Wales - day 3

The Tudor Lodge operate a do-it-yourself continental breakfast scheme in their well-appointed basement dining room, which we took full advantage of before departing to head back to Manchester. In view of the incoming weather, we had planned only a couple of stops, the first of which was Betws-y-coed - another place I haven't visited for many years.

It now glories in having its own visitor centre and a wealth of touristy shops, but in the heavy rain nowhere looks at its best, and our desultory trudging was soon curtailed by a wish to retreat to the relative dryness of the car. We headed for Conw(a)y, where thankfully the rain left us alone for an hour or so as we parked, enjoyed a pint, walked along the seafront for a short distance and then happened across a brace of fish & chip restaurants.

With little to choose - apparently - between them, we took the advice of a local shopkeeper who happened to be loitering on his doorstep, and plumped for the one on the corner. His recommendation proved to be sound and we soon found ourselves on the outside of three plates of battered cod, chips and mushy peas. While we were eating the rain started up again, but once again fortune smiled on us and gave us another respite as we walked back to the car.

The last time I had a slow leak, I'd run the tyre for several months before getting it fixed. Determined not to make the same mistake again, we called in at National Tyre on the way home. A familiar concerned expression crossed the face of the tyre repair man and I thought "oh no, here we go again. Surely I can't have left it too late this time - it's only been going down for a couple of days."

But no, it wasn't too late. He was able to plug the rear tyre. No problem. That was the good news. The bad news? BOTH front tyres were severely worn on the inside - one exposing cords - and required immediate replacement, and the tracking adjusted.

Cost of the repair to the rear tyre: £8.81.
Total cost of the visit, including two new tyres, valves, balancing, tracking and disposal: £159.69.

What is it with me and tyres?