Cwm Idwal

Today was very much a day for not being in the mountains, however, sometimes it's worth just dipping into the eye of the storm just for the experience! 

Heavy, driving rain and a 50mph wind were all we had to contend with!

There were a few gaps in the weather and we even saw a couple of mountain tops briefly.

Idwal stream was coming over the stepping stones, but by then almost everyone had wet feet anyway!

We walked out past my favourite rock, utterly soaked, but energised at having being in the full force of mother nature. Sometimes it's good to get amongst it! (for a bit!!).

Away from Home

I had my longest swim in the lake before the weekend, with Clare and Bex. It was really interesting to see what happened to my body as the cold got colder. When we got out I was shivering almost uncontrollably. It was an odd sensation, but the walk back to the car got me warmed. All very invigorating!!

There have been some very busy and long days this week as we've tried to work around the ever changing guidance and restrictions. Much too much computer time for my liking, but after one meeting, I did find a nice coffee!

Fri, Sat and Sunday were spent on Anglesey with some International Students, based at Rhoscolyn at the same campsite where Clare and I biked to recently - but this time in the comfort of the bunkhouse. Lots of coasteering, swimming and a bit of surfing were the order of the weekend. Thankfully I wasn't on BBQ duties!

Super sunsets and sunrises each day.

Clare picked me up once I'd returned the group and we continued down to Fort Martin for a few days. Hadn't realised there was a fuel crisis in progress until we kept passing closed service stations! Clare set out to find some the next day, while I had a wood work lesson with the boss.

It was a few days of mixed weather at The Fort...

Heavy rains, rainbow and solid blue skies all featured.

The usual fine dining, coffees on the terrace and even a belated birthday cake were enjoyed before blasting back up to Wales past the empty petrol pumps...

Surfing on the Straits

Even though I was still feeling like a late start and a leisurely day, my friends convinced me last night that I should come surfing on the waves that form on the Menai Straits. The snag was, that in order to catch the tide at the right moment, we'd have to be on the water just after 7am.

It was a blurry eyed Ian that arrived under the grand arches of Menai Bridge as the sun was coming up. 

Having climbed straight out of bed and into my drysuit, I was pretty much ready to go, once I'd pulled my kayak out of the back of the van and donned a helmet.

Despite the protests from a tired body, it was invigorating to be up and out so early and the water was glassy and warm. We paddled up the eddies to the chutes where the waves form and spent an hour or so surfing the waves as the water poured through the gaps in the rocks. Unlike a river wave, the flow was constantly changing so the wave could go from big to small in a few moments - even while you were on it. Looking upstream at the glassy smooth green water was mesmerizing as the water flowed under our boats and we were held in balance by the water

I was home by 10am and joined Clare for a walk down to the river before a coffee in the sunshine while sorting wet kit.

In the afternoon, once we'd both finished some online work, we went down to the lake for a swim as the hazy skies cleared up. 

Sunshine, Snorkels and Snoozes

It's been a full on September and after the last week of cycle touring, birthday celebrations, big work events, a wedding and yesterday's mountain day we called for a day of rest today! After a solid sleep of just over eleven hours and a leisurely breakfast out in the sunshine, we drove over to Anglesey to find a beach to relax on.

The sun was warming the rocks nicely and after watching the lobster fishermen leave their pots, we got into the sea for a snorkel. It was warm enough to not need wetsuits. I saw a few fish and swam though a huge school of tiny ones. After warming up in the sun, we both fell asleep on the deserted beach while listening to an audio book. A fine place to spend a rest day... Much needed!

On Cader Idris

It was nice to be back down at Cader Idris, where I spent the day with a lovely group of students who wanted to make an ascent of the peak from the north side of the mountain. Bex and I were leading the group and thought we might be in for an unexpectedly hard day as the rain poured down on the drive over from Llandudno. However, by the time we were setting out on foot, as forecast, the skies cleared giving us a fine day to hiking in the mountains. 

As we reached the summit ridge, the clouds lifted completely off the summits.

As the group were moving well, we decided to descend down the steep screes to the lake. 

Where there was time for a quick paddle for some and even a swim for the brave!

Back at the car park, a very happy tired group were remarking how comfy a bus seat can feel after a big day out! Great conditions continued on the drive home and a fine sunset made for a great end to the weekend. I slept well!...

A Double Lake Day

Two events at two separate lakes on one busy Saturday! An early start sorting logistics and kit soon had me, a collection of barrels and planks, plenty of helmets and buoyancy aids, minibuses and surprisingly large crowd of spectators and competitors gathering on the banks of Llyn Padarn, where I was hosting a raft race. It was a really fun event and the first time that I'd been in front of a 'crowd' for literally months! Horse from excitable shouting, I made it back to The Cottage for a quick 'costume change'. Clare arrived back shortly after me and an hour later, we were down on the banks of Llyn Gwynant, where we spent the rest of the day celebrating with Nick and Rich on their wedding day. 

Some psychedelic ice creams kept my energy levels up!

There will be some amazing wedding photos - including alpacas, and a 'wedding floatila'. Hats off to the photographer, who donned his wetsuit to get the shots! Amazingly no one fell in - although there were a lot of wet trousers back at the barn where the following speeches were held. 

A fantastic day and lovely to be at a social event after so long! A wedding cake made of rounds of cheese made sure I had some good dreams when we eventually got back home.

 

Llanberis Lake View

Beautiful misty starts to the day over the last two days. Banks of clouds have been rolling off the mountains and along the river valleys out to sea while the day warms up. 

I've been able to try out my new 'birthday shoes' a few times already. Once on the beach, once climbing along the cliffs of Anglesey and today out paddleboarding on Llyn (lake) Padarn at Llanberis. They are perfect for paddleboarding as the have all the sensitivity of being bare foot, but with a really grippy tough sole.

The winds have been light again, allowing my group and I to tour the lake and soak up the views from the uncrowded centre of the lake.

The Birthday Expedition - Day 3

Camping in such close proximity to the sea meant that a morning swim was going to be obligatory! 

It had rained heavily in the night, but right on time, it cleared up as the day began. The beach was empty except for a horse and rider who were galloping along the waters edge. The sun was warm, but the water felt cold. It did wake us up though!

Back at the tent, we had a cuppa and a breakfast bar, packed the tent away, loaded the bikes and set off for Treaddur along the quite lanes.

We had planned on getting brunch at Treaddur Bay. It was gloriously hot and on finding no suitable place to eat, settled on ice creams instead!

We arrived back at the Hotel Car Park, where we'd left the van, around midday. Here we loaded up the bikes, swapped panniers for ruckacks and returned to the cliffs of Rhoscolyn.

After getting hassled by a noisy helicopter, it eventually buzzed off somewhere else and alloed us to get down to the waters edge to climb a few of the micro routes at Porth Saint.

The tide was coming in, so we had to climb fast before the ledge went under water!

After three quick routes we were warm enough to need a cool down.

Along by the colourful cliffs of 'painted wall', we found a secluded swim spot, complete with diving in rock. The water was so clear, we could see the fish below us!

We stayed in for ages - the warmest sea swim I've had here perhaps? After we got out and were drying off on the rocks, a massive seal popped up to say hi - I was glad we'd got out before we saw him!

The hike back to the van, took us very close to the pub again, so before heading back home, called in for a final celebratory drink in the late afternoon sunshine! A fantastic way to finish a fantastic birthday expedition! 

Rhoscolyn Climbs: (Port Saint)

- Letters through the mail, Severe, (4a)*

- Jocker, VS, (4c)

- Jesters, HS (4b)