Bannau Brycheiniog (AKA the Brecon Beacons) and more… May 2023

Our season opening main event, and our first foray into the industrial and scenic wonders of South Wales. Taking advantage of the late May bank holiday weekend, we had a leisurely but full weekend of Eastern Bloc motoring based on the Brecon Beacons (now officially known as Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park.

As always, all vehicles with an Eastern Bloc pedigree (and their keepers) were invited to join us for all or part of the weekend.

Our thanks go to Georgina Wootten and Owen Burgess for using their local knowledge to entertain us with an excellent weekend of Eastern Bloc motoring.

NB: Photos are only approximately in correct order after being shuffled by WordPress!

Somewhere between Colchester and Merthyr Tydfil
Saturday: Ready to leave base camp at Merthyr.
The giant steam hammer at Blaenavon
Saturday: The UNESCO ironworks.
Saturday: Former miners’ cottages.
Under the blast furnace.
Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.
Dont ask (he’s Scottish!).
Big Pit, Blaenavon.
Ready to go underground.
Big Pit.
Big Pit.
Big Pit – the showers.
Big Pit – blacksmiths’ shop.
Trabant 1.1.
Skoda Octavia
Wartburgs 353 (joining us all the way from Berlin) and UK spec Knight.
View from the Oktavia.
Sunday: Ready to depart Merthyr.
Sunday: Ready to depart Merthyr.
Sunday: Happy David and John ready to depart Merthyr.
Sunday: Departing Merthyr.
Sunday: Classic car spotting from Llandovery Castle.
Nice Ural.
Sunday: Llandovery Castle.
Sunday: Llandovery Castle.
Sunday: Llandovery Castle.
Sunday: Llandovery Castle.
Sunday: Llandovery Castle.
Sunday: Ural leading the convoy.
Ice cream vans were strategically placed at each one of our stops.
Langsam – for our German guests.
Accurate signage.
Photo bombed by Sam.
Typical miners’ housing in the valleys.
Monday: Brecon Mountain Railway workshop – USA loco.
Another USA loco.
Event over – smiling participants (excluding those lured to the buffet and shop).
Returning East.
Not sure if Alex is feeling left out or disgusted.