Dinorwig

So the day dawned cold and drizzly. Needed to get out for a small hike somewhere to top up the zen. Thought I would head to Snowdonia. Haven't been to the Dinorwig Slate Quarry for ages, and if the weather didn't improve I had the Slate Museum to visit.

So decided to get prepared for any weather eventuality, so checked waterproof trousers, snood, scarf, gloves, hat, spare boots and socks. All set.

It was only when I was almost at Betws-y-coed that I suddenly thought that I didn't remember picking up my coat. Parked up and ransacked the car, no coat. Its the middle of December and I am hiking up a hillside and I have no coat! I really am a danger to myself.

So 3 choices:
a) Go home and get coat - would waste the whole day, so not an option
b) Put up with the cold - really don't like being cold and it would spoil the day
c) Go buy another coat - any excuse to shop!

So helped by a very nice and rather handsome young man in one of the shops (I do seem to find them on my travels!) with the brief of "warm and cheap" I was finally suitably attired. (Would you like a bag? No thank you, I'll wear it, can you cut the tags out please)

So first stop Dinorwig Quarry. You can either walk up from the bottom, which is a very steep climb, or park up halfway and walk the rest. Afraid I wimped out. Fitness levels still not where they should be, so will work up to that one. Its amazing how quickly they drop. Climbed Snowdon in May, don't think I could do it now!

I was looking for a picture for the Derelict Sunday challenge I am hosting on blip for the next 4 weeks, and had a scene in mind.

I love the ruined state of the building with Snowdonia in the background. A dark and dramatic reminder of Snowdonia's industrial past. I tweaked a bit in Lightroom to add a bit more drama and hopefully make it a more powerful shot.

This is one of the Slate Pools that you come across when wandering through the quarry. The scenery is just incredible. You are surrounded by slate mountains on one side, and real ones on the other, it is very imposing and quite humbling when you think of the conditions men had to work and live in.

Much of it is fenced off which is a shame, but I think it would be foolhardy to climb over those fences because it is obviously a very dangerous place to lose your way in.

It was starting to drizzle again by this time so I headed to the Museum which amazingly, is free entry.

There is a very informative short film when you first get there telling you about the history of the quarry and then you are free to just wander around among the bits of machinery left as if the workers had just popped out for lunch.

On this visit, they were well into the Christmas Spirit, so there was more tinsel than you could wave a stick at, and an assortment of Snowmen, Santas and Reindeer, which kind of changed the ambience a tad, especially as I was the only person in there!

Been here many times and I just love it. I seem to find something new to see every time I visit. This time there was a whole new room open with some very interesting dials! 

The main piece of advice for any photographer visiting here is to remember your tripod. The light is very dim throughout and you will probably need some long exposures. It really is worth the inconvenience of lugging it around!

Last stop of the day was at Llyn Padarn. It truly is beautiful, a large lake with views towards Snowdon. 

The dying sun cast some interesting shadows and gave the light a beautifully dramatic feel. 

So I have hiked over slate, clambered up hillsides, photographed lakes and derelict buildings and also got the chance to do some shopping. Zen levels well and truly topped up!

Lessons learned: Leave the new coat in the car for all the other occasions when I am daft enough to forget one.

Diet Diary: You'd think all this hiking would help with the weight loss wouldn't you. It has been suggested that if I stopped visiting all the coffee shops and having slabs of cake, that it might make a difference, but I can't see that myself. What do you mean "denial"?

Zipping - Part 2

After Beth and I had such an amazing time at the Llechwedd Zip World, we decided to go back and take the whole family. Also, I dug out my little black compact camera so that I could get some photos this time.
The weather forecast for the day was grim. With thunderstorms and rain working their way up through Wales and reaching us by lunchtime. Still the ride was open so we thought we would take a chance, besides I couldn't wait to be kitted out in the bright red jumpsuit again!

Stopped en route at Betws-y-coed for the obligatory coffee and cake. Well it wouldn't be a proper day out without it, now would it? On arriving at Llechwedd the carpark was full and so we were directed up to the overflow, and when I say up, I don't mean up a small incline, I mean up to almost the top of the hill we were about to zip down. Walking down wasn't too bad, but was dreading the walk back up!

Anyway, finally down, checked in, got re-acquainted with the Lady in Red and we were ready to go!

This is the view from the very top of the first zip. Its a long way up and the views are completely incredible. 

Not as clear as the first time we did this, but still no rain or really low cloud.
I let the other four go together first.

 I knew my husband and Ed, Beth's boyfriend would be fine, but was a little concerned about Maisie. Maisie has been my Peter Pan buddy. Neither of us liking the big rides and sticking to the safe stuff, but all the while I have been turning into a reckless daredevil she has been going through something similar herself. She was so excited about this and I was so proud that my little girl was also ready to throw herself off a mountain attached to a piece of wire (actually she's nearly 15 and will hate me for calling her my little girl publicly, but whats the point in being a Mum if you can't embarrass your kids every now and again!).

This photo was taken as they were about to be launched. These were all taken with my little pocket camera and was quite pleased with how they came out. Everything on automatic, a real point and click so no real photography skills in evidence here.

I passed Maisie the camera at this point and asked her to take a photo of what she saw. You can see where the zip line goes, but the pic sort of loses it. You carry on over the little white road and end up at that grey rectangle just above it. This is the middle zip and is my personal favourite. You seem to get a bit closer to the ground and so really get a proper idea of just how fast you are going.

