Clocked up another 90 miles on Saturday, starting from Chester, out to
Pentrefoelas and back. Very hot, I had a slight headwind all the way out
and was looking forward to trading it for a tailwind, but then without a
breeze there was nothing to cool me off. Millions, trillions of flies too.
Felt like it was starting to rain at times they were zapping me so much,
and I must have swallowed a few hundred too (how many calories?).
Had fun on the road to Mold, caught up a tractor trundling along at about
25mph and decided to see how long I could pace it for. About 2 miles, then
he pulled in to let us all past and my fun was over.
After Mold I found a nice single-track climb over the Clwyds to Denbigh (a
hairy descent, a few months back when I first found this lane I discovered
I really needed new brake blocks - how I survived I don't know), lunch in a
café before the nine-mile climb. I'd been up here once before last year on
my old bike, I remembered the climb being long and steep, especially the
last few miles. Today I hardly felt it - I was beaming. Had to keep
stopping though for photos - marvellous views all round, especially once I
was on the moors, right across Snowdonia.
The midges were out in force across the moors, and the wind put a dampener
on the descent, then came the point to turn back at Pentrefoelas. The
tailwind didn't seem to have any effect and without a breeze in my face I
was overheating pretty quickly.
Back through the Clocaenog Forest to Ruthin was quite slow on the climbs.
Two weeks ago I'd thought about coming back this way from Bala after
crossing the Berwyns - good choice to have gone the "easier" way!
Then things got worse. I was in Ruthin, I wanted to be in Mold, the other
side of the Clwyds again. Two options - A494, steep and very long, or the
Old Bwlch, very steep and short. Silly me, I went for the Old Bwlch. I was
dehydrated, I got cramp, I got off and walked....
After another café stop in Mold, I was up to speed again for the last 15
miles to Hooton, spot-on 90.0 miles in 5 hrs 40. Not bad considering I was
feeling ready to drop at the halfway point!