Dog tired

There is a saying in rugby circles that you never beat Wales, you just occasionally score more points than them. I don't even think the population of Snowdonia were even aware there was a game going on. I think they are just born miserable and their mood is never altered by events of the world. Hey ho!

So onto day two of camp Beddgelert, and another change of plan. We were due to do the Fisherman's Path, but the hotel proprietor indicated there had been a few people fall in the river lately and the mountain rescue team needed to get involved. The walk was fairly flat anyway, so we reverted to plan B.

This involves a gentle walk along the river to Bethania and a climb from there. We started off on the Watkin Path which would have taken us all the way up to Snowdon, but a more relaxed route allowed us to divert over Bylchau Terfyn and return to base that way.
It was a 1000ft climb on unmade paths so it certainly taxed our knees and thigh muscles.

It took a little over 4 hours and concluded with a visit to Gelert's grave, after which the village is named. Legend had it that Prince Llewellyn returned home one day to find his wife in distress and their baby missing. He then spotted his dog, Gelert  with bloodied jowls, assumed the worst and slayed him.

A while later he heard a baby 's cry and found his child alive next to a dead wolf. Gelert was the hero after all, Llewellyn was distraught and buried the dog by a tree in a field. Now I expected a huge mausoleum, but no, it's a lump of rock. Very disappointing.

There is another legend in these parts about the Red Dragon and its symbolism zzzz.

I must remember it's Valentine's night tonight, leeks instead of roses in these parts. Can't see them cheering up the locals mind.

One down,two to go

Here we are in the foothills of Snowdonia, at the start of Beddgelert boot camp. More hill walking and food and drink as the preparation for upcoming activity holidays continue

Today a 5 mile stroll to Rhyd Ddu and then the Sherpa bus back. It was not quite to plan as we had hoped to take the bus first and then walk back, but in hindsight it worked well as the altitude increase helped the old cardio vascular.




The first part of the walk meandered in and out of the Welsh mountain railway,






We then entered Beddgelert forest and later circumnavigated Llyn-y-Gadair. The sherpa bus is not quite like the reggae bus in Barbados, and it was 15 minutes late. Given there are only three a day lets hope they don't cancel any of them!!



All in all a good start to the camp. Nobody has mentioned the rugby yet but there is still time. Bar meal tonight then prep for tomorrow which is a planned alldayer!!