![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Picture9.png?resize=860%2C623\")
\nPreparation – Iain was meticulous
\nin planning the outing and created
\na WhatsApp group to keep all
\ninformed. However, three of the
\ngroup didn\u2019t know how to use WhatsApp. One of the
\nthree asked what\u2019s WhatsApp? Iain explained it was
\na modern way of communicating with all in the group
\nthrough iPhone. He went on to recommended taking
\nbottled water, a snack and Tena. Iain kindly agreed to
\nbulk buy a pack of 10 Tena pads from Amazon.
\nEveryone turned up at Barry station in good time for
\nthe train. Three of the group took the lift from
\nPlatform 1 to Platform 3, all with walking sticks. An
\nold \u2018Sprinter\u2019 train was the journey to Bridgend
\nstation. The Bridgend \u2018Turbostar\u2019 train to Maesteg
\nwent well and the return journey to Cardiff, in time
\nfor lunch.
\nPrior to lunch at Cardiff, a decision had to be made
\non choice of journey for the third leg. The choice was
\nbetween Rhymney or Ebbw Vale. Rhymney was
\nconsidered the best choice, as it was a two-hour
\nreturn journey, whereas Ebbw Vale was almost four
\nhours; and by this time several in the group were
\nflagging, mainly those with walking sticks.
\nSo, Rhymney it was to be. To the delight of the group
\nthe Rhymney train arriving at Platform 6 was a
\nTransport for Wales brand new train, named the
\n\u2018Flirt\u2019. Gareth Williams was tickled by this name.
\nHalf an hour into the Rhymney journey, one in the
\ngroup started mincing along the carriage; we all knew
\nwhy. Tena saved the day until the location of the
\nonboard toilet in the new train was found. Iain
\npointed out that the Rhymney train terminated at
\nPenarth. Mike Harvey provided a fact of interest, that
\nRhymney is one of the poorest towns in Europe,
\nwhile Penarth is one of the wealthiest towns in
\nEurope. Mike is always correct with his facts.
\nOn the one-hour return to Cardiff, we became rather
\nnoisy, with whimsical observations. It took the
\ngroup\u2019s Barrister to warn that we speak quietly. No
\nsooner had he spoken, that he uttered the most risqu\u00e9
\nremark of the outing on a passing young passenger.
\nThe group\u2019s vixen came into her own and told him to
\nshut up.
\nArriving at Cardiff Central from Rhymney on
\nPlatform 8 required a change of platform to the Barry
\ntrain. The same three who took a lift in Barry station
\nat the start of our outing, took a lift to change
\nplatforms in Cardiff. Easy. Not so! Exiting the lift at
\nground level, they became completely disoriented,
\nalmost missing the Barry train. This was the only
\nmishap of the outing.
\nThe final train journey was to
\nBarry, leaving from Platform 6
\nfor the 96 bus to Wenvoe. It
\nwas a great day-out, made
\nbetter by all trains being on
\ntime.
\nObservations – It was a journey
\nthat showed a wedge of the
\ndiversity of south Wales. This
\neven included the weather. It
\nwas warm when we departed
\nWenvoe and remained so along
\nthe coastal belt to Bridgend and Cardiff. The mean
\nannual temperature in Cardiff is 14 \u00a9, and higher up
\nthe South Wales valleys it is 11 \u00a9. Therefore, more
\nthan a coincidence it became cloudier and cooler the
\ncloser we got to the towns of Maesteg and Rhymney.
\nMaesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi
\nValley, and Rhymney towards the northernmost end
\nof the Rhymney Valley.
\nThe railway-line of each valley snugs the western
\nside of the mountain. Reduced speed as the train
\nprogressed up the valleys, due to stations being just
\nseveral miles apart, allowed views of farms, villages
\nand towns. Being late Spring came the beautiful
\ngreenery of the valleys. Of interest was how close the
\ntrains were, in many places, to rail-side trees brushing
\nthe carriages. Further from the coastal belt, in both
\nvalleys, there were increasing signs of bygone
\nindustries.
\nThank you, Iain\u2026By next morning Iain had received
\nseven plaudits on WhatsApp. The other three who
\nstill couldn\u2019t use WhatsApp thanked him in person at
\nour Friday, Silver Fox meeting.<\/p>\n