Showing posts with label Wales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wales. Show all posts

May 19, 2017

Caernarfon

Day five, and I was ready for a rest day (but that's not today). I was feeling a little bit off, and we were slated to climb about 2,000 feet.

Rocky mountain stream, Snowdonia National Park, Wales
Faced with a steep (though short) climb before we'd even warmed up, several of us were quick to dismount (max grade today, 22%).

I wasn't expecting to be rained on. [You'd think I'd learn?] Luckily, it was only a short burst, not much wetness.

Ping!

Was that a hailstone that just bounced off my mirror? Ping! Another one hitched a ride on the lid of my bag until it melted.

Three riders from the Gwernyfed  RFC, heading south on a two-day ride, near Beddgelert, Wales
We waved at a stream of cyclists passing in the opposite direction, members and supporters of the Gwernyfed rugby football club, on a two-day fundraising ride from the most northerly club in Wales to the most southerly.

There was talk of a steam train, and whether our timing would align to see it. I caught a glimpse through the trees. Evidently it's coal-powered—and a very sulfurous coal, at that. One of the Welsh Highland Railway's trains, I believe.

We stopped for our morning break at a pub in Beddgelert, which was fortuitous for me as the menu offered a ginger beer that helped settle my system. Shortly after we stepped inside, the rain came pouring down. It stopped by the time we were ready to roll out, and I was the only one who suited up in my rain gear. [Which meant, of course, that we would see no more rain.]

Figure on a tricycle planter advertising local bike shop, Beddgelert, Wales
Regrettably, we didn't pay a visit to the local bike shop, but were surprised to find a wicker bicycle mounted above the stairs inside the pub.

Wicker bicycle wall hanging, Beddgelert, Wales
We continued on our way through Snowdonia National Park, heading for the coast.

Cliffs in Snowdonia National Park, Wales
Looking at the map, and the roads not taken ... I just might have to come back here.

Sheep grazing at the foot of cliffs, Snowdonia National Park, Wales
We had a schedule to keep today, as we would be crossing the Irish Sea (by ferry) to Dublin. We made good time, affording a chance to admire the nature reserve at Foryd Bay.

Low tide at Foryd Bay Nature Reserve near Caernarfon, Wales.
Our riding ended at Caernarfon, where we enjoyed lunch and a stroll around the town square near the Castle. Despite the weak start to my day, I felt pretty good at the end: 33 miles, 1,830 feet of climbing.

Caernarfon Castle, Caernarfon, Wales
A local cyclist struck up a conversation, wanting to learn about our trip. “You weren't cycling on Monday?!” she exclaimed.

The scavenging gulls were a menace! You had to keep close watch on your food, and they'd dive at a table as soon as the diners departed, knocking plates and cups to shatter on the stone plaza. Before the trip, while I was languishing sick at home, I had binged on Hitchcock movies. Fittingly, the last one had been “The Birds.” Here, we laughed at a little boy chasing them down—he couldn't have been more than four years old. “Shoo, you bloody bird!” he cried, flailing his arms at one. [He hasn't seen the movie.]

Ribride speedboat, Caernarfon, Wales
To free us from the time pressure of biking across the Isle of Anglesey to reach the ferry at Holyhead, the group would get a tour up the Menai Strait on a speedy boat (45 knots, at one point).

We cruised under the Menai Suspension Bridge, regarded as the first modern suspension bridge (completed in 1826).

Menai Suspension Bridge, Menai Strait, Wales
From St. George's Pier, the van carried us onto the ferry and the next phase of our adventure: Ireland, the third country of our Five Countries Tour.

May 18, 2017

Ffestiniog

To avoid a busy road, we started cycling on the outskirts of Oswestry and soon crossed the border into the second country of our Five Countries Tour: Wales.

Yellow gorse in bloom on the hillsides near the English-Welsh border.
Sunshine, albeit patchy, at last!

Three-directional road sign in Wales with looming gray clouds, near the English border.
With luck, we'd leave the ominous clouds behind.

View of the main street in Llangynog, Wales, looking toward the Berwyn Range.
We enjoyed another lovely tea break in the town of Llangynog before our big climb started.

Tea break picnic in Llangynog, Wales.
We have magical water bottles on this tour: Whenever I return to my bike after a tea break or lunch, my bottle is full. (If I pinch myself, will I wake up and find that this has all been a happy dream? Our guides are fabulous.) Though there is a slight downside to this, as the electrolyte mix that sustains me on long rides gets diluted.

Starting up the climb out of Llangynog, Wales.
The climb started right outside of town, as we would pass through the Berwyn Range.

Sheep in a valley outside Llangynog, Wales
It wasn't bad, gaining about 1,000 feet over three and a half miles. Somewhere, though, I met a 15% grade (must have been short); that's probably where my heart rate peaked at 184 bpm.

View down the valley toward Llangynog, Wales
It wasn't long before I was way off the back, the rest of the group no longer in sight.

View of B4391 and the valley, toward Llangynog, Wales
Which suited me just fine, because (at last!) I was eager to capture some photos of these peaks and valleys.

pep at the summit with Powys sign,view toward the southeast, Wales.
I've been feeling bad that people have to wait for me, though they're politely saying they don't mind. We were excited to snap photos at the summit, especially as we could see blue skies ahead.

pep at the summit with the Denbighshire sign, view to the northwest, Wales.
A couple of our riders have been breezily passing me on the hills. They'd opted for hybrids instead of road bikes, and those were equipped with lower gearing (and disc brakes). I briefly wondered if I should have done the same, but even if I'd inquired about the groupset I know I still would have chosen the road bike. I wouldn't be comfortable at speed on the downhills, otherwise.

Snowdonia National Park Monument, Wales
Oh, and about that. We crossed into Snowdonia National Park, with broad vistas and an enticing roadway—dry and smooth. Only because it leveled out a bit, and the park's logo was beautiful, did I stop [on a descent!].

View to the west-northwest, Snowdonia National Park, Wales.
We regrouped at the bottom, having reached an intersection. Our leader is mindful to keep track of us, although they're trying a new routing solution this year: each bike is outfitted with a Garmin. Every night our guides collect the units, load them up with the next day's route, and charge them. [More magic!]

Not being a Garmin aficionado, I'm leery of accidentally resetting the thing. After some teething pains the first couple of days, things began to run more smoothly. It's reassuring to get advance notice of turns and to see that you're on course, but some tricky bits (parallel roads, or cycle paths) can confuse it. And since the route is statically loaded, we need to be alert about being off-course whenever we do make a detour. The Garmins handle the miles vs. kilometers challenge nicely, as they can be set up either way.

Bala Lake, Bala, Wales
We caught sight of Bala Lake on our way to lunch at a fun place, Gorwelion.

Flowers, fields, and trees at Gorwelion, Bala, Wales.
There was more climbing after lunch, but with the sunshine and the views, everyone was smiling.

View along Arenig Fell Race toward the west, Wales.
Just look at that ribbon of road! [Okay, maybe I smiled more broadly than my companions.]

pep with a waterfall in the distance, on the road to Ffestiniog, Wales
We did stop to admire a waterfall. And even though we climbed some 3,740 feet over 47 miles, we arrived at our hotel in Ffestiniog with time to enjoy the environs,

Alert sheep in the late day sun, Ffestiniog, Wales
and a colorful post-dinner sunset for a beautiful close to the day.

Pink and purple sunset with trees, Ffestiniog, Wales