Yay, it's cheery Friday.

[godivatrailrider]

'Twas definitely a Cheery Friday last night - I was "out out" in Abergavenny doing some, erm, fieldwork based research for SWWB

testing the pub hopefully!

Erm, it might have been a bit more than just the one pub...

Thorough testing then ... lovin' the dedication!

[Bearlegged]

Proper scientific research demands repeatable results.

[Boab]

Yes, it's not Friday, but felt like I had to achieve something this weekend as I wasn't thrashing myself half to death in Wales. So broke out the Trend T3 Router I bought over twenty years ago and have never used. Made a wooden box type thing to house some UV tubes to do alternative photographic processes; mainly Cyanotype.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I do enjoy a bit of routing. A few minutes can transform a plain piece of wood into something that you actually like the look of

[Hyppy]

A few minutes can transform a plain piece of wood into something that you actually like the look of

And then another zero point three seconds to rip the edge off it getting your cutting directions mixed up!

[voodoo_simon]

Last Friday was my 40th

Went up a little peak called Crimpiau in Eryri

[voodoo_simon]

And went on a very mini pilgrim to Llangelynnin

It was either Jeff or John Climber that put this on my radar a few years ago (thanks)

[RIP]

Right, off on the train for a few days wandering aimlessly round the more, er, colourful parts of the fab Welsh Valleys.

Three changes of train on the way, what could possibly go wrong. Then again, who cares .

Bit toasty in these fleece leggings today but it's apparently going to be 1degC there on Thursday night, brrr!

[redefined_cycles]

Yes, it's not Friday, but felt like I had to achieve something this weekend as I wasn't thrashing myself half to death in Wales. So broke out the Trend T3 Router I bought over twenty years ago and have never used. Made a wooden box type thing to house some UV tubes to do alternative photographic processes; mainly Cyanotype.

So buying routers but not using em is a thing. I thought it was just me!! I bought one a few years back, the best Makita I could afford. Then after a year of looking at it - afraid to use as another thing to learn and potential to rip my hand off if getting it wrong - I got it sold!

Well done keeping it for 20 and finally using it

[Verena]

Right, off on the train for a few days wandering aimlessly round the more, er, colourful parts of the fab Welsh Valleys.

Three changes of train on the way, what could possibly go wrong. Then again, who cares .

Bit toasty in these fleece leggings today but it's apparently going to be 1degC there on Thursday night, brrr!

What are you doing man, it's Tuesday!! About as far from Friday as it gets

[RIP]

Every day is Friday in RegWorld .

Anyway, you just crack on and enjoy your slap-up meal and vinos on Eurostar over there missus

[RIP]

Extremely cheery Friday. Amazingly, it actually is Friday! Currently flashing along the West Coast Main Line, 124mph, sarnie, crisps, cake, little bottle of vino: bright sunshine illuminating the passing scene. On way back from a superb few days wandering the Eastern Welsh Valleys, including a cracking graveyard bivvy in excellent company. Of which more no doubt later.

[redefined_cycles]

Sent my 'Bearbones200 in honour of Hind Rajab' trip report to my elder bro. He messaged back that he'd read and enjoyed the read. He's always honest and blantant/brutal. So hopefully it was actually an engaging read. Very happy at that, my writing must be getting better.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Good work Shaf, there's something about putting your thoughts and feeling down on paper that can be quite liberating or at least enjoyable.

[redefined_cycles]

Good work Shaf, there's something about putting your thoughts and feeling down on paper that can be quite liberating or at least enjoyable.

Call me weird Stu (and, I agree I am, same as the others), but other than actually being afraid of Strata Florida (it's due to reading other peoples reports I guess and how they disrespect it ) I usually find these rides quite therapeutic. Obviously, I need a reason to (try and) ride (but most walk) a 120 miler Bearbones Special route, but I don't really see it as type 2 (maybe I used to).

Out of interest, is the path of Strata Florida on the Big Bear 520, the very same one on last year's route. Or is there subtle differences, and is there an ideal time to attempt the BigBear520. I'm assuming mid summer, if anyone was that silly!

[Bearbonesnorm]

the very same one on last year's route.

Subtle differences.

[whitestone]

the very same one on last year's route.

Subtle differences.

Subtle? Looks like it misses nearly all of the bad bit, just a few hundred metres to get to the good track at the col

Shaf, at a guess I say doing the Big Bear early in the year before any nettles and thistles get established would be preferable.

[Raggedstone]

Yes definitely before the nettles

[redefined_cycles]

the very same one on last year's route.

Subtle differences.

Subtle? Looks like it misses nearly all of the bad bit, just a few hundred metres to get to the good track at the col

Shaf, at a guess I say doing the Big Bear early in the year before any nettles and thistles get established would be preferable.

But Bob. Is trench foot better or nettles! That's why I was hoping to avoid any colder wetter months (figure of speech) and hopefully have less rivers/ford's in the way.

[redefined_cycles]

Yes definitely before the nettles

Thanks for that Kevin (and Bob). So, erm as soon as winter is over and mid spring. Just as the yellow buds are forming. Not that I'm planning as such, hypothetically speaking.

[Verena]

Yay it's Cheery Friday

I have survived a cold and a little spooky graveyard bivvy with Reg, in admittedly quite luxurious accommodation.

The squeaky gate and a some odd goings on on the roof by some as yet unidentified creatures kept us awake quite a bit ...

An excellent evening and great to get back to some local bivvying, thanks Reg, I would never in a trillion years have slept there by myself

[RIP]

I would never in a trillion years have slept there by myself

me neither

[faustus]

I'm in Hay ready for an early morning ride in the Black Mountains

[redefined_cycles]

Yay it's Cheery Friday

I have survived a cold and a little spooky graveyard bivvy with Reg, in admittedly quite luxurious accommodation.

The squeaky gate and a some odd goings on on the roof by some as yet unidentified creatures kept us awake quite a bit ...

An excellent evening and great to get back to some local bivvying, thanks Reg, I would never in a trillion years have slept there by myself

I'd probably have pee'd my pants. Well done. Scary!

[thenorthwind]

Couldn't sleep, which isn't cheery, but... got up and put the hunk of short rib from the posh butchers in the slow cooker, which I forgot to do earlier, and booked the last feasible backcountry permit for a trip to the Grand Canyon in two weeks time, which I spent all day trying to plan (apparently should have done that months ago ).