A day of two halves

I have decided that it is time that I explored some new places. I keep returning to my favourites, but have to remember that my favourites were once new places, and so other new places might become my favourites. If you see what I mean!

I have recently bought a great book of walks around Betws-y-coed and found one that looked intriguing. It takes you through the disused Hafna Lead mine which sounded fascinating.

It is based just outside Llanwrst on the side of a valley amidst a dense forest. You park halfway up the valley then walk practically to the bottom which was steep and very uneven, then complete a circle going back up the valley, over the top of the derelict buildings, back to the car park.

The views were incredible and the buildings fascinating. The following is a bat capped mine shaft!

 It is very sad to see what was once a major industry in such ruin, but there is an awful lot of this around in Snowdonia.
However, although the hike was very strenuous in places, the peace and tranquility were perfect.

 The chimney had to be kept away from the smelting buildings because of the noxious gases it emitted! Not overly environmentally friendly.

The day really was one of two halves, the second half I will deal with briefly. On my way from the carpark, I was flagged down by a lad obviously in distress. He had found what he believed to be a suicide and did not know what to do. I followed him to the location where there was a car with the engine running and the exhaust leading into the car where a gentleman sat. I opened all doors and turned off the engine but there was unfortunately nothing I could do for the gentleman. The next 2 hrs were spent waiting for ambulance and police.
When they had finished with me, I felt I was in no fit state to drive home, so as I was only about 10mins from Surf Snowdonia, I headed there. I felt the need to go somewhere happy where people were having fun. I also knew that there was a chance I would see a friendly face there.

I was there for about an hour, just sitting or taking pictures and then felt calm enough to drive home.

Lessons Learned: Expect the unexpected. I always imagined that if anything dramatic ever happened, it would be me falling over, down or into something. Never imagined I would come across someone who believed there was no other way out. It has affected me a lot more than I expected but the positive I can take from it is that I was able to take control of a situation that was well outside my comfort zone. I was a wreck after, but at the time I coped. 

Diet Diary: Doing incredibly well and so pleased. Currently down 1.5 camera bags, so halfway there!

Rambling Record: over 460 miles! Aimed for 500 by the end of June, and so well ahead there.

Little Adventure - Day 2

After my fabulous visit to Surf Snowdonia, I headed up into the mountains to stay overnight in a converted Shepherd's hut and you will never have seen anything so charming!

Furthest hut is the bedroom and living area, while the closest the kitchen and bathroom. It is beautifully furnished and so unbelievably out of the way. The views were gorgeous and the silence, welcome and incredible.

Shepherd huts (for more info)

Then, on with the adventure. I had found a walk that took me through Beddgelert and into the mountains in a 4.5mile circular walk which seemed perfect.

Beddgelert is a beautiful little town with plenty of individual shops and nice eateries, but no time for that now, got walking to do!

You start by following the river path which takes you past Gelert's grave (Legend of Gelert). You follow the path over a wooden railway bridge, that crosses the local steam railway tracks.

Then it meanders alongside a series of small waterfalls and the path gets very narrow and this part is called the Fisherman's Path. A bit challenging, but so beautiful.

At the end of the river, you head up into the Aberglaslyn Pass where the real hiking began. Its steep and deserted and fabulous. My leg seems to have completely healed, so I can finally do a bit more.

I do love anything derelict industrial and these are the remains of the aerial ropeway system used to transport ore from one end of the valley to the other. It was a fabulous walk up until this point. No other people, perfect hiking weather and outstanding scenery. So much so, I even took a selfie!

I hasten to point out that this is me with no make-up, looking very windswept and a bit flushed after a very steep climb, but this marks the turning point as the walk got progressively worse from here.

I followed the printed instructions I had for the walk to where the path split and I took the left fork. So far so good, until the path disappeared into a swamp! It was one of those hidden swamps that lurk beneath the long grass and you don't realise it's there until you squelch. Managed to work my way through it but my really good hiking boots were no match for liquid mud and it seeped through to my socks pretty darn quickly.

Eventually I picked up the path again, which split into two. Now according to my instructions, it shouldn't have done that, so next dilemma, which path to take. Figured that if I always took the left, the worst that could happen is I would go in a full circle. Its at times like these that I wish I'd paid attention at Girl Guides and got my navigation badge!

