A bit like, Last of the summer wine!

Friday morning saw me loading the old Inbred up and awaiting the arrival of Taylor. We were setting off into the mountains for a couple of nights for no other reason than because we could ... I may however, have had a sneaky look at a few WRT grid references along the way. I still consider early March in Wales to be winter, so tend to pack accordingly. I was carrying or to be correct, the bike was carrying:

• Deuter Atmosphere 550 down bag.

• Outdoor designs 2 star bivvy bag.

• POE Ether Thermo 6 mat.

• Furtech ShellTA (plus 8 pegs and 115cm alloy pole).

• MYOG Plastic groundsheet.

• Sea to summit Thermo extreme bag liner.

• Rab microlight down jacket.

• Nanok sleep socks (borrowed from Dennis).

• Pop can stove.

• Alloy .9l pan and MYOG foil lid.

• AlpKit Ti Lahoon (now hanging from a tree somewhere, lost).

• MYOG foil windshield.

• Polystyrene cup.

• Disposable plastic bowl (think kids party).

• Disposable lighter.

• Meths.

• Tiny, dinky little knife.

• Phone ... don't know why I bother really.

• Montane featherlite smock.

• Buff type thing.

• First aid kit (bare minimum).

• Maps x 2 (different ones).

• Petzl head torch.

• Rab inner gloves.

• A fiver.

I also had the usual tools and spares you'd carry for most rides and I was obviously fully clothed but nothing exotic. Food was also present ;o)

Packed and ready to go.

Friday night was spend in a small wood. Nice and sheltered with a good water supply. We arrived there around 7.00 so by the time we'd set up and made some food it was pretty near bedtime ... the only noise was the river and the bloody foxes doing their best to keep us awake.

Yes, this is a sign in Wales ...you've been warned.

We had a nice steady start the following morning, we were meeting Steve at 10.00 a few miles away so weren't in any great rush ... so much so that we were late! The first real hurdle of the day was a road pass, the highest road pass in Wales. The picture below really doesn't do it justice.

Riding not compulsory.

Saturday turned into quite a long day with us eventually setting camp in the wettest forest in Wales around 8.30. I won't mention the hour long quest for water, the thigh deep bog, the missing Oakleys, lack of brakes, multiple punctures within 4 yards or the vanishing RUPP ... the owners of those stories can keep them for themselves.

The good weather made a return on Sunday after heavy overnight rain which made the 3 hour ride back all the better ... the very last climb still hurt though!