WRT 2022 by Robert Smith, on Flickr I wasn’t expecting so many people, great atmosphere though. Everyone was very friendly.
WRT 2022 by Robert Smith, on Flickr This was on the first section of my route.
WRT 2022 by Robert Smith, on Flickr I tried out my MSR trailshot for the first time here, or as my lad puts it, dad’s puddle drinker.
WRT 2022 by Robert Smith, on Flickr Not many people about around here, great riding along with the birds for company though.
Somehow 7 o’clock had crept up on me, I also needed water and it was starting to rain. I came upon a stream with a flattish piece of grass nearby North West of Foel Grafiau and thought “that’ll do”. It was a bit close to the path, but there wasn’t much chance of anyone coming by out there. This was my first solo bivvy, I wasn’t anxious but not as relaxed as I’d have been if I’d had mates about. It felt a bit odd being out there on my own.
I got the tent up and got tea going. This was couscous that I’d put into a soup n sauce bag (one of Stu’s tips I’d seen on another thread) so half a cup of boiling water and a tin of sardines was as close as I got to cooking.
As darkness descended, it started hammering it down. So I zipped up and tried to sleep, it took me what felt like ages to drop off what with the rain on the tent. In the early hours I realised there was a puddle in my tent, I’m not sure if this was condensation or because I was on a slight slope and the rain was getting in somewhere. I decided to get up at six, pulling on wet socks and shoes wasn’t pleasant but I wanted to get going. The rain was now just drizzle, but everything was damp.
WRT 2022 by Robert Smith, on Flickr Coming down the road by the Nant-y-moch Reservoir I overshot my turnoff by half a mile which p!ssed me off as all I could think about was getting to the service station at Ponterwyd. By now my feet were freezing and my hands had stiffened into claws which made getting a coffee and pasty harder than it normally would. While there a fellow ‘boner said they wouldn’t fancy the river crossing that was on my route if they were on their own. That decided it for me, I’d ride back on the road then I wouldn’t have a second night in a damp bag.
I took the A44 and stopped for a tea, soup and roll at Llangurig. Then got onto the NCN 8 route, then took the B4518 back to BB towers. Not the nicest of routes back but the most direct. After a chat, tea and slice of cake I was on my way and got home at just gone ten. Despite the change of plans I had a great time and am looking forward to getting back to complete the route. Thanks again to Dee and Stu for putting on a great event.
It was too much for Mike, he walked it.
