10

My daughter Jasmine is 10.

She has always enjoyed cycling, ever since her first bike, when she was 4.

She's not one to exert herself, though. I suspect what she likes most about cycling is that she can keep moving without pedalling when the gradient takes her.

Today, I needed to cycle to Tenby. My wife has been called up for a spot of urgent facepainting this afternoon, and was needing to replenish her stocks from Griggles.

I gave Jasmine the option of coming with me or not, and despite the threat of rain, she chose to come along.

There are some punishing hills along the route, the longest being the hill from Lamphey up to the Ridgeway. She took this one in her stride. We stopped halfway to catch our breath, but she soldiered on and completed it, much to my amazement. Along the top of the Ridgeway we had wind and drizzle, though not wet enough to warrant the wearing of waterproofs. Down into St Florence was a wild descent, and she managed to draw safely to a stop in front of an approaching car - hopefully the shock will teach him to curb his speed somewhat and be a bit less impatient. Other motorists were very kind and courteous to us.

Beyond St Florence, a few more shorter but steeper hills had her walking-and-pushing for short stretches, but it was a last resort. Going into Tenby is the shortest steepest nastiest hill of the lot. I turned round to find her cycling up it with ease!

We had comfortable time in which to do our shopping and get to the railway station in time for a train back to Pembroke Dock.

I gave her the option of getting the train all the way back, or getting off, either at Lamphey or Pembroke, and cycling the remaining distance. She elected to get off at Lamphey.

Bush Hill, between Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, is a killer. Even her mother cannot do the whole of Bush Hill. Jasmine did it! Now we're home again, she has wibbly legs, especially when coming down stairs. Now she wants to take her bike when we go camping!

One Proud Parent!