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Swansea Old Ducks
Swansea Old Ducks “Visit to the Big Pit National Coal Museum” What a day on Sunday 16th!! Helena and Darren had planned a long winding route up steep gradients and around hairpin bends from Magor to Big Pit.
BIG PIT – National Mining Museum of Wales a report by Seve & Helly Doel, Swindon Association of Snails Many times whilst cruising along the M4 motorway near Newport in South Wales, I’ve seen the tourist signs directing people to the ‘Big Pit – National Mining Museum of Wales’. Always one of those places I’d fancied going to, but never had the chance. My opportunity came a few weeks ago when our friends in the Swansea club invited us to join them for a Raid there. Mixed reaction followed from the family – Helly wasn’t really very interested in going to a coal mine, Alex was very excited, Amelia (much to our surprise) thought it might be good as she is studying the Victorians at school this term. Only thing is, Amelia doesn’t do underground, confined spaces, noises etc….!!! Anyway, come the day and even I had my reservations – the weather at home was atrocious with strong winds and driving rain, hardly ideal 2CV motoring conditions. Between home and Bath, Monsieur Alfonse (our blue & yellow 1984 Club) leaked terribly, caused by the necessity of having the front vent open in an effort to stop the saloon steaming up. It was a battle – vent open, get wet, see where we’re going / vent closed, stay dry, no vision…………. So, we got wet..!! Approaching the new Severn Bridge the weather started to cheer up noticeably and by the time we’d paid our £5.30 to cross into Wales the rain had stopped, the wind had died down and the skies were clearing. We pulled into Magor services nice and early, settling down for a coffee to wait for the others. By 10:30 6 other cars gathered, we were all given excellent route guides & maps and we set off on a 35 mile tour through some of the most beautiful scenery South Wales has to offer. We soon got off the main roads and found ourselves climbing past the magnificent Celtic Manor golf course which will be the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2010. After passing through Caerleon (much to the fascination of some locals) we took a turn onto some narrow roads before skirting Cwmbran. We were climbing all the time and soon had a very long slow drag up a hill that was just too tough for second, so a quick snatch into first followed by a long grind to the top. The roads were very wet from all the previous rain and it was tough going at times. We soon took a short break at the start of the mountain road, bitterly cold in the wind and were soon on the way down into Pontypool with rows & rows of grey miners cottages and evidence of a long lost industrial past. Away from the urban landscape we were soon climbing up the single track mountain road with views developing all around us. Through fords surprisingly deep, across cattle grids and up lengthy first-gear climbs, we were soon out on the mountain proper where on a good day (although not this day!) it is said it is possible to see both Severn Bridges. For some miles we continued across the mountain before dropping down into the small town of Blaenavon, past more evidence of industrial history long since past. It is so apparent that the economy of all these little mountain towns came from underground in the form of coal & minerals. The 35 miles took us about two hours and we enjoyed some terrific scenery en route despite the weather. We arrived together at Big Pit, parking as a group before assembling for a trip underground. The ‘Big Pit’ at Blaenavon was a working pit until recently and now offers visitors the chance to descend the 300 feet (90 metres) into the narrow, cramped tunnels & coalfaces. We had to get kitted up with hard hats, miner’s lamps and a breathing unit before leaving behind everything electrical (cameras, phone, watches etc) that could cause a spark & explosion The underground tour takes the best part of an hour and was really interesting and informative. Amelia had a chance to become a ‘trapper’ operating the doors, we heard lots of stories and even had a chance to visit the stables where the pit ponies lived 51 weeks of the year working in darkness (they had one week a year ‘holiday’ in the daylight whilst the mine took its annual shut down). We were all amazed at just how dark & cramped it was underground. Back on the surface we had a bite to eat together before heading back towards England where, almost unbelievably, the bad weather started again as we crossed the Severn Bridge! All in all, a very good day was had by all – Helly couldn’t believe quite how much she’d enjoyed herself and was glad to have attended despite the fact she initially didn’t get excited about visiting ‘an old coal mine’! Monsieur Alfonse behaved perfectly despite very difficult conditions and yet again we were chuffed with the friendliness shown by fellow 2CVers. Report by Seve & Helly Doel, Swindon Association of Snails
photo courtesy Seve & Helly Doel (Swindon Association of Snails)
photo courtesy Seve & Helly Doel (Swindon Association of Snails)
photo courtesy Seve & Helly Doel (Swindon Association of Snails)
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