I rode Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 38.16km, time: 01:33:12, pace: 2:27min/km, speed: 24.57km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2792221178
The going was good but it seems to have brought my cold back. It’s odd because I felt fine during, but after, all achey. It’s down to timing, and this one wasn’t right.
–8°C start, then warmth came through steadily. Mostly sunny once hill fog burnt off.
A very long day’s walk, it turned out later.
A cold night: g knew it would get cold, it reached -8°C by about 4am. I piled on all the layers g could but no more would fit in the sleeping bag. That bag liner was helpful.
First summit. Carnedd Llewelyn 1034m in hill fog but milky sun was trying to break through. Navigation was easy enough using slope aspect and my newly repaired compass.
Ridges and cornices:
Do I need to spell out how utterly beautiful the views were? I went for a few reasons
The walkout was, perhaps a little too long. However, I was driven right to the end by the urge to get back to the car before dark.
Bethesda: the route skirted the edge of the village because the ideal route is impassible. There have been no repairs to destroyed bridges on th sites Caseg forcing a detour West.
Rhaeadr Fawr (Aber Falls): I’m not normally so impressed by waterfalls but this one (two) make it onto my recommended list. There is a well made path leading in from the north for tourists. Of course, I got there by the cross-country route from the south west.
Long walkout: The rest of the route is a long slog back to the car. The paths are nice enough, and as it turns out, the setting sun cast a fine golden light over the land.
Kit to remember next time: where did I put those little micro-towels? I had the wrong kind of gas too. This stuff had no pressure in the cold.
6°C start sunny patches. No wind.
Hiking in semi-winter conditions. The theme here is ‘no planning’. My first idea for a start was changed because of a closed road. There map a cross country running event that forced closures. Other people having adventures.
The next obvious car-park is far more remote near a roman road. It’s along track with very steep bits and all single-track. At the car-park, I got chatting to an elderly woman who wanted to hike there despite her recent his replacement. She keeps these years secret from her physician. I could have chatted more, but it was 12 and time to go.
I’m trying to use the Carneddau as a horseshoe. So far, the idea has worked. I’m now camped in the Lee of Carnedd Lleweddlyn by a crash site. It’s cold, the sky has cleared and temperature has plummeted. Inside the tent is +1°C. Outside must be 5 below that. No wind though. Utter peace but no animals. I miss them.
This picture is taken on Foel-Fras in the Mountain Rescue hut. Don’t worry, I only went in to brew a cuppa. Despite there being ice on the inside walls, it felt considerably warmer than outside. I headed for the lake on the east where we wild-camped on my ML training course, summer before last.
7°C, rain.
Pitched near Betwys-y-coed on the banks of the R. Conwy. Can’t really tell how good this place is because I arrived in the dark. Tonight’s rain should be the last of it this weekend.
9°C, still with clear blue.
I rode Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 35.11km, time: 01:25:47, pace: 2:27min/km, speed: 24.56km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2761348144
Set a brisk pace after a good day with other stuff that has gone well today.
12°C, white cloud and moderate S breeze.
I rode the Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 90.50km, time: 04:05:31, pace: 2:43min/km, speed: 22.12km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2757600181
Late start but a decent length ride that’s only possible with these later sunsets. This has been a refreshing spring day.
8°C, light S breeze, light cloud.
I rode Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 49.59km, time: 02:03:55, pace: 2:30min/km, speed: 24.01km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2747744446
Running at speed, I had a very enjoyable spin. Once I passed my new house, I headed south along the coast rode and faced this amazing atmospheric effect. There was a fan of crepuscular rays reading down beyond the pier. The most remarkable part, in my opinion, is that the rays didn’t seem to suite touch the sea. They ran out of energy in an impossible way. ‘Beautiful’ describes it mildly.
7°C, brisk SE wind mostly dry but misty and dull.
I rode Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 70.64km, time: 03:24:16, pace: 2:54min/km, speed: 20.75km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2743892431
While most of the rest of this country is clearing up after snow storms, our snow is long gone. We’re under return polar maritime air. This airmass gap travelled tens of thousands of miles over sea collecting water vapour as it went. Now it’s gloomy, misty though slightly warmer.
This ride included a cafe stop where I thought over life’s troubles. On the table was a copy of Pro Cyclist. A magazine with some in-depth features including an analysis of the ways sleep is affected by athletic training. It’s relevant to me. I’m currently writing this at 04.20, a time that I’m usually awake and up.
2°C white cloud and strong E. Windchill very significant.
I hiked with MapMyRide+! Distance: 12.95km, time: 02:27:16, pace: 11:22min/km, speed: 5.28km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2740750153
It looks as though it’s about to drop into the water.
Lancashire has a crack in it.
There are rows of these grooves, probably cut to prevent flooding in the middle of these very flat fields.
All day, that wind was a feature on this open route. Some sections were sheltered but not many. They provided some respite and reassured of in my choice of clothing. I wore the same as the Ainsdale dune route a few da p ago when it was a good 4°C colder. Today felt colder. Feeling slightly cold for a long time takes a very long time to warm up again. A factor to consider for ML assessment this summer.
+1 to +5°C, sharp ESE wind. Dry with bright blue sky.
I rode Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 80.44km, time: 03:53:29, pace: 2:54min/km, speed: 20.67km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2729584762
In today’s Daily Mirror, the subheadline is ‘Temperatures colder than the Arctic’. What a stupid, blatant lie. They’ve printed that one before. It’s only a few degrees below in the UK.
I didn’t expect the photo to come out so badly. The lens must have steamed up. This is taken at CafeVelo which is by two small lakes. A very nice cyclist cafe, a good replacement for The Beehive by Rosliston.
By the time I got there, about 10, most of the ice had gone but the wind picked up. My feet and fingertips were cold. Actually, it felt as though there were pebbles inside my shoes. A cafe stop was essential to warm up.
The next leg, I could enjoy a tailwind and enjoy the scenery. The light is wonderful today and the roads, quiet.
Anyway, I set off for an early one. What spectacular weather, the light was sharp which cart deep incised shadows. All was tinged with blue from the cloudless sky.
Micycle 