Wet and windy Wales - well that was what we were expecting and our journey up on Thursday night didn't lead us to believe the weather would be any different, but we must have had the gods smiling down on us, as we were treated to some great weather after Friday morning. We had hired a Peugeot 308 to make the drive up to Wales for the Easter break and after loading the car with enough gear to last a few weeks, including two Ironhorse montainbikes and a road bike, we headed off (via Sainsbury's to get the obligatory nibbles) on our long, long, long journey to the land of the valleys.
We left just after 7pm and with Grant at the wheel we tackled the London traffic. As usual I was armed with the Independent, Cycling Weekly and enough reading material to keep the conversation healthy and for poor Grant, also pretty relentless.
Having made good time it was all very quickly lost after we arrived at Welshpool and sadly found ourselves going round in circles. What ever happened to road signs - it was as though they had all been removed and replaced with sheep. We phoned Al & Raph only to hear that they too had made the same error and were also lost somewhere in the welsh hills.
Arrival at the log cabin was a relief and at 1.40am we were tired, irritated and hungry.
Day 1 - Morning
White Water Rafting
Friday morning and we headed up to Bala (The National White Water rafting Centre) for our hour long session dancing on the rapids. www.ukrafting.co.uk. It was cold and wet, but we were all excited, if not a little nervous about our impending adventure. Our instructor Elliot kitted us out with the wetsuit and boots and we headed off to the changing rooms to try and squeeze into them. Needless to say one of us put the wetsuit on backwards - oops.
After instruction on how to hold the paddles and how to dive for cover when needed we all helped to carry the raft onto the trailer, before jumping into the van and heading off to the top of the river for our first run. The water was ice cold and the thought of getting immersed in it was filling me with trepidation. Our first run however, was great fun although i am not too sure it was fun for the canoeist we managed to submerge. Thankfully she did re-appear after what seemed like ages underwater and under our raft. I am reliably informed that Al did not bash the canoeist over the head in order to get her out of our way - yes, yes ,yes Al, i believe you.
We were then introduced to the wonders of 'surfing'. We had to position the raft in such a way that we could keep the raft in one position while riding the 'white water' - (you see i know all the technical terms - not) we did this successfully on our first run and with a little encouragement from our instructor. Raph and Al were in the front and we were treated to them being completely submerged for what seemed like ages. The cold water gushing over the top of them made Grant and I laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh, but our laughter soon turned to sheer horror as on the second run and with Grant and myself in the front this time, the raft was steered into such a position that the instructor, with encouragement from Raph & Al, (Booooooooo) kept us under the gushing water for much longer. Apparently i was trying to get out of the raft in sheer panic - me? never :)))))
The highlight of the morning for Grant was hitting the showers. Full to the brim of pubescent young pups who seemed to appear from nowhere and subsequently took over the showers in a rush to defrost. After rafting for the morning we headed to Coed Y Brenin for a quick spin on the mtbs.
Day 1 - Afternoon
Coed Y Brenin
We arrive at Coed Y Brenin and changed into our gear in the car park. Once we had set-up the bikes we hit the Temtiwr Trail (PDF) Click to download. (red route). It was a chance to get our mountain bike legs back as we had all been roading for past few months. We knew what to expect and it didn't disappoint. Al and I set off over the rocky path that makes up the first section and in our eagerness and excitement we rode the whole of the first section before we realised that Raph and Grant were nowhere to be seen.
I waited by the trail and Al went back via the road to see where they were and after what seemed like ages Al appeared down the trail with the boys in tow. We were duly told off for leaving them :(((((((( Bad Al (though she did get to ride the first section twice).
Day 2
Morning - Road Ride to Dyflie.
Next morning I decided to wake up early and take the road bike out for a spin up into the hills.
It was 7.30am and the sun was out, the birds whistling and the little lambs bounding around the grassy hills, watching me as i climbed slowly up the road. It was one long climb up to Dyflie. Everyone else preferred some more hours shut-eye. The lazy bastards.
It was a great way to start the day and I continued further up towards the top, birds of prey hovering over the hills. The ride back was fast, though i was expecting breakfast to be ready - infact no one had got up out of bed apart from Grant, who had taken on the role of 'fire-maker'.
