This is my first write-up of a trip, and also links to possibly the worlds worst bikepacking video, so please be gentle!

Got a route together with the help of Ian on this thread - http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... 64&p=41242 and had an unexpected free (long) weekend at the end of August to put the plan into action!
I had hoped to be starting from Abergavenny about 4ish to get to the Grwyne Fawr bothy before starting the trip "proper". Traffic and early an puncture conspired against us (and failing headtorch batteries ) meaning it was nearly pitch black by the time we got to the steep slope/fall down to the bothy.



Next day the pushing memories were soon banished riding the ridge past Bal Mawr, the climb to the col between Pen Trumau and Mynydd Llysiau and the subsequent descent. Progress during the day was a bit slower than I'd planned/hoped and after a pub tea in Talybont we bivvied above the reservoir just off the old tramway.




The trails and views continued to impress the next day, going up over Craig Cwm Cynwyn and rolling into Brecon for pie, chips and onion gravy, and emergency repairs to my leg following a dog bite!



A reasonable chunk of road from Brecon to just beyond Heol Senni meant we made more progress than I'd expected, and given the foul forecast for the next day we pushed on to bivvy in the woods north of Ystradfellte. Waking in the rain to a flat each, and having lost my coffee stash didn't give the best start, but the rain was soon replaced by low clagging mist, and so we got on with the last blast back towards Abergavenny. The mist made the valley of the Nant Cwn Du feel magical, but the weather was quickly deteriorating so it was heads down to get to Pencelli on the lanes and then hammer along the canal towpath back to the (relative) warmth and comfort of the van.

All captured in the most amatuer video you could ever hope for - https://vimeo.com/104755159

vaguely exciting!

But dog bite??!! WTF?!!

Yeah, it came bolting out of a drive on the road just after Cwn Cynwyn descent (Bailea on OS map), took a chunk and then ran straight back in, got to the bottom of the hill, looked down and saw it'd drawn blood...quick wash in the stream and patchup once we reached Brecon and I was good to go again!



Had a tetanus jab and now on a course on antibiotics.....just in case!

Top looking trip but man you are way more philosophical about a dog taking a chunk out of you that I would have been. You spoken to the rozzers about it yet? Might be a kiddie next time.

Duct tape save!

Nice one Dan. Glad you made it round the route, pity about the dog.

A small detail I left out of my route advice: don't ride past Bailea. In all the 20+ years I've been riding round here the dogs at that place have been vicious.

Did you report the dog incident to the old bill?
And if they've done this before then surely its an unsafe place to be, especially if none suspecting families walk past with their kids......

I didn't report it. I'm not a huge "dog person", and assume that "bitey" is a default setting...

The whole thing happened faiirly quicky...collie comes bounding out, barking & I assume it's just "herding" me, hits my leg hard, but I'm heading downhill. We stopped at the bridge at the bottom of the hill, notice that it's bleeding and I've acquired a reasonable puncture wound, wash off in the stream and then press on to Brecon.

In retrospect I probably should have spoken to the owners, but I'm not confrontational at the best of times, and people can be very precious over their animals.

That's one helluva bite. That is a dangerous dog.
Had a good laugh at the CCTV notice and enjoyed the write up.
Thanks.

P.S. Hope you're back in fine fettle soon.