We slowly packed up camp on Sunday, taking time to wander around and talk to friends before leaving. In a week we were going to rent a canal boat for a week cruise on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. More on that later. First we were going to head back to MotoCamp Wales and base some rides around Snowdonia National Park.
For the first night we decided to find a camp not too far away, the Pelerine Caravan & Camping Site, as I wasn’t feeling good. Years ago I had suffered with gallbladder issues. I was unable at that time to get it removed as we were headed to New Zealand for a ride. It was a good choice to not remove it, but I need to be careful. At times it will act up. I think the beer and food for the past few days really caught up with me. The following morning I just couldn’t move, the gut pain was so intense. Luckily it was off-season and the campground was empty. I was able to just moan and groan in our tent. Poor Melanie was just at a loss as to what to do. Plus another problem, one that can sometimes plague travelers on one bike. We soon ran out of food and the town was a distance away. Melanie couldn’t ride that bike, so we were stranded. The owner of the campground offered to take Melanie into town and to the store for supplies. The owners were fantastic and so caring. They even offered to take me to a clinic in town. I really didn’t want to die there, but I felt I knew what the issue was, and time would fix it. Luckily I was right, and after three days I was well enough to ride again.
We made it to MotoCamp and without an issue. There was a big tent set up that had been used for the wedding reception of friends Sofie and Sarah. We just set up in the tent and laid our sleeping pad on the straw. Perfect! Friends Lisa and Jason were there with Lisa getting some offroad riding instruction. They were departing on another big adventure. Watch it here, Four Wheeled Nomad. We did some exploring of Snowdonia and visited with the folks at MotoCamp and with Jason and Lisa. We even got some swimming in, although the water was a bit chilly.
Our time was cut short as I had some down days before we got to Wales. Next up was a week on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal on our 40 foot narrow boat that is about 8 foot wide. These boats are like a small camper, with a living area up front, a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. The boats putt along at about 2-4 miles per hour. A wooden tiller is on the back of the boat with access to all the controls. This canal is very narrow in places barely allowing two boat to pass each other. We were late in the season and the water levels were low making for an interesting journey, We frequently ran aground and had to pole off front and back. Add to that the canal was not very well maintained with bushes sometimes growing out to mid canal. Many times we would either run aground or be in the bushes as another boat passed. The curves were tight requiring Melanie to be in the front of the boat looking around a corner as we approached so as to not encounter another boat. It was a fun experience but we could having ended in three days, to be honest. The locks were very interesting. Due to elevation changes a lock, or series of locks, would either raise or lower your boat. The locks are old and are all manually operated, requiring a series of tasks to be preformed to lower or raise the water. Since I was the driver, Melanie was the one tasked at preforming the tasks. She was nervous at first but preformed brilliantly. Her bubbly personality won over many folks along the canal who helped us. With Melanie at the front and myself in the back, being 40 foot apart during the day while moving wasn’t fun at all. It then rained the last 3 days and we stood in the rain with a slicker on. Blaaa!! In the end we survived, had a good time and had finally done something we had wanted to do for years.
Finally after seven days on the canal we were back where we started and loaded up the bike and headed south the coast to catch the ferry to Spain. We were headed to Portugal to spend some time with good friends Ricardo and Sandra. They watch our bike for us while we are gone. Also, friends and Author, Motorcycle Adventurer at Throw Your Leg Over, Bridget and Alan from Down Under would be there also. We had a fun few days exploring the area and visiting. Sandra took us down to the city of Mafra to see the Palácio Nacional de Mafra, Portugal. The palace was built during the reign of King John V (1717–1750), as consequence of a vow the king made in 1711, to build a convent if his wife, Maria Anna of Austria, gave him offspring. The birth of his first daughter the Infanta Barbara of Portugal, prompted construction of the palace to begin. The construction was funded in large part from the proceeds of Colonial Brazil, where gold and then diamonds were mined in vast quantities. The palace was classified as a National Monument in 1910 and was also a finalist in the Seven Wonders of Portugal. On 7 July 2019, the Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building also includes a major library, with about 30,000 rare books. The basilica is decorated with several Italian statues and includes six historical pipe organs and two carillons, composed of 98 bells. The first bells, each weigh 625 ‘arrobas’ [1 arroba = 14,688 kg] or over 9,180 kg. At different times of the day and on special occasions the bells play songs. It was so beautiful to stand in front of the palace and listen to this amazing spectacle.
Time together with friends goes way too fast and soon we needed to leave for the airport and fly back to the US. We will all meet another time, that is always the hope.
Until the next adventure, Cheers.
2WANDRRs
2WANDRRs 
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