Against my better judgment I decided not to continue to Aberystwyth with the train hen-party, and dismounted at Newtown instead to join the almost-equally entertaining “LHC Shorter” mob. Rather than use the canal towpath I screamed down the A483 to find them bivvy’d up at their secret castle lair, instead of the bird hides they could have chosen earlier on. Curiously several other groups also declined the hides, assuming another group would already be in them!
It was a chilly night but no frost, so we were surprised to meet the "LHC Longer" mob at the pub in Bettws Cedewain who said they’d had -4degC and frozen water bottles. What we weren’t the least bit surprised to find was that they’d been given breakfast but the kitchen shut 2 minutes ago so all we got was a meagre brew, sigh.
Various lanes and tracks led us towards Llanfair Ceireinion, chatting with a farmer on the way who almost treated my offer of £10 each for a pot of tea with the seriousness that I almost meant. As frequently happens on the WRT a byway soon disappeared into an impenetrable tangle and then a bog, resulting in all sorts of contortions to get bodies and bikes through. Steve pretending he knows exactly where we’re going (despite the fact that it was my fault anyway!) :-
Steve had already “lost” a couple of contestants near Stu’s, and two more due to mechanicals at the castle, and unfortunately one of the Shauns became the fifth "man down" after a mechanical as well. He managed to limp to Llanfair where the rest of us drank sympathetic pints while he rang for a taxi. Taxi HQ knew all about Stu and Dee but sadly the driver didn’t when he arrived, claiming he thought Pennant was a couple of miles away so another driver had to be called who didn’t know the way either!
“Other Shaun” cleaned the Spar out of bananas, and after a nice lunch we continued to Vyrnwy, bumping into the Long LHC yet again scoffing chips at the shop. A smart exit ensured we arrived at the pub before they did, joining the Burty And Mike party and various others. At this point we acquired Landslide to top our numbers up, only to then discover that “Other Shaun” was leaving us because apparently the hotel offered bivvying facilities! It was explained that they were prepared to allow him to bivvy in something called a "room" with a plush "bed" and a pre-installed wife, although there would be a small payment which we felt invalidated it as a BaM candidate. Curiously Shaun appeared not to care what we thought
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We pressed on and bivvy’d in Dyfnant Forest with a stunning star-scape to stare at until we nodded off.
Our idea had been to arrive at Llangadfan cafe before the hordes turned up, and a long downhill farm track brought us to the door at 08.29am just as the staff arrived. Huge compliments to the two ladies who cooked and served about 20 full breakfasts with good humour and good banter – the boss soon got the measure of me when I asked if the toms were “real” ones (not keen on tinned ones), replying “yes, the round red things”
. The Burtys and Mikes et al set off for the “high road” through the forest, and we picked up Paramart, Big Matt, and Neil for a gentler bimble along the pass to Talerddig. Until the route petered out into a Welsh Bridleway that is, and then degenerated into one of the worst tussock hells we’d ever seen. Paramart and myself decided to stick to the “route” come what may, and enjoyed swamps, giant’s head tussocks, deep streams etc, to triumphantly emerge the other side unbeaten.
On, and on, and on. And on. Until the distant hill.
A final bit of lane to Bont Dolgadfan and the traditional cake reception, luckily with loads of DFLDC available for a change – thanks Dee. Twas great to meet loads of BBB-ers old and new, and I’ll finish with as understated a thanks as I can cos I know S&D don’t like a scene ;-). “Ta”.
I also met a couple who were both in their 70s, cycling down a bridleway I was heading up. They said they enjoyed riding off road (they were on traditional touring bikes, with mudguards) and were intrigued with the notion of 'Bikepacking', the gentleman said they have been 'Roughstuffing' since they met at University in the early 60s, but tend to use pubs and hotels nowadays, it is also quite probable they looked in a better state than I did too 
I also met a lady tending sheep on the track down from the windfarm at Llanbrynmair. She was about 5' tall, 80 years old and asked me if I needed a hand with getting my bike through the gate 
)
. My original 'loner' scheme was to bivvy up there. Next time. What was the terrain like after the lake? The b'way looked pretty Welsh on the map. Anyroad, you dropped a good ladder on the WRT snakes n ladders board there so fair play to yez 
