Brecon Beacons 2011

Monday 28th June 2011 a trip blighted by injury to Rich and neil's hip. JC Dick Gordon and Eric met at the Visitors Centre for coffee. We proceeded to do 15 miles on steep inclines and descents. First off road was hairy followed by gordons' insistence on a downhill route which ended with a climb of about 300 ft. This was a tough start. Then with much map reading which added to the fun we progressed not very fast, Eventually making a cross country route over the fells to the centre and coffee. Then loaded the bikes and made to teh B and B in Brecon. Nice rooms and made to go to the pub at 6 for real ales in abundance. Then on to the recommended Castle Hotel for dinner and again enjoyed the meal and company Back to the Boars Head for more ale. After leaving eric decided to decorate the pavement outside just to show appreciation.
A fitfull night sleep and breakfast and mount up on Tues along the Brecon Canal