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!