The Welsh Hills with the welsh

I wasn't going to put anything on the blog about my ride on Sunday, but after Andy's blah about running.................... This is a Mountain Bikers Blog. Get on a bloody Running Blog. Enough said!!!

Anyway, went up to the Welsh Alps over Easter and was asked by a friend , up there, to take him on the Marin Trail on Easter Sunday, the only decent day. We met at 0900, weather was fantastic. We looked a million dollars. Me on my Specialized Hardtail and Gaz (Gareth in Welsh) on his peugeot full suspension Halford's Special. I had asked if he had a bike(beic in welsh) and he stated 'Oh yes, a full susser' No probs I thought.
We set off. After a hundred metres all i could hear was a constant squeak. All was not going well. 'It always does that!' Oh well, let's give it a go. We went through a deserted Llanrwst and up the Nant Hill. After half a mile of up and Gaz huffing and puffing, he stated that he shouldn't have had the TEN pints last night and his guts were playing up. Still the weather was great and the air fresh. We turned off to the start of the Marin Trail.
We managed about 2 miles of the 16 miles before Gaz announced that a) he didn't think he was up to it AND b) his bike definitely wasn't up for it. We hit the minor roads and headed for the lakes. A pleasant climb up to Llyn Gerrionydd which was like a mirror. I gave him a choice of up and over to Llyn Crafnant or straight route home. He'd cheered up and opted for the scenic route.
Boy was it worth it! The views of Snowdonia with Snow topped mountains was superb. Proper Mountain Biking. none of your manufactured trails here. We battled up to the top of the fire road and after stop at the viewpoint, blatted down to a lakeside cafe for a brew. High Speed decent with the odd wait for the squeaky boy.
Tea and cake consumed we had an uniterupted further blat down into Trefriw. The Welsh alps now bathed in Spring Sunshine and a quick nip across the Gowers Suspension Bridge and into the pub.
Hope you are all still awake! The good news is I have found accommodation above a Pub in Penmachno half a mile from the start of the Penmachno Trails. Who's up for aproper welsh trip later in the year????
Nos Daa....................