A Wet Walk.

I got up while it was still dark and sat in the doorway with my tea and Speedy on my lap (just Speedy not the tea) as it looked quite wet outside. While I waited for the dark to lift I pondered on the lights I could see in the distance. Every now and again I would see the light from a lighthouse far across the sea on the Llyn. Porthmadog was hidden by the sea mist but there was the bright string of lights pinpointing Tywyn. For a while the blue lights of an emergency vehicle flashed somewhere on the coast road beyond Aberdyfi. If it was an ambulance I hope that everyone was okay. Aberdyfi itself was lit up along the coast road and then came the giant headlights of the local train coming round the corner to our local station and on to Aberystwyth. Even when it's dark there is always plenty to see.

The morning was cloudy but dry and I set off with high hopes for the Sunday group walk. But by the time I had driven along the high ridge that leads inland from Penrhyn-coch to the car park in the forest by Llyn Padarn the clouds were down to ground level and it was definitely raining. It was so wet that my camera stayed in my back pack the whole time. I was glad that I had put on waterproof trousers and jacket over my usual walking attire before we set off.  

It wasn't until I was on my way home that the clouds lifted a little and I was able to take some photos.

For the walk itself in view of the weather and the needs of some of the group we opted for a shorter circular walk on the metalled road around Llyn Blaen Melindwr. It was a pleasant enough walk and it's always nice to chat with the rest of the group as we amble along. There were thirteen of us today and we weren't the only ones out despite the weather. The car parking areas were almost full and most of the other vehicles were large vans which no doubt was how the many motor bikers and mountain bikers had come to the area. A small group of cyclists stopped and asked if they were on the right track to the visitors' centre. It took me a moment to realise that they meant the visitors' centre at the red kite centre which was at least two ridges over from us. This whole high forestry/wild country is like a playground for outdoor pursuits and there are plenty of metalled roads as well as dirt tracks criss-crossing the hills. I sent the cyclists to our walk leader as he knows the area well and could point them in the right direction. 

All the motor cyclists who passed us seemed polite and amenable but one of our group who lives only a few miles away said there is a big problem with them going off the designated tracks and messing up the walking paths. Also they can be very unpleasant in their behaviour.

As I looked at this photo I realised that the darker hill on the left is the bluff above the dramatic waterfall, Craig Y Pistyll, with the steep path that the walking group has climbed several times. Then I realised that not only have I walked there but on one of our long rides we rode along this road before heading down and around the green hill in the middle of the picture and along a track that overlooked the waterfall from the far side of the valley. It's amazing to have such good walking/cycling/riding country less than half an hour from home.

I shall now feed Speedy who is trying to tell me he is starving, as ever and then I shall be good and make a start on the rest of my Welsh homework.