddy. It was a great day gang.

Thanks again. Seeya down the road!