An early morning 5am start from the Mid Wales Rally Office and on to Newport City to start the first full recce for the 2009 Rally Evolution - affectionately known as the Rally EVO. A fine mist hangs over Tredegar House and the recce heads northwards and on to some new forests in the Abercarn region.
A trio of reflective orange clad council workers leaning over the forestry gate greets Kenny as he fumbles for the right key! 'Morning gents', but the 'Three Wise Men' abort the scene and scurry away to their trash cart. Must have disturbed their 'tree break'!
Continuing further north and on to the Heads of the Valleys where a number of potentially excellent 'Selectifs' lie - watch this space!
After a long drive along the A465, A40, through Monmouth and in to Herefordshire they return to a little gem, last used in 2005 - Athelstans Wood. However, on arrival it is evident that the roadway has been thrashed back exposing the track that was once well overgrown. Where once it was a lottery to find the way through - good fun though - you can now see your way forward. Not fully spoilt by the cutting back of the trees and brash, an excellent Test can be achieved once again - certainly not cleanable by any competitor in any car - power is not the name of the game here!
So on to the Malvern Hills where lies an ancient monument at the summit called the British Camp just off the A449 - this is where we make our bed for the night at the Malvern Hills Hotel - well worth a visit.
Due to Kenny's recent accident, strong Steve Fellows has to hump his bags up three flights of stairs while the Clerk of the Course sips away at a nice cup of tea, ahem, while getting down to the maps, plotting the days route. Some say Steve is stronger than an Ox...but I've seen the size of his Man Bag!
Not council workers but
Roman Soldiers who defeated
a local Chieftain at British Camp
Ah well, Malvern Showground tomorrow and then back across the border where the route will begin to pick up even more momentum - into the forests of mid Wales, and the Radnor Hills.
See you tomorrow.
The Chief Blogger
