I would like to start off by thanking all those manning the controls. I felt welcome at everyone and whoever thought of putting apple pie and custard on the menu gets my sincere thanks
I rode with Lee, Chillmoister, Urban biker and was later joined by Pompey Phil.
Ok to be honest I can't recall much of the beginning only noting the hills being gentle slopes on decent tarmac. Fairly early on we were passed by another rider who within a few words,we discovered was MR P Phil.
Anyways we made are merry way to that hostel. I don't recall when the rain appeared but it was forecast and it didn't disappoint.Hear I received a real boost as I thought my bag had been left behind. But there it was like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
One thing that really struck me on the early part was the wind. Even though on our backs turned what should have been a magical descent(no rain bonus)into a noisey debacle that practically had as blown backwards grrrrr
This was abit of theme throughout the ride descents ruined by the weather.
So to Menai. The road out of Barmouth was good blast. Myself,Lee and Pompey Phil found a decent bus shelter and waited for Chillmoister and Urbanbiker to catch up. It turned out they missed the crossing over the bridge.
Then on to Harlech and we watched what turned out to be another biblical downpour approach. The views across the beach were wonderful with the backdrop of Snowdonia National Park shrouded in cloud.
Again it was a blur but I do remember the climb up to the Pen Y Pass.Checking out the lights behind and above us. But as we turned the courner to the final part we hit rain and wind.This it turned out was enough for Pompey Phil to quit. That left myself and Lee to get down the llanberis pass. That was a horrible descent I was shivering and the handlebars were twitching as a result.
Menai control I overshot but eventually found it. Never has soup been so important. It looked more like a refugee camp.
Then the ride back to the hostel with a promise of a warm bed. For me also the first time I would have ridden through the night. So something to think about other than the cold and wet night.
We came into the hostel at about 17:30 ish. Seeing other riders come out I thought to myself they will get the benefit of a dryer ride. So a bite to eat and to ma bed. One hour later" 07:00 gentlemen" was heard. God knows how but I dragged my poor body out of bed.
So off we all set. Stopping briefly down the road to get,yes wet weather gear on.
Now the wind was on our faces, and the higher we got the worst both wind and rain became. I was slightly ahead and with my head down pushed up Cader Idris I was met by first rain and wind which turned to hail it really really stung my head and when I looked down my thigh were white with sleety stuff.
I hadn't noticed but the others behind had taken shelter out of this.I had no choice I couldn't stop up there as there was no shelter.
Going down the other side was same as Llanberis but I managed to spy a telephone box and so hid in there out of the punishing weather.
I waited for the others and when I saw Lee and Chillmoister appear I shoved off not realising that would be the last I saw of Lee.
Further down I regrouped with Chillmoister and Urban biker and we moved off and just on the horizon we could see that there was blue sky making a decent effort. This perked us up as we had a torrid time going through Cadir Idris . But just as the sky promised to turn blue we turned left into the Grey grrrrrr. Again we waited and were met by Els and John Spooner, it was nice to meet up and chat. There we had the text that Lee had packed-- unbelieveable. That had to be some scary stuff to make Lee pack.
So up a incline building up our temperature and also on top of that the sun came out .I felt warm for the first time on the bike for ages, I introduced myself and joined John Spooner for the climb up . Things were looking considerably better than they were about forty mins ago.
So now we had genuine belief we could finish. We had to keep an eye on the time though. So make hay while the sun shine, so the charge to Chepstow began.
We rode on and on , Urban biker had a moment but we convinced him to keep going , what choice did he have I told him. So some food and extra layer and he was good to go. I had to take caffeine tablets at that stage as I was dropping off.
Aberfshap control came and some very welcome apple pie and custard really sorted me. The next push to Woeberly was another one of those blurs but we were clock watching now. We met are regular riders at Woeberly . The guys on the trikes impressed me. But we were all in the same boat keeping an eye on the time.So we didn't hang around.
We left Woeberly at about 17:50 in dry weather with a head wind. I predicted as the sun went so would the wind , and it did. So we had dry weather and no head wind ...... at last. A nasty little hill came out of nowhere but I was told by the trike crowd that was the last of its kind this side of Chepstow. However it did pay off as for the first time I managed a descent that was truely deserved.
Now we only had the 24k to Chepstow it was starting to get dark. But that road was perfect and we had good speed. On and on don't stop.The rain came again but I didn't care I had that 619k in my sights and hell and high water wasn't going to stop me now. I raced up that hill from Tintern I was behind Chillmoister but his bright red leds flashing on top on of the mist was begining to have a weird effect on me. I went past and had clear road and a clear mind. But that damned hill never ends I kept pushing to the next corner only to see another one, it was starting to get to me big time but thankfully it started its descent. I spotted a red light and caught up with it. My route sheet holder thingy had jolted forward out of position and I needed the final route in.
The guy I caught up with was the one with the trousers tucked into the socks and he was wearing what I can only describe as his allotment gear and for the wet weather one of those all over cape/poncho thingy. I bet the bike was hued out of pig iron. Truely a man of steel.
So into the control with Chillmoister at about 10:30 with Urban Byker just behind.
We waited for our friend Els to come in she made it abit later.
But it was so nice to see our fellow lantern rouges come in ,ones we had been there or there abouts on the entire ride I was genuinely chuffed with them all.It was nice to see the joy on their faces. Hummers shook my hand and felt Chills bum , why not.I also received a handshake from John Spooner , I haven't washed it yet ;-) .
The Audax was only marred by the fact LEE who had been with us from my very first 100k and every audax apart from one , was not there to share it.I suspect it won't be the last BCM that Lee does.
I was bloody chuffed I had did my first 600k and quite rightly myself and Chill quaffed champagne at the travelodge.
Well done to Chillmoister and Urban Biker a magnificent achievement
