Day 42 - Llanberis to Llanrwst - 13.8 miles

Somewhere in my planning of the walk and in particular in the mountains of North Wales, I must have lost concentration. Some of the distances - as the crow flies would be possible but not when you have to take mountains into consideration.

Speaking to Gwyn yesterday evening I realised that both today's and tomorrow's walks wouldn't be tenable without shortening them somehow.

For today's walk, I decided to take the bus to Capel Curig and then walk from there to Llanrwst.

On a Saturday morning, the mountain railway and local bus stop in Llanberis resemble the bottom of an Alpine ski lift. Hoardes of people crowding in. My bus to Capel Curig via Pen y Pass was like a London bus at rush hour.

I got talking to Julie,  -  I'd noticed  she was studying a text book of fine line drawings of plants - at least she was trying to, midst the hubbub on the bus. 

Julie is a botanist working with Enfys, a local conservation consultancy based in Bangor. Today, she was going to join the 'non flowering plant group' for a survey of mosses on the mountain. In my view, that's not just difficult, that's really difficult.

Julie moved to live in Rhosgadfan only eighteen months ago but has been learning Welsh steadily and helped by a local church group. Da iawn a pob hwyl Julie.

At Pen y Pass, the bus emptied, the car park looked more like a pilgrimage site.

The bus dropped me off at the Siabod cafe in Capel Curig,

which was full of fit and hunky climbers, walkers, cyclists - the place was brimming with testosterone. A great atmosphere - nurtured significantly by the staff, a Romanian family who serve groaning plates with lashings of food, mugs of hot tea and hunks of bara brith.

Matte and Simone even rope in the mountain rescue team with lots of banter to clean the tables - a brilliant arrangement. 

I met photographers John and Marion

 who display their lovely work in the gallery next door. I did my bit to encourage them to at least try to improve their pronunciation of Welsh place names or even take a leaf out of Julie's good book and learn the language. Go on John and Marion, give it a try!!

I set off up Nant y Geuallt towards the Cwm Glas Crafnant Nature Reserve. The trail and signage were well set up. Near the top I looked back to see the approaching rain

Looking forward to Llyn Crafnant wasn't any better.

Before the rain came in properly, walking down to Llyn Crafnant I caught up with a group from the Trefriw Walking Festival led by Keith 

who is a Mountain leader and volunteer warden for the National Park.On the way down I got talking to Sue - originally from Surrey, who gave me more details of the Festival and how it's growing in popularity from year to year.

After a number of ups and downs, I eventually descended towards Dolgarrog intending to cross to my hotel on the other side of the river. Ideal! 

What looked like Broom and Gorse growing together !?

This is when things started to go belly up!!.

I'd made my way downhill to cross the River at Dolgarrog only to find that the ***%^£&#!! water board had closed the path for bridge maintenance. Crossing the river here wasn't going to be an option! All this meant a 2 mile main road walk back to Trefriw another mile to a different river crossing and a further 2 miles on a busy road to the hotel on the other side. - an additional 5 miles just to cross the River!  Not a happy bunny. 

On walking into Trefriw, my spirits needed lifting.  I saw signs for the Walking Festival at the community centre so went in and was met by lots of smiling faces and Sue again who I'd met walking with Keith. I was introduced to Jill and Kim from the Festival committee. 

Jill was the originator of the Festival and after much chivvying, negotiations and grant applications the first festival got under way in 2013 and has been growing ever since.

There'd been six different organised walks today, catering for different levels of experience and they were awaiting their return. 

Fuelled with a mug of hot tea and cake from the ladies in the kitchen,  I set off to find my second bridge of the day.

Is it in here?

After another pleasant mile, I crossed the river and decided to head into Llanrwst to see the beautiful old bridge - my third of the day.

Not wanting to walk the last few miles on the busy A470, I decided to travel the last bit by bus! 

Total distance walked so far = 532.2 miles

Total ascent so far 65 943 feet

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email: david.LL.thomas@gmail.com

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If you're tempted to contribute to any or all of the great charities I'm supporting, here are the relevant links.

Parkinsons UK   - My dad had Parkinsons in his latter years and the research work this charity funds and the support it provides to patients and their families is invaluable. - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-thomas215

Just Wheels UK  - this is a small charity set up to provide wheelchairs in a rural community in Tanzania. It does this through funding training, education and the local fabrication and servicing of bespoke wheelchairs. My nephew uses a wheelchair and as he grows I can see the life changing freedoms that proper wheelchairs can bring to both users and their families.- 

 https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a056900002H35TDAAZ

- RNLI   - these are the brave guys who selflessly head out to sea to help others. I volunteer at Littlehampton RNLI shop and often meet families of those who’ve had first hand experience of their loved ones being saved from the sea. Having sailed for years I can say thankfully we’ve never had to call on the RNLI's services but it’s amazing what it does to know they are there 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-thomas216