A snowy camping weekend in mid Wales...

[Specialone]

Myself, Aliwakeskate and Luckiegar (off the abr forum) went camping this weekend to mid Wales, stayed here...

http://fforestfields.co.uk/

We met at hopwood services at 4.30 on Friday afternoon and we were on the road about 5pm, slight error on the direction and wet horrible weather meant we didn't arrive until around 7.30pm.

By this time it was pitch black, wet and cold but spirits were still high :)

We got tents set up and rode back up to the pub we passed in hundred house about a mile away, excellent, friendly little pub and a most welcome meal was soon dispatched.

Saturday morning, I was awake at 6.30 so went into the info room on the site and used their kettle to get a brew on, took my first pic...
http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/08C4C841-466D-443D-A558-ABBF547E9254-1219-0000018FF2F93D54_zpsb6347b0e.jpg.

After we got ready to roll, we headed back to the pub for brekkie...

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/5CAEF46C-BB04-41F0-B14B-E10A1155206A-1219-000001986653A0AE_zpsf8c119a9.jpg

After brekkie we headed into Builith Wells for fuel then off towards the Strata Florida.

This was mine and Al's first time on the strata, what an experience, truly awesome lane, it had everything, water (lots of it), rocky climbs, scenery, sleet, snow, ice, freezing cold water...
http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/E6F3FB45-F2AD-4CDA-ACAE-A9592663382C-1219-00000192B45D2E0D_zpsd234fac7.jpg

Just after this was taken I hit a rock in the water and it punted me towards that big rock on the left, my front wheel got wedged and I stopped, feet down into 18" of freezing cold water wasn't the best start lol...
I managed to wrestle it free and luckily it started first click, I then stopped to empty my boots and wring my winter socks out.

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/8765D884-3F1B-4174-8742-20DFF54352E3-1219-00000192C0DBD235_zpsb352e42a.jpg

Some other pics off the Strata...

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/BB167887-E886-4AEF-BD9D-DBEFD1C82FD3-1219-00000192DC4318A4_zpse502f65d.jpg

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/CF6CF7B8-CBFA-4521-9849-5B4E4356AA7B-1219-00000190204D6D57_zps4f1da159.jpg

This pic, the water behind had only just had the icy covered top broken by the 4x4 guys so there were still big chunks of ice and slush moving about as we rode through it.


http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/039BC828-A5D8-4FC5-BC92-D142242F4E3F-1219-00000192CD0CE374_zps97d9ecfd.jpg

We did some other lanes around Élan and the weather was pretty atrocious as we got higher, stinging sleet and heavy snow as well as avoiding runners in a race with zero road sense, IMO the road should've been closed as 4 stubborn ****s running side by side with no desire to move over.

By this time I was starting to get painfully cold and I couldn't see very far in front so started making a few silly mistakes and nearly binned it big time on one lane.

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/8015E24A-348A-450B-9816-96F31A729C71-1219-00000190AE925CCD_zps78b536e6.jpg

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/1AB6C696-AC62-4C46-B611-CE8BB5645CF7-1219-0000019008832848_zps5d71b3aa.jpg

I'm sure Al and Gaz have some pics from the day to add, some of the above pics were stolen off Al's FB album :)

[Specialone]

So about 4pm, after a coffee in Rhayder we started back towards Builith Wells, got supplies for the night then headed back to the campsite, by this time it was lashing down.

Warm showers and our gear put in the drying room, I come out to see the rain had turned to heavy snow.

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/09F83B99-6199-426F-8D81-A99DE2F11E93-1219-00000190E6B6991B_zps4c059c4e.jpg

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/86106231-CD5F-41CF-AA3D-246D904B0A31-1219-00000191055358B0_zps94a05686.jpg

Fire and BBQ on the night kept us in good spirits :)

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/54BF65CD-764A-4F85-9D95-EC51B8963E60-1219-00000192FB0D56D6_zpsdf0ef590.jpg.

A mini hot water bottle and a 4 season sleeping bag kept me toasty in the night and next morning struggled to get out my tent as the zip had froze lol

Last pic, just before we start packing up...

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/CA16608A-0709-4506-ACB5-532B301B1B67-1219-000001911FC5A15F_zps987352ab.jpg

Had an awesome time, friendly campsite, with great company and awesome lanes, what more could anyone ask for?

