Global Fat Bike Day with Storm Darragh
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2024 9:25 am
The usual social get together that is Global Fat Bike Day was on the weekend and Eigiau cottage was again the location.
However I was the only one on a fatbike, Eugene rode in also and the others came in on foot due to the storm.
I was fortunate to ride in on Friday afternoon, so you could say I had it easy. Eugene on the other hand arrived at 7pm in howling winds and torrential rain. Fair do's as it was pretty horrific!
A great evening followed as we chatted and drank with the warmth of the fire drowning out the wind and rain outside.
The next morning was something else. Apparently those at home (with a phone signal) had alerts ping up on their phones telling them to stay indoors (and not be up a mountain!) Upon opening the front door I was greeted by storm force winds and extreme flooding. It was clearly too dangerous for the others to come and that's if they could cross the narrow bridge that was surrounded by flood water and with extremely high winds ready to lift you off your feet. Eugene tried calling as he braved the elements but no signal...
Then we started to get some water in the hut. So it was a case of going outside and reroute the flood water away from the outside of the hut. At around noon, Les and Kevin came into view, so we both walked into the wind to help them near the bridge. As I got there Les was just crossing the bridge as a huge gust whipped up the water from the river and pushed him to the edge of the bridge. At that point I was gesturing him to get down and then he was over the bridge. I then crawled over to help Kevin cross. It was all a bit dramatic tbh. 15 minutes later we were back in the hut.
At half two it had eased ever so slightly and JC, Sam and Leigh arrived with their own tales of dramatic weather.
Film from the trip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czZdQqt0UcA
Pics:
Eugene arriving
View from the front door
Looking towards the bridge (far left)
Here's a grainy screenshot from Eugene's video of the very dodgy bridge crossing he put on WhatsApp. Notice that I'm on the deck due to the wind!
All in all a cracking weekend
However I was the only one on a fatbike, Eugene rode in also and the others came in on foot due to the storm.
I was fortunate to ride in on Friday afternoon, so you could say I had it easy. Eugene on the other hand arrived at 7pm in howling winds and torrential rain. Fair do's as it was pretty horrific!
A great evening followed as we chatted and drank with the warmth of the fire drowning out the wind and rain outside.
The next morning was something else. Apparently those at home (with a phone signal) had alerts ping up on their phones telling them to stay indoors (and not be up a mountain!) Upon opening the front door I was greeted by storm force winds and extreme flooding. It was clearly too dangerous for the others to come and that's if they could cross the narrow bridge that was surrounded by flood water and with extremely high winds ready to lift you off your feet. Eugene tried calling as he braved the elements but no signal...
Then we started to get some water in the hut. So it was a case of going outside and reroute the flood water away from the outside of the hut. At around noon, Les and Kevin came into view, so we both walked into the wind to help them near the bridge. As I got there Les was just crossing the bridge as a huge gust whipped up the water from the river and pushed him to the edge of the bridge. At that point I was gesturing him to get down and then he was over the bridge. I then crawled over to help Kevin cross. It was all a bit dramatic tbh. 15 minutes later we were back in the hut.
At half two it had eased ever so slightly and JC, Sam and Leigh arrived with their own tales of dramatic weather.
Film from the trip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czZdQqt0UcA
Pics:
Eugene arriving
View from the front door
Looking towards the bridge (far left)
Here's a grainy screenshot from Eugene's video of the very dodgy bridge crossing he put on WhatsApp. Notice that I'm on the deck due to the wind!
All in all a cracking weekend
