Minimal

Well, I’ve been back from Wales for nearly a week now, so I figure it’s about time I wrote something about it. In short: good cottage, good food, good walking, good driving, good weather (mostly), crappy slate mine, good gaming and, of course, good friends. I think that pretty much sums it up. :)

In total, we managed only 28 miles of walking during our stay. And we didn’t do Snowdon either. I have to take the blame for some of that — once again, my boots conspired to kill me. At least this time it wasn’t heel-sized blisters. Must see about getting my freakishly skinny feet kitted out with some properly fitting footwear. Either that or I could try shaving some bone from the top of my right foot. Not sure which will be easier, to be honest.

As well as the 28 miles of walking, I managed to cram in 4 circuits of the Evo triangle, although I was passenger for 1½ of them. It’s true that the 3 roads comprising it are a good mix of surfaces, sweeps and traffic conditions. The first stretch, from Pentrefoelas towards Denbigh, is relatively rough, beginning with dry stone walls in close proximity before heading out onto the moors. This was where I had the most fun, as there are a few points at which you get to see a good distance of the road ahead.

The second side then dives into coniferous forests on beautifully smooth roads. If I were a copper, this is where I’d camp out waiting for the next Evo subscriber to push their luck. Consequently, I kept it very steady on this bit. In fact, it was decidedly boring. Were it a rally stage, it would be a thrilling ride with high speeds, but at 60mph, it sucked. Halfway through this side of the triangle, things start getting a bit more interesting again as the gentle curves and gradients are replaced by a rollercoaster ride of swoops, crests and corners. The blindness of some crests did stop you having too much fun, but at least you got to work the gears again.

The final stretch is just part of the A5 and, as such, it was much more heavily populated with traffic. I guess this is where Evo would test the cars’ overtaking capabilities, as there’s really not that much fun to be had on this artery out of Snowdonia.

Oh, bugger. I’ve only gone and spent most of this post talking cars again. Ah well, it is a vice. The holiday, however, was much, much more than driving. Despite being there only a week, I came away feeling like we’d been away for a month. I was utterly chilled. In fact, just walking in light rain on the first day was “like oil on the soul”, to borrow a phrase from HH Frentzen. I needed it and I needed it badly. Now, I just have to keep that feeling going. Time to join the Ramblers again, methinks.