Author Topic: Welsh Coast-to-Coast (was "I may have some time on my hands...") (Read 22057 times)

Canardly · « **Reply #150 on:** 14 August, 2013, 11:00:53 pm »

Having seen Grahams vid of our last AH Ride I must start producing vids of our antics including rain and stuff........

Wowbagger · « **Reply #151 on:** 15 August, 2013, 06:03:09 am »

For me, bowel o'clock occurred at 5.50. Satisfactory outcome in terms of dampness and comfort. I just heard Kim trudge bogeards as I type.

I have had a recurrence of the sandal/little toe interface problem that gave me so much grief in Guernsey. It would appear to occur when my sandals are wet and my feet slide about in them. Plaster and trainers for me today.

Kim · « **Reply #152 on:** 15 August, 2013, 06:38:50 am »

That was well timed trudging, coinciding as it did with a brief gap in the rain.

Jasmine · « **Reply #153 on:** 15 August, 2013, 10:08:09 am »

Quote from: nikki on 13 August, 2013, 09:23:59 am

Thanks for the bon voyages everyone, and for the local knowledge Jasmine.

I've had a go at re-doing the Porth Colmon - Bangor route accordingly:
http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://gpx.npugh.co.uk/routes/Machynlleth-Colmon-Bangor/Colmon-Bangor.gpx
Does that look about right?

I think Wow mentioned fancying the railway path in his emails, but I'll add the total alternative to the possibilities. I suspect there'll be a certain amount of deciding as we go along!

Yes, that's the one. I hope the weather improves for you.

Kim · « **Reply #154 on:** 15 August, 2013, 02:26:56 pm »

We're in Dolgellau, after playing leapfrog with a post van and a fair bit of pushing. It's stopped raining for a bit.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #155 on:** 15 August, 2013, 02:49:49 pm »

Hope you continue to have fun and Wow's toes don't get bitten by any watery creatures. I think quite a bit of your rain has come over here today.

andrewc · « **Reply #156 on:** 15 August, 2013, 04:36:38 pm »

Quote from: Kim on 15 August, 2013, 02:26:56 pm

We're in Dolgellau, after playing leapfrog with a post van and a fair bit of pushing. It's stopped raining for a bit.

That makes me remember the reasons I don't tour in Wales so often, despite living a days ride from the place....

Kim · « **Reply #157 on:** 15 August, 2013, 10:14:06 pm »

We're in a campsite north of Harlech that I can't spell. having to get creative to achieve an Internet connection. the metaphorical string is the only dry thing here.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #158 on:** 15 August, 2013, 10:58:23 pm »

Barcdy campsite, Talsarnau.

It has been pissing down all evening. We arrived at the campsite like three drowned rats and when I wait about special rates for cycling campers the nice lady in reception recorded us as an adult and two children. We are still arguing about whosoever turn it is to be the adult.

I don't think I have ever heard such heavy rain from inside s tent.

Kim · « **Reply #159 on:** 15 August, 2013, 11:08:17 pm »

It was practically screaming with rain about 5 minutes ago.

My tent has a small leak from the top vent zip (not the seam which I previously sealed). I have placed sacrificial soggy clothing under it.

Kim · « **Reply #160 on:** 15 August, 2013, 11:26:36 pm »

I've just found a slug slugging it's way up my inner tent. Make sure you seal anything you don't want snotted up in the gastropod apocalypse...

Wowbagger · « **Reply #161 on:** 16 August, 2013, 03:00:50 am »

It is still raining very heavily. Kim's description "screaming" is about right. If tha wE a 10 it's 7 or 8 now.I am thinking about the lavatory but it is not urgent enough yet.

Is there a severe weather warning about this? The rain, I mean, not my bowels.

Kim · « **Reply #162 on:** 16 August, 2013, 04:16:04 am »

Bladder o'clock and there was a convenient gap in the rain. I can hear an owl owling noisily. No more obvious slugs yet.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #163 on:** 16 August, 2013, 06:58:23 am »

Some interesting typoes above. I need a phone with a bigger screen .

