Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

Before you wonder, my phone was not unlocked in my pocket while I was riding. Among other things l, Wales is also famous for the town with the longest name. A kind of marketing excercise that worked well.

I wished to visit that town just for the fun of taking a photo or two but Apple Maps sidetracked me. You see, when you look for that town on Maps, it will show you that’s not far from Cardiff, while actually is on the north peninsula. The town would have been just few minutes away from Great Orme (where I was yesterday) but now I was already far away from it.

Destiny was going to reserve me a fantastic surprise anyway. About two hours were separating me from Cardiff, Wales’s capital. The route was fabulous, with a bunch of sheeps eating on the roadside.

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After many kilometres, I found a bakery in a small town and got something to drink. Beside the bread and sweets, they had also savoury things like mini steak pies.

I kept riding and as I was approaching Cardiff, I found a sign for a panoramic view and parked in front of a café. Next to me, three charming 1960s Italian Lambrettas were attracting all the attention. I checked around and saw three gents conversing at a sunny table, so I asked: Gents, are those yours?

Kevin, Steve and Justim smiled and nodded, asking me, based on Lollo’s number plate, if I was from Germany and what I was doing there. As soon as it came out I was actually Italian, we began to bond. We talked about bikes, football and more and I learned how they are part of a scooter club called “Old-s-cool” (brilliant name!), driving around sometimes with up to fifteen Lambrettas. When I shared, I was going to visit Cardiff, they offered me to show me around. I was so happy and off we went. The smell of their two-stroke engines brought me back to my childhood. Let me give a glimpse of how it felt driving with them.

They brought me to a peaceful park with Victorian atmosphere, called Roath Park. Kevin offered me an ice cream and told me the story of the lighthouse monument, erected in memory of Scott’s expedition to the South Pole.

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I thought our encounter was going to end there, but they went out of their way and escorted me to the city center. We managed to park in the pedestrian area. It was school graduation day, so lots of people where walking by and watching the nice Lambrettas while Lollo didn’t really get much attention 😁

While Steve and Justin remained next to the bikes, Kevin walked me through the streets, showing me Cardiff Castle, the Stadium, the Market. All accompanied by interesting insights, including a pub belonging to Garteh Bale.

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Cardiff has a wonderful laid back atmosphere that I’ll never forget. When Kevin and I had returned to the bikes, Justin handed me over an wonderful hat with Wales’s colors as a gift. Attched on it, was the pin of their motorclub. What a fantastic gesture 😊

It doesn’t happen very often to meet such incredible people. Their friendship and hospitality was outstanding. We kept talking for a while sipping coffess that Steve had offered us. I didn’t want to leave that magic moment but the sun was slowly descending and I still had about 3h to drive.

We hugged and I promised to show them around if they’ll ever come to Germany or Rome. As a final gesture, they even drove with me till the exit of the city. What a exquisite group of gentlemen. Thanks again for the good memories of Cardiff.

I was heading back to England to visit Ross again. On the way the sign of Donington Castle. For a second I hoped to be next to the famous racing track but that’s actually further up north.

Kevin, Steve and Justin made my day and confirmed my very positive impressions about Wales: I’m going to be back one day. Thanks gents.