Day 2 -Afternoon
Centre: Nant Y Arian
Trail name: Syfydrin Trail
Distance: 35km
Climbing: 670m
The Snow Queen going about her business.
The Edwards Brothers about to 'Snowball'
Hey look! I can ride without falling off - Is this my best side?
Al got cold feet - literally and ended up taking off her shoes and socks and dancing around to get them warm. Great look :))))) This was after we had pelted down 'The Mark Of Zorro' which was an awesome descent - brought a smile to all our faces. :)))
Day 3
Mach 3
Centre: Machynlleth
Distance: 30km
Climbing: 500m
http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/machynlleth_mach3.html
http://www.dyfimountainbiking.org.uk/machroutes.html
On the way to Machynlleth we stopped at the viewpoint to look at the magnificant views across to Snowden.
Having cycled The Climachs last year we wanted to try Mach 3 this time. Fortunatley we bought an ordnance survey map before we headed off, as even though the route is waymarked, the signs are often hard to see and having taken
one wrong turn, which ended up with us cycling halfway up a bloody mountian road, we were eventually able to get back on the right track.
Finally we found the route and could start our epic ride into the hills.
Beautiful trees, cute bridges and the smell of pine as we rode through the log piles as we steadily
climbed and climbed and climbed. yes guys, its a long way to the top. :))))
Pirate Grant resting before the next long ascent.
Grant & Al wending their way up the climb.
Raph - not at the top yet mister - take a rest why don't you.
Al was fed up and it wa going to take some encouragement to get her over the gate - she was having a bad day - no biking mojo - and this from the demon biker who normally blasts off up the hills without even a 'goodbye' lol.
After the long climb we were up on to the moors with a great view back down to the logs that we had
past on the climb up.
The view back down to the valley was amazing and at the bottom of the photo you can see
the log piles that we had climbed through earlier in the day.
The chute
A decent descent that is just a carpet of slate and the pictures actually make it look really tame, but in reality it is as though the trail has been sprinkled with slate slabs at acute angles. It is fun, but you need to concentrate and keep your speed under control, as falling on the slate would have been messy.
Some nice grassy descents back towards Machynlleth.
Al checking out the Frogs Spawn in the water by the gate.
Grant taking a welcome break on way back to Machynlleth and giving a little plug for Edwards Cycles.
Mmmmm - I am hungry after all that riding. Lamb and mint sauce anyone?
Day 3
Evening Easter Egg Hunt
Al organised an easter egg hunt and hid loads of eggs around the garden for raph, grant and i to find. Of course it became quite competitve - all rushing around the gaden like children trying to find as many as possible, then sitting smugly back in the chalet, eating chocolate for the rest of the eve. Bliss
Day 4 - The Final Day
Raph, Grant and I went for a morning spin into the hils close to cabin. It was a slightly damp day, but the drizzle was welcome and helped to cool us down as we climbed through the forest. The climb led us up thought the forest on a slate track and up onto the top of the moors. Very windy but a great feeling riding through the heather.
Grant - Aren't we supposed to be riding , not pushing, after all
Raph is taking a photo and we need to look like we are good at this shit.
The view down towards the slate quarry was amazing and nearly as amazing as the ride down. The grassy track was very slippery but exhilerating.
Once we were back it was bikes down to the stream for a quick wash. (that's the bikes not us).
I dropped the sponge in the stream and had to dash to the other end of the stream to catch it before it disappeared forever, oh what fun we had lol.
Al and Raph took control of the kitchen and provided some very nice dinners and breakfasts (great one guys)
Grant supervised the porridge and i managed to rustle up scrambled egg. On suggesting that the butter on the muffins was not spread enough, I was confronted with a number of fingers as i was taking photographic evidence.
Grant supervised the porridge and i managed to rustle up scrambled egg. On suggesting that the butter on the muffins was not spread enough, I was confronted with a number of fingers as i was taking photographic evidence.
Looks amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. i wish i went. :(
ReplyDeleteWe need to get you an mtb mister :))))
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