Rain clearing by dawn a.d a warm sunny day ahead.

Basil · « **Reply #164 on:** 16 August, 2013, 07:23:33 am »

Good morning Campers. Your "screaming rain" has just reached Brum. Just in time for the commute.
Looks like your weather will be much better today. Maybe you'll be able to dry some stuff out in time for it to get wet again on Saturday.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #165 on:** 16 August, 2013, 08:42:21 am »

So who's being the adult today? Children can ride bikes, camp, sing silly songs and eat cake. The only bonus to being the adult would be drinking beer, which Kim and Nikki don't do (?) so clearly it has to be Wowbagger the adult. Which means the beard is a joke one - which of you is going to pull it off?

Wowbagger · « **Reply #166 on:** 16 August, 2013, 09:03:33 pm »

I think I found today the toughest, which is a bit odd as I rode less than 40 miles and had less climbing to do. It was quite sunny, we were on busier roads and for most of the day there was a headwind. The weather had closed in as well,so I didn't feel like a swim.

At least the tent is dry and I have some clean cycling shorts.

I have been rudely and wetly interrupted by Millie, a 4 month old Labrador pup, who came and leapt on me a few minutes ago.

Now, shower time.

Kim · « **Reply #167 on:** 16 August, 2013, 10:17:30 pm »

Meanwhile, after the best part of 5 hours on a train, I'm back in the land of megabit bandwidth, PM10s and car alarms. My smelly kit has been washed, and we've checked the tent for slugs and frogs.

Some photos:

While I was failing to tweet that one due to lack of 3G reception, a man came up and said "It's wales luv".

Campsite opposite the CAT at Llwyngwern Farm

Rain at Bryn Bwbach (it got *much* heavier, but after dark).

From the causeway at Porthmadog.

The first couple of hours of the train journey were actually quite nice, as it re-traced a lot of the route in better weather conditions:

Bryn Bwbach in the sun.

Barmouth.

A little taste of home...

(The rest are here, and doubtless more to follow when those with better cameras return to civilisation.)

andrewc · « **Reply #168 on:** 16 August, 2013, 10:52:08 pm »

Excellent picture of Wowbagger, dramatically pointing at the scenery.

(I'm less keen on the one of his builders crack, but whatever turns you on...

)

Wowbagger · « **Reply #169 on:** 17 August, 2013, 02:59:40 am »

Because of the slope of the pitch we had he allocated, I had to pitch head-into-the-wind, which has now risen quite a bit. It hssn't started raining though, so I took advantage and had an early bowel o'clock. There is neither light nor hot water in the bogs.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #170 on:** 17 August, 2013, 06:25:31 pm »

After 30 miles of torrential rain we have abandoned camping and have booked into a b and b around the corner from Caernarfon castle. We are showered, are wearing warm, dry clothes and have eaten cyri. Nikki has two broken spoke and my rear tyre is a little saggy.

A mere 10 miles tomorrow and I will be on the train.

Canardly · « **Reply #171 on:** 17 August, 2013, 07:48:03 pm »

It is still drop dead gorgeous though but.....

Wowbagger · « **Reply #172 on:** 17 August, 2013, 08:38:10 pm »

I was impressed by the A499 cycle path. It continued far beyond Clynnog Fawr but at the point at which it ended, there were no signs inviting cyclists to use the minor roads to the west of the A499.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #173 on:** 17 August, 2013, 09:38:27 pm »

Just 9 miles to do to Bangor tomorrow and then the ride is over, apart from visiting my brother in Shrewsbury tomorrow night. I think the final mileage will be a over 270. Total climbing = lots.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #174 on:** 18 August, 2013, 03:22:25 pm »

On the appointed train. There will be a detailed report when I get home and sufficient time to do it justice.

All in all a great ride made all the better by the company of Kim and Nikki. Drumbeg road next year?