Bothies, bangs and birds winter bivy style

[Mike]

So it started out with a call to bb towers the week before the winter bivy. I run it by stu that would he be up for an extended version as I have some leave from work. It was mentioned to scattamah sometime that week and he didn't take long to decide to join us.
So off we headed around mid day from base, luckily for us the start was a little late so we missed the rain so we thought. More of that later. Heading north on some new trails that stu had in mind mean't that both me and Scott were in for a treat. Upon reaching Dovey forest from the east side this time we skirted mach totally and entered via a route I'd done once before with hux on our very first WRT 2011. Remembering that there was a river crossing coming up I asked Stu if we had to cross it as the amount of water coming off the hills mean't we'd probably get more than just wet feet. Nope, came the answer we go up and around on the fire road then head off on some new trail. Nice! "That trail would make for an vaguely exciting descent done the other way around". We pushed up in the pitch black of night to which seamed to go on for awhile. The ground was totally soaked and flowing streams ran beneath our feet.

We reached a junction in the road around 7pm had a quick nibble, tried to feed the local collie then made the worst decision of the night...but we made it together ( well me and stu anyhow..poor Scott hadn't even ridden this area so he couldn't be blamed for this one ) " there's this bridleway I want to look at shall we try it " yeah for sure pal came the answer.

Now I'm not going to give it away because I have a sneaky suspicion that it may one day show it's ugly head in a certain event. However all I will say is that what happened from when we left that junction to the moment we met tarmac again 2 and a bit hours later wasn't pretty at all and certainly no fun!! Would I wish to do it again. NO CHANCE

By this time we were now getting wet, the heavens had opened up just a we rode in to doll for some food. We were all really in need of food and the place we opted for was the kebab house......mmmmmm salty 12" pizzas all round please. Oh and stu had chips too...His eyes were bigger than his belly.
1130pm we strolled into Penrhos isaf wet through and a bit tired. Waking up the guy sleeping we made our beds and hit the sack.

Friday morning began for stu alot earlier then Scott and I, I think it was around 945 am when we woke up and decided we had better start the day. It was a promising day, the weather was ok and we stayed in the cafe at Coed y brenin for a least an hour n half eating what was by then breakfast at mid day but we were in no major rush as our bed for the night wasn't a million miles away. Stu had found us a gem. We arrived after dark at around 5pm, guess what it started to rain the last ten mins on the approach but not only that it was really cold too.
We had arrived, it looked the dogs bo*&ocks. However it was locked.....sh#t! I was just about to climb through the broken window pain when the door opened, stu had found the key!! What could be better than sitting around in a cold room ( but not as cold as a bivy bag ) full of bird crap. It was dry and fantastic stu!
The night then became a small scene from a horror movie or had the potential to be the making of deliverance part 2. I was just in that place before a deep sleep when I heard stu's voice in my head " sh#t there's a car pulled up outside "
No way we are in the middle of nowhere. We've been rattled boys. I know let's lye here motionless and they won't find us :0?
We heard the door to the vehicle open and flash lights lit up the room. That's it they are coming inside any minute 'BANG!!' jeez that was a shot gun boys. By now I can safely say I think we were all pretty close to pooping in ours bags.
YES.. They are lamping, they have to be. An agonising hour or more went by before the lights dulled into the night but I'm sure we weren't going to sleep well the rest of the night.
As morning approached we woke to heavy rain and wind. We decided we should really get out of there early before the farmer spotted us. You see we knew there was a farm nearby but in the dark u can't see exactly where it is but in the light, oh there it is on the hill in full view.
Saturday started off very wet and got wetter and wetter as it went. Now this is the official day of the bb winter bivy and I think after riding in howling wind and driving rain we were all hoping that the others wouldn't show so we could quite happily bail. On eventually reaching Llandrillo we saw burtys van. It's on! Having stood chatting and debating then a scooby with bikes appeared in the car park. Karl n cat were well up for it. So we sat in the village pub for a few hours waiting for the weather to pass but it didn't it just got worse. By the time we left the pub it was pretty much storm like conditions.
We had some big climbs ahead and by the top of the berwyn mtn road burty decided enough was enough he was wet through and cold. We said goodbye and went our separate ways. We climbed some big hills with water just racing down the tarmac and the wind almost bringing you to a stop. There were rocks and debris all over the road on the way up over to lake Vernwy our stopping point for the night. It was dark, very dark I waited at the top of the climb for the rest to catch up, trying to eat nuts with my cold hands they went all over the road but I had to collect then up, we weren't carrying much food and I was getting hungry. The descent to the lake was pretty cool in the dark n wet even if unpleasant due to the temp.
A car park lay empty and still the lake was over flowing into it. I went down a singletrack thinking stu was behind me.... oh he's not. The track led to our home for the night. Rspb hides make great shelters from the elements.

Cat and Karl put on a great show with their costumes and food, we even had fairy lights. By 10pm we were all pretty much out for the count. After the night before it was a pretty uneventful sleep and we rose to yet more rain. We said our goodbyes to Scott, he went the quickest way home. Karl and cat went back up n over. Where as me n stu had another 4hrs of riding in persistent rain and bloody cold winds. An hour in the cafe in Dinas to warm up and another hour back to bb towers. We were both happy to see that through. There's nothing like the feeling of knowing ur near enough done and only a few miles home to pick up the spirits.

Now I'm home I can reflect on the whole experience and say it was a bloody good trip!!
Cheers guys

Pics to follow

[benp1]

Healthy mix of Type 1, 2 and 3 fun then!

Good write up, thanks for sharing. Saturday sounds fairly grim

[Zippy]

I enjoyed that, nice write up Mike

[Scattamah]

Nice one Mike. Saved me writing it up :) Freakin' hilarious up on top of the climb outta Llandrillo where that video was taken...the weather was so bad it was comical. Also funny was the Sunday morning putting my wet kit back on and the steam rising off me. Hot sh#t, I am *laughs*

Greetz

S.

[Mike]

so here just a few of the best bits in pictures, enjoy

PC100010 by mjc_226, on Flickr
I couldnt get the camera out quick enough to snap Stu taking a swim in this one

PC110016 by mjc_226, on Flickr
I think that hill got to Stu, he started busting some moves, either that or he'd been listening to the Bangles on his ipod

20151211_200941 by mjc_226, on Flickr
Trying our hardest to keep warm in a very cold enviroment, little did we know how the night would go

PC120042 by mjc_226, on Flickr
The Saturday afternoon was horrendous these two pics cant describe it
PC120046 by mjc_226, on Flickr

PC130049 by mjc_226, on Flickr
At least the night was a good one in our little shed

PC130051 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PC130047 by mjc_226, on Flickr

PC130056 by mjc_226, on Flickr
Sunday met us with a big climb in very cold n wet conditions