Left hand path led into another swamp. I was slipping and sliding all over the place and the only things to grab onto were gorse bushes, and me having left my brand new, for all emergencies, first aid kit in the car.

It followed this pattern for quite a while, swamp, path split, fall over. I was extremely muddy and getting a bit tired. I had absolutely no idea where I was and had gone so far that it was impossible to retrace my steps. So I eventually had one rational thought and decided that if climbed as high as I could, I could look down and get my bearings. I eventually did and could see a proper path way below me in the distance. At this point I didn't care where it went, as long as it went somewhere. Access was via a very undignified scramble through heather, bracken and gorse and I apologise now for all the environmental damage I did on my descent. 

When I eventually got the the path I realised that it was the path that I had been following originally and I had rejoined it just before where I turned off it the first time. So instead of walking a circle, imagine a balloon on a stick. I walked up the stick, around the balloon, and back down the stick, turning a 4.5mile walk into an 8mile one. Navigationally Challenged for a reason folks!

So into Beddgelert for a huge bowl of chips and a chocolate milkshake because I think I had earned them!

Lessons Learned: I surprisingly do seem to have a fair bit of confidence in my capabilities for although I was lost and tired, I knew I would find my way back because I always have. Lets just hope next time doesn't prove me wrong.

Hiking with mud soaked socks is not one of the most pleasurable experiences I have had.

Diet Diary: Still at one camera bag down (10lb). Had a few family events revolving around food like they do, and I think it is only the hiking keeping the weight steady.

Rambling Record: Total currently stands at 423 miles, with a target of 500 by the end of June, which should be doable. Feeling particularly chuffed with myself!

Finally, another trip

Although I have been out and about a bit recently, nothing has really seemed blogworthy, so its about time I went somewhere interesting!
Decided on a night away in Snowdonia, with the view of exploring parts I had not yet reached.

First port of call, Surf Snowdonia. Regular readers will know that I have a bit of an unhealthy obsession with surfers so to go somewhere where they were more or less guaranteed seemed too good an opportunity to miss. There was also the possibility I might see my photographer/surfer friend in action, but sadly this was not to be. Next time!

Surf Snowdonia is an incredible place. It is basically a constructed fresh water lagoon the size of 6 football pitches. Waves are created every 90 seconds and I really don't know how to describe how they are made so it makes sense, but imagine the front of a snow plough going through the middle stirring up the water. It is a sight to see, and even if you have no interest in the sport, it is so worth a visit just for the experience.

Surfing is something I can watch for hours, it is so graceful and very skillful, but something which I have absolutely no desire to do myself. My friend suggested I book a lesson, but no. Me in a wetsuit, I think not. Plus the combination of a dislike of being in water and a non existent sense of balance does not make surfing the ideal choice for my next challenge. I'll just stick to spectating thank you very much.

The backdrop is beautiful too, you forget you are in the heart of Snowdonia until you look up and see hills and mountains all around.

You can actually stay on site too. There are pods and also tepees which are just fabulous. 

I must have stayed at least an hour, just wandering up and down, watching the surfers and snapping away, and no one minded. There is a cafe there and outdoor seating but the best thing is that you can get really close and you can start to predict the waves, which makes taking photos a lot easier. Got a few that I am happy with, but do feel I could have done better, so will just have to go back. Soon.

I took most of the action shots using my 70 - 300mm lens so I could get closer. It was a bright day so I was able to have a fast shutter speed to capture the movement without blurring. Not quite got it yet, but getting very close.

More on the rest of the trip to follow shortly. Got so many photos to sort, its going to take a while!

Lessons Learned: I think I have found my happy place. So next time I am at the dentist or going through something unpleasant, I will cast my mind back to waves and surfers and all will be calm and good!

Diet Diary: Bit of a stop at the moment, struggling to get back into it, yet again! Why is it that the calorie content of food increases in direct relation to the tastiness of it!

Rambling Record: I am on fire!! 393 miles so far and well on track for the 1000. The tendon problem slowed it down, but I am back at full strength and raring to go