Snowdon (belated) Rocked!

In gearing up for my 3rd challenge I realised that i hadn't updated my blog for snowdon Rocks.

Snowdonia is the 1 mountain range I miss on my South to north wales bike ride so it seemed appropriate that as well as hike up Snowdon for LHS I also did some cycling...

Arrived on the Friday, somewhat later than planned after a long 5 hour drive from home!  Despite plans going somewhat awry I found my Youth hostel (I know I'm nearly 30 but they will still accept me) and then set out to meet some friends for dinner in Bwetsy Coed.

Sat am... long ambitious day ride planned... pack loaded off I go  (in pouring rain) out from Llaberis (obviously up) to Bwetsy Coed where I knew there to be some fine off road mountain bike trails.

Going up the pass around snowdon (7 miles of winding steep road) was tough and cold and wet and I'd only just started.  Eventually got to the top to see stretching before me a road of beautiful proportions (going down) with sweeping curves.  Going down that made all the up worthwhile and even better was the straight section of road to capel curig which by some miracle had a tailwind blasting down it.  this tailwind was so strong that it propelled me and my heavy bike along at 30 miles per hour without me having to turn the pedels once!

When i reached Bwetsy Coed a beautiful bridge over the river made for a good photo opportunity before continuing onwards and invariably upwards (the map had 2 chevrons across that road).  finally I was off road in a wooded area and skirting the famous Marin trail full of ups and downs.  At one point i turned the corner to find an absolutely perfect picture post card moment , Snowdon, framed by trees.  Needless to say the camera did not do it justice.

The way back was marred by that self-same perfect road, where the tailwind was now a headwind.  so instead of speeding merrily along at 30 miles per hour, i was now crawling along at 10, only to have a beautifully clad young man whizz past me on a super light road bike and no back pack to weigh him down....  This was payback for the tailwind!!
i did however reach the top of the pass about 5 mins behind him which didn't seem too bad going.

Sunday... Rocks day.
The short walk from the hostel to the start of the walk almost killed me with reports of a very steep road found to be oh so true!  As always when amongst fellow Alarm/Mike Peters fans, everyone was friendly  and a feeling of a shared goal/interest prevailed.  the walk itself was steady with a stop along the way for a musical interlude.  the best part on reaching the top and the cloud cleared (for the first time in all the times I have walked on this mountain) to reveal a stunning view.  Pictures duly taken, some with the welsh flag fluttering others with LHS flag displayed.  The day was made perfect with a rendition of Breathe by Mr Peters, my favourite song atop a mountain, surrounded by fresh air.

All in all it was a fantastic day and made me long for the week in which i will find myself out in the middle of nowhere, with my bike and Mike Peters and the alarm on my ipod.

Challenge 2 down, challenge 3 to go!