Cheers to Gaz for sorting a route and showing us the way round :)

Phil

[Richie]

One Word.... "MADNESS"

I doth my cap to you guys :)

[Sir Trev]

Did you deliberately go out in that weather? It would take armed kidnappers holding my nearest and dearest at gunpoint to get me doing half of that at this time of year.

[Geodude]

Ta for the write up. You lads must really enjoy your green laning to go out in that and i have to admit it does look alot of fun in that kind of weather.


*Hmm off to ebay DRZ's*

[Specialone]

Did you deliberately go out in that weather? It would take armed kidnappers holding my nearest and dearest at gunpoint to get me doing half of that at this time of year.

We knew it was gonna rain, it was forecast dry Saturday morning though, which it was but as soon as we got higher, the sleet and snow started and didn't really stop then.

The campsite helped as it had top facilities, drying room and tumble dryers, tbh it wasnt that bad, it looks worse than it was I'm sure, I'd do it again no problem.

The green laning more than made up for any camping inconvenience :)

G, get one mate, or any other dirt type bike, it's a great pastime that improves your road riding no end too.

[Geodude]

Heh anything that improves my road riding is a bonus ;)



*hmm strokes beard*

[Littlepeahead]

There's a reason why they operate biking holidays round mountains in Thailand from October to April. Because it never snows there.

You are bonkers, the lot of you!

[Specialone]

There's a reason why they operate biking holidays round mountains in Thailand from October to April. Because it never snows there.

You are bonkers, the lot of you!

Yeah but us mere mortals can't afford those Clare ;)

This weekend cost less than £100 including fuel, meal at the pub, drinks etc etc :)

[maviczap]

Reminds me of the time (1980's) we went to the April Showers rally in your part of the world Phil

Went to sleep with it raining outside the tent, woke up to about 2 inches of snow.

wet gloves required buying some marigolds to wear under our wet gloves

All part of the adventure, we still talk about it now. So will you in years to come.

[Specialone]

Yep mav, you hit nail on 't' head, all part of the adventure, you get through a weekend like this then when you go next time and it's not perfect weather you can always say its an improvement on this time so will always seem better ;)

Cold I can easily cope with, it's the wet I can do without tbh, it just soaks everything.

[missyburd]

We knew it was gonna rain, it was forecast dry Saturday morning though, which it was but as soon as we got higher, the sleet and snow started and didn't really stop then.


I had this problem trying to get down to Surrey from Yorkshire the previous Saturday night, snow forecast this end then just cold and overcast the rest of the way...they got it very wrong, it relentlessly snowed with driving freezing rain and sleet chucked in the mix for 60 miles before I had to reluctantly admit defeat and go back home, the 60 miles back being a whole lot worse except for quieter motorways... I don't quite know why you lot would deliberately soak yourself and freeze for fun but I guess I will never fully understand the male mind :D And I suppose you lot do retain heat better.

There's a reason why they operate biking holidays round mountains in Thailand from October to April. Because it never snows there.

If you've ever been to the Elan Valley Clare you'll know we've got just as beautiful landscapes on our doorstep without having to fly anywhere, though I bet it was something else seeing it in snow like that. Utterly mad you lot but admirably impressed by your determination to enjoy yourself, glad you all had a good time!!

[Specialone]

Thanks Maria :)

I think the majority of men would've enjoyed the weekend despite the weather, it's just the motivation to try it with the weather looking iffy.

[TCochrane]

Looks fantastic!!

[Specialone]

A video of one of the lanes, most of the terrain looks like muddy gravel but it's actually slippy wet solid rock.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPtVD6DMgtA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Geodude]

Haha phil phils his boots qualitee you mad set of buggers ;)

[BanannaMan]

Looks like an ace adventure!
Great pics!

[Fruity-ya-ya]

One Word.... "MADNESS"

I doth my cap to you guys :)
+1

At last we have photographic evidence that you lot are indeed insane.

Looks like you had a right larf.

[Specialone]

Yeah mate I've always had a small screw loose lol

People flapping on the news this morning in brum about a bit of snow, I'm thinking, try riding on a green lane, up a mountain in a blizzard while your hands are so cold it's now painful then getting back to your tent for it to start snowing heavy there too, they ain't got a clue lol :)

Hurry up spring though, this cold weather is getting tedious now.

[Specialone]

Some more footage of me getting my feet wet...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5gl_q_2YXo&sns=em