Winter Event and BAM for Jan 23
David and I attended the event, clutching a carefully planned on/off road route, primarily to hit a bothy.
Neither of us was particularly match fit but very excited to enter this prestigious occasion for the first time, and it was David’s first Bear Bones gathering.
Dee introduced me to Kev (Raggedstone), a BaM chap from my neck of the woods, he from East of the Malverns, me from North, with talk of a future get together for a wild camp.
Stu handed me a BaM patch, for some coins. OMG I got one, in my world as much for fighting the procrastination as for the wild camping!
Following too much faffing around setting up bike and luggage (wish I had a van again!!) David and I set off south, then right at Dolgadfan.
Into a wonderful hilly world to Tal-y-Wern, Melinbyrhedin, eventually to a large forest, spilling out on the plain leading to the foothills of Pumlumon.
Crossed Afon Hengwm at the footbridge, brief look at a remarkable refuge, the copse bounded by a stone walled enclosure, and then came the mighty Nant y Llyn. Yes it presented itself as too deep and fast for us mortal bikers.
So, following a recce which established no better crossings, we each hatched a plausible plan:
Neil removed shoes, socks, lifted leggings, and threw said shoe over the watercourse (it worked once over a stream in summer). With too much effort applied, catching my fingers on exit, my first shoe went vertical, thence nose diving to sit like a boat on the fast flowing water. Sharp scream emitted, standing in disbelief as my shoe floated like the very unsinkable Titanic. Then it disappeared. Oh how do I explain this to the many gurus on the forum! But lo it reappeared picking up pace. With little disregard for slippery stones I was in, doing my Whim Hoff impression, standing in wait, hoping I could wrestle my sodden shoe. I did, thus saving some sort of survival situation, plus oodles of unknown kudos from the aforementioned learned gurus!! Could this event gain me an early award! I did actually throw my other shoe, using total concentration for success. Ultimately both attempts bordered on a court martial offence. My left shoe was dry and the right totally sodden.
David, reluctant to follow my lead, dug several black plastic bags from the depths of his luggage. Carefully placing his boot (attached to leg) in each bag, holding both with one hand he crossed, pushing his bike. Halfway across the current overcame his defence. The outcome wet boots too!
It was raining, we needed to get on. Following the track south, full of puddles and flowing water, ch lasting seemingly forever. Eventually the track was more cycleable, but again we hit a barrier, this time a herd of road dwelling cows. Neither of us is that good in their company so some tense moments ensued before they all decided to eat grass, as we weren’t particularly amusing anymore. We were now soaked and dark fell from the sky.
Its downhill all the way to Ponterwyd.
Then to a our planned hostelry, the George Borrows Hotel .
We sat by a roaring fire drinking and eating chips. And warming up. Muchly needed.
Conversation turned to the bothy. Would it be packed, should we use the pub camping field instead?
Correct decision made, we stopped at the nearby garage for sugary stuff and took the mainly uphill 3 miles with ease. Komoot navigated us easily to Nant Syddion which appeared lifeless, nevertheless a wonderful sight even in the pitch black. Our intended destination welcomed us with rooms galore. Yet no inhabitants! A veritable five star establishment, dry and spacious. Much food and drink, then a reasonable night’s sleep, and a late rising. We enjoyed the experience.
Breakfast took up the morn drinking tea and coffee with a meagre portion of food. We discussed a route, since David’s bike suffered mysterious handling problems yesterday (loss of pressure from his tubeless tyres), and his knee was giving him gip.
Our choices: going back up top and on to Dylife, create a new route skirting round west wards or take the road via Llangurig and Llanidloes. The path of least resistance won.
We tidied indoors, signed in the Bothy book, topped up with water from the nearby stream and paid homage to the privy!
Back to the garage in Ponterwyd. David topped up his tyre pressures.
Then heading eastwards.
Blue Bell Inn, Llangurig tempted us in with their ‘coffee and cake £4’ sign. Very good too, a lovely hostelry for WRT. Been there on one of my previous WRT events.
We took the scenic lane route to Llandiloes. Now there may well be easier routes back from there as I since have discovered, but we were locked on the B4518 route home and it’s never ending hill!!
Our pace was slow, David’s bike handling worsened. He considered the mystery fault was the carbon front fork and quite clearly dangerous. We stuck close, staying at a safe but very slow pace. Our tired lighting was also struggling as dark hit us for a second day. Thankfully the downhill to Pennant signalled easy cycling hereon in.
We arrived back about 1630 and as expected were the last crew. Some 60 miles and 6000' ascent.
Dee welcomed us with toast and a lovely cake.
David and I were well pleased with a great weekend and must say thank you to Stuart and Dee for making this a must go to event happen. David is now keen and looks forward to WRT, and even the BB200.
Pros and cons to come, when I get time!
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Can I just ask, why not carry the shoes over?
You can sean_iow 
, too big to carry and not knotting them to hang from neck, handlebars or whatever 
great story, did you recover it ?
, that one of my wellies is indeed no longer waterproof, when I had to put feet down in one of several muddy puddles .... I suspect that this may have something to do with a certain greyhound using them as toys .... , however Hermione says she can neither confirm nor deny such vicious rumours 
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