As expected the whole family loved the zips and for me it was as good as the first time. Although I didn't have the first time excitement, I also didn't have the first time fears and was really looking forward to it, knowing what was to come. You must ALL do this!

Different plan for the afternoon. On the same site is Bounce Below, an underground cavern filled with nets, trampolines, ladders and slides. We booked the kids in for a bounce session with Carl and I just spectating. Had to wimp out on this as I have a bit of a delicate back, but I could tell Carl was itching to have a go!

There are 4 different levels and it looked like completely ludicrous fun with as many adults as kids taking part.

It was really dark down there and so the photos are really high ISO and hand held, so please don't look too closely at the detail!

The only downside for me was that we were spectating in the cavern. And it was cold. Very cold. So much so that one of the attendants offered me a blanket!

All in all a completely amazing day. Beth and I are going to do velocity in September which is 100mph, face down and head first (think superman but without the tights). Can't wait!

And the car? Sent the driver back up to the top to drive down and pick us up at the bottom. No point in all of us having to tackle that climb. Thanks Carl!

Lessons Learned: Its hard to keep believing that I am a hardy and youthful pink haired adventurer when the handsome and helpful young man in the cavern thinks I am a frail old lady in need of a blanket!

Diet Diary: When I did this with Beth I was 1kg over the weight limit for needing a parachute. Determined this time to be below that! Didn't quite make it, was actually 3kg over this time. I blame the scone I had earlier, must have been heavier than it looked.

Llechwedd Slate Caverns and Zip Wire

Monday
As part of the Brand New Dynamic Me, I had decided to have a go at Zip Wiring. Zipworld in Snowdonia is the home of Velocity, the Longest Zip Wire in Europe and the fastest in the World! Also Titan, the largest zip zone in Europe where you can reach speeds of up to 70mph. I decided to start with Titan, which is 3 separate zips and, enlisting the help and moral support of Beth, booked the trip for Monday.
Monday dawned and it rained. It rained all the way to Llechwedd, it rained all the while we had coffee and it rained half an hour before we were due to zip. We were both soaked just from walking to the buildings from the car and thought that zipping was not going to be much fun. So throwing ourselves on the mercy of the organisers asked for a postponement which they very generously gave us. Booked for Wednesday.
So there we were having travelled to Llechwedd, not sure what to do. At the same site are the Llechwedd Slate Caverns which I had heard good things about, so nothing ventured and all that!

They take you in a little cable car sort of thing down to the caverns and you are escorted through the separate caves by a guide with an audio commentary at each one.

The story was fascinating. Boys would start an apprenticeship at 12 years old and then spend years working in almost pitch black excavating slate. The conditions were horrendous and the life expectancy of the workers was between 40 and 45 years. It must have been an unimaginably hard life for very little reward.

The caverns were well lit for us although it was still extremely dark down there.

My main criticism of the visit was that we were rushed. The audio presentations were on timers set at the start so we had a set amount of time to get to each one. There was no way I was able to use a tripod and set up a shot so they are all hand held with the ISO up to 12800 and fingers crossed for focussing. The lighting wasn't continuous so again it was a bit pot luck how they came out.

All through the tour you could see on the walls long thin grooves. When we got to the last cavern the guide explained that these were where the miners drilled to make holes for the gunpowder. 

Each hole took many hours to drill and were then filled with explosives and lit using a twine fuse. These were extremely unpredictable and many people were seriously injured or killed. In this over cautious Health and Safety ruled world we live in, it is so hard to imagine the way people were forced to work.

Wednesday
Our rescheduled trip to the Zip wire. Wednesday dawned and the sun shone. It shone all the way to Llechwedd, it shone all the while we had coffee and it shone all the way up to our zip, all through it and it is shining even now as I blog! The weather has been perfect with not a cloud in the sky! Such a difference from Monday.
We started off being dressed in bright red jumpsuits with a sort of large harness contraption on us which included a seat which was extremely elegant. Not! When we had to walk between zips, there was a certain amount of waddling going on!
We were driven up to the start of the first zip. You could see the top of Snowdon so clearly as there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the views were unbelievable, you could see for miles in every direction. I must add here that I didn't take my camera with me as I didn't think it would be possible to take pictures. However, I think next time I might be able to slip my old small compact in a pocket in the jumpsuit. So the next picture isn't mine, but is taken from the Zip world website

 We were strapped onto the wires very securely and at no time did I feel unsafe. Although the first "take off" was probably the hardest. The gates in front of you opened up and you just had to lift your feet to be on your way. My first thought was "don't want to" but gave myself a very quick and stern talking to and away I went. I was expecting a drop, but there wasn't. I just glided! I went fast but it didn't feel like it because it was so smooth.


As you can see from the website pic, it ain't elegant, but I have never done anything like it. You soar over quarries and mines, down the sides of mountains and across the most dramatic and beautiful countryside. Yes, you are very high and moving fast but that feels unimportant. It feels safe, extraordinary and completely awe inspiring!

This last pic is one of mine taken from the ground. It is where we came into land and you can see the colour of the sky we had. Just perfect. 

Lessons Learned: All my life I have convinced myself that I am a coward and wouldn't do anything any more adventurous than the Peter Pan ride at Disney! I have now realised that I was wrong. I am brave, strong and have an insatiable love of life! I want to do wild things, I am going to be someone my family have to keep up with, and not the one holding the bags while they do exciting stuff!

Bright red jumpsuit with attached safety harness isn't really a good look on me! Clashes with the hair!

Diet Diary: Another 2lb down, thats 9lb in total. Just 1lb off my first camera bag! Woo Hoo!!