It's 6.00pm and dark. You're wet, cold and half pushing, half dragging your loaded bike across seemingly infinite boggy moorland. The exact location of your destination is uncertain and even less certain, is whether your arrival will signal sanctuary or crushing disappointment. There's no pretence of a path, whoever or whatever went before you chose to do it by a different route and whilst there will eventually be an end, it's not yet in sight.

By 6.30 I still hadn't been able to think of a good reason for being here and then it dawned on me ... I was here because deep down there's a bit of me that actually, really enjoys it.











Thanks to Mike for the good company as ever and hopefully some colour pictures later on

Bearbonesnorm wrote:It's 6.00pm and dark. You're wet, cold and half pushing, half dragging your loaded bike across seemingly infinite boggy moorland. The exact location of your destination is uncertain and even less certain, is whether your arrival will signal sanctuary or crushing disappointment. There's no pretence of a path, whoever or whatever went before you chose to do it by a different route and whilst there will eventually be an end, it's not yet in sight.:

Good to see you are already doing recce rides for next years BB200!

"hopefully some colour pictures" - nah, those B&W's are beautifully atmospheric. Sepia next time please

"Reg"

PS. Interested in your approx route Stu, unless you'd prefer not to divulge of course. Noted the Doogaloo kebab shop there (lord help your tum), surprised I didn't bump into you. Maybe it was you hiding behind that pillar as you saw me hoving nigh

Well you will go to Dolgellau! What do you expect?

Looks good, Stu. East or west of the 'toughest push in Wales'?

Greetz

S.

East or west of the 'toughest push in Wales'?

Sort of north .... then west .... then east. It's fair to say that we had a fairly indirect route to nowhere in particular

No worries. I have an idea of the hills you're up in now. I like the idea of a half hour tromp to get there.

Greetz

S.

I like the idea of a half hour tromp to get there

More like an hour and a half ... it's just that I realised why I was there after half an hour

Keep those hills to ya self there scattamah

I will sit this evening and put my thoughts together of the four days we've just had, I'm still smiling from the places we stayed and saw. It always amazes me what is out there if your prepared to put the effort in. You certainly reap the reward. Can't wait for the winter bivvy now

Hour and a half...half an hour...it doesn't make too much difference. Besides, you sleep better at the end of it. No foxes layed out this time fellas? :)

Greetz

S.

No foxes layed out this time fellas? :)

Funnily enough - yes

Enough to make anyones eyes bug out *grins* One of the best "get orf mah land" moments I've ever been witness to.

Looking forward to colder days and some pushing.

Greetz

S.

Our trip in colour, these were but a few i have taken

PB060236 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB060237 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB060241 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB070262 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB070264 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB070272 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB070280 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB080297 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB080305 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB080319 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB080321 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB080326 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB080332 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB080335 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB090337 by mjc_226, on Flickr
PB090338 by mjc_226, on Flickr

Dear, sweet, baby Jesus

And Stu actually spent the night with you after seeing that. Brave, brave man

He had no choice id forgotten my leg warmers and i had to improvise somehow it was damn cold in there!!

Is no one else impressed by my 'making a bottle of meths levitate' trick?

Thats cracking Stu!
Oh ive just remembered.....what are ur socks please? so i can google em

Bearbonesnorm wrote:Is no one else impressed by my 'making a bottle of meths levitate' trick?

Absolutely! Equally impressed with your 'sticking a pair of socks to the wall using static electricity' trick

"And for your next trick..."

what are ur socks please?

Dexshell. https://dexshell.co.uk/products/categor ... roof-socks

Mine are the Thermlite.

Bearbonesnorm wrote:

what are ur socks please?

Dexshell. https://dexshell.co.uk/products/categor ... roof-socks

Mine are the Thermlite.

Never heard of these or this company.

How do they compare to the rubbish (IMO) seal skins please?

@John - looking at the materials they advertise, they appear very similar in construction to SealSkinz. The SS I have are using Porelle as the vapour barrier. But I'll wait for judgement from Stu who's had 'em on his meat slabs.

Greetz

S.

How do they compare to the rubbish (IMO) seal skins please?

I find them very good John. As Scott says, they feel similar to SS (although these seem more fitted, so a better fit on your feet). I did eventually end up with wet feet last week but only after 3 days of typical Welsh weather plus bogs, rivers, etc. Overall I think they're very good, I shall be trying some of the thinner merino ones sometime.