The rain at 7am this morning was being blown hard against the windows of my house, and no doubt those in the lower towns. I peered out to see it dripping off the shed roof as a spooned muesli into my mouth - this was looking distinctly like the Gran Fondo Cymru revisited.
Having assembled at the Faenol, we packed a van with bikes, and bags full of "we don't know what the weather is going to be so lets take everything" cycling kit, and headed off in the car to the start of the event at Snowdon.
On the way the weather broke, and the most beautiful of sites as the clouds were rolling down the contours of the mountains like a white sauce. Thought of a dry ascent was on everyones mind, but no one dared to say it out loud.
From Pen Y Pass we started off. It felt good to see that we already had the best part of 1000ft under our belts, but that was not to say the going was easy for the remaining "up-ness".
The mist continued, but it was dry mostly underfoot (short of sections where water cascaded over large sheets of exposed rock). It was warm, very warm, more specifically close and humid.
Oddly as we reached the peak there was much banging and clattering, and the fact that the cafe is currently undergoing reconstruction became apparent; however there really is nothing like the large yellow arm of a JCB arcing over the horizon when you are on the tallest point in the country.
We stopped on the retaining wall before the switch backs to the last leg to the top - here we had some sarnies and tea ... Chris saved his rice pudding until the summit celebration.
A 'men in black' moment occurred, as a Canadian man took our photos on top of the peak; on two cameras. Alan's camera demanded he reformatted the card when he checked it back at the car park, and mine simply does not have the picture on it. By way of proof here is a picture of my arm up by the mound on the top showing the altitude.
Rumours of me being forced to climb alone to record this are greatly over rated.
The return proved an altogether sunnier affair. Which meant that you had the 'lost' feeling of seeing things on the way down you did not see on the way up. The views needless to say were spectacular, as was the light: not enough however to warrant me wanting to take my weighty camera / lenses / batteries / tripod (and so on) up and down for the pleasure of capturing such images (on this occasion).
Here you can see how the slopes where looking once we were all down, looking North.
We stopped for a cup of tea in the cafe, where the woman was very very unhappy. Maybe this is because she knew that £1.40 for tea was not really on. Maybe they don't let her out of there at night? Who can say.
Changed, and after much whining by Chris we head off home, - starting with a whole bunch of down to Capel Curig, and then down to Betwys Y Coed, and the rolling to the unforgiving up that was Llanwrst Hill - 800ft of up - just what you need after a day on Snowdon.
Met there by Dave and Andy from the club, we made good progress back to the Faenol.
Home - quickly - shower - change - party.
*There are more pictures, but I need to get my camera back first!*
.jpg)
