The walk from Porthmadog to Morfa Bychan

After what seemed like the longest train journey ever, the was the walk to a little caravan site. Well it was 2 1/2 miles. Although I was thinking at one stage that maybe was welsh miles perhaps? Out of the station and one false alarm, there was a turning to the borth road… Well this road involved a hill. So? A hill? For someone who has walked miles – what’s the problem – well when you are not in proper walking gear and have a dodgy wheely rucksack and underprepared it looked horrible – aargh!

But onwards! Then a sign (no a real sign honest) loomed into view it seemed a doodle – but the road went on and on and on and – well you get the idea LOL

Until caravans yes – I saw them in the distance – well for a brief moment. Then in a brief shock I saw some strange animals LLamas – what were they are doing in Wales?! Aah just sheep with longer legs LOL
Aah the village and the smell of fish and chips – and a caravan park sign oh no a false alarm and wrong turn darn – and yet another sign

Couldn’t stand it any longer I turned to God and prayed – “please God let the next sign be the one” and guess what it loomed into view! Wow that was the fastest answer to prayer ever!
On arrival there was a total surprise the caravan was located in my Mums favourite bands area “The Snowdrops” LOL

Must admit on arrival I had the best cuppa ever and the short 2 12 miles felt more like 50 (perhaps this should have been the sponsored one )

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:-( and :-) all at once! – Snowdon – 06.05.2009

The view from the top

From 2009 – 07.05.2009 – Snowdon Walk

Shock at that view was to say the least understated.  But with gusting winds and the route planned to come down, the route was to go up (they say what goes up must come down!)

Still fighting the winds didn’t come easy.  People walking past easily as if they had walked it many times before… But with the fear of a 3,000 ft drop in front and the rock climb just done, well for those out there, thinking, so you didnt make the top! Nothing to it, well, to those I say for someone who has never ever climbed a mountain before, afraid of heights, thats not bad really, I must admit I was not alone!  Thanks for your support I would never have done it without you

Only about 560ft short.  So what now?

Decisions had to made, to go over the top to the route to Bedgellert or walk to the summit to take the train?  Either way the top it seemed!  Ahha it was the worker from the Snowdon railway! Oi! Is there a train from the top?  No not until JUNE! – Oh dear…..  But a mile that way you can walk down and catch a train….

So the treacherous walk to the station was made – wind chucking about (no bars to hold onto…) very very exposed up there – made the first station – yes got to the station and asked some more workers – when is the train coming?

“Ah.. They are not running them this far up today – its far too dangerous – you will need to walk further down – wait yep you may be able to catch the last train – “

So the further walk to the station was made  – getting on  that train eventually was wonderful – and I know that I got on that train having got up the mountain by walking and climbing and not by any train! – Exhausted, bruised battered and wits having been scared out of me it was a welcome relief.

So where did the train go?  Well Llanberis… If you have been reading my blog you remember the bus driver?  Yes will that Bus driver knew the route we were going!

The bus from Llanberis to Pen-y-Pass (the start) turned into the bus to Bedgelert – and when it stopped there – low and behold we picked up the very bus that we had originally planned to take back to Porthmadog! I think God was looking after us that day!

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So the Summit or Not? (Snowdon – 06.05.2009)

Mmmm – The crumbliest, flakiest, milk chocolate, never tasted before…. (well you know how it goes!)….

Feet rested and a Cadbury Flake (sorry for the unashamed advertising there) but sadly it made a difference, or did it?

Looking over the lakes and over where we had just climbed, scrambled, been blown over and screamed – my breath was taken away by God’s artistry – He still never ceases to amaze me.  To see His handiwork is amazing – even if it is scary – the view wend over miles of welsh Countryside.

Still upwards it was, gusts of winds were getting stronger and even the friendly walkers “Good Luck” and the seventy year old (I swear that was his age – apologies if he was younger!) who said “it gets winder as you get higher!” – ouch!

Scrambling to find the path, and what seemed like holding on for dear life, while those passed nonchalantly as though they had walked that Welsh hill many times before – it was brought to mind – that the path you choose may always be difficult and narrow – but as long as you follow the right one you will get there!  I thought what a time to have a revelation!  I thought that was obvious – but not when the path didn’t look clear at all and was that the path anyways??? Did you really need to scramble those rocks (i.e was their another way around?) staying on the path did work in the end though.

Until the shining beacon of the stone that had been haunting us from the beginning of the trek i.e. is that where we are going?  Are they really people up there?  Yep that’s right the stone was only 100ft away and not longer a few 1,000 ft away!

Venturing across the stone – there was nothing the other side but view!  Unfortunately I will not blog my actual response.  Sheer drop either side.  Suddenly my fear of heights kicked in… Winds gusting roughly 27mph nearly knocked me flying ! (only tiny thing me!)

So Summit or no summit?

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PenyPass to Glaslyn – Snowdon! – Part 2 – 06.05.2009

Leaving Pen-y-pass car park behind, and using the old Miners track – a nice gentle route (!?!) to start out with, the scenery is spectualar, the track sweeps around the bottom of Snowdon’s Horseshoe – the sights are truly amazing to behold.  It is difficult to imagine, how miners actually mined any sort of slate or indeed anything up in the wilds of the welsh highlands to be honest…. nothing around for miles!

From 2009 – 07.05.2009 – Snowdon Walk

The track sweeps around three lakes, and each in turn has water so clear that it could be drunk there and then.  But  again, whether there are any fish in there who knows… But according to Welsh legend, in the Glaslyn lake there is a monster…

From 2009 – 07.05.2009 – Snowdon Walk

Walkers were generally friendly people, with their cheery hellos, which was a great encouragement, and to know this was a well trodden path – it was very strange to keep passing the same people several times who kept looking at the map trying to look for a route to the summit – but leaving them behind, since they went a different direction.

Also past the disused mine, the sounds of childrens voices broke the eerie silence of the welsh valley – oh I recognise them the kids from the school that were on the ffestiniog railway from the day before – thats scary

The silence was broken by the sound of a helicopter.. mmm strange that, why was it so low? Mmmm why was it so near? In fact why did it sound the same height as where I was just standing – and then it flew past – oh **** (sorry no time to get the camera out!)

The need for chocolate overcame everything and a stop was needed

From 2009 – 07.05.2009 – Snowdon Walk

and a rest for the feet

From 2009 – 07.05.2009 – Snowdon Walk

9.5.09 13:17

Snowdon Or Bust – 06.05.2009

So today was the day ( or yesterday now!) The sun was shining but the wind was blowing. The route planned Pen-y-Pass via Snowdon to Bedgellert. Getting on the bus the driver asked “Do you know the bus times getting back?” I replied “Yes… Downloaded them off the web! Just need a single to Pen-y-Pass and then a single from Bedgellert back” (- reader bear with me on this level of detail!!) The bus driver said it was better to get a Sherpa Ticket – “you may want to visit a little place called Llanberis….” Agreeing to pay the fare thinking the man was very strange as we were off too Snowdon not sighseeing! We won’t have time too tour!

The bus went via the tiny village of Bedgellert and trundled down a tiny road to Pen-y-Pass… TBC

From 2009 – 07.05.2009 – Snowdon Walk

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