King Offa - did he have the right idea?

At last I have a free weekend and the sun was shining on Saturday. A quick call to Lindsay, and we were offa to Knighton on the Shropshire/Powys border. I decided to plot a route on my new Garmin 390 - directly on the unit itself instead of using Tyre or Basecamp. We took a route via Much Wenlock/Craven Arms/ and headed toward Welshpool/Newtown leaving the 390 to correct us until we curved back through Clun and down to Knighton. Saw a few other bikes out today, one group in hi-viz jackets were really on it, could only just catch up with them before losing them later in a cloud of dust.

With the EU Referendum debate raging on about us restricting migration, and all the other good reasons to come out of the EU, my thoughts turned to King Offa, who is reported to have had a similar idea in the 8th Century while trying to protect 'Mercia' from invaders coming from the West. He built a great mound of earth across the border between what is now England and Wales.    

Find out more about King Offa and his Dyke here Offas Dyke

We had a bite to eat in an odd but very pleasant bookshop/cafe I only wish I had taken the name of. 

[ update .. Here's a pic of the tea room from Google streetview. Thanks Lindsay ] 

It seemed to us the waiter was a night club bouncer and most of the staff helping out were his customers. Definitely recommend it's in the high street. Nice chap doing the cooking . South African I think. 

Cheer up Lindsay ! He looks more like King (F)Offa in this pose !!

Really pleased with the new Garmin 390LM, the trac-back, where have I been feature good for tracking your past routes and saving back for later !

Good day out, and pleased to get on the twisties of the Welsh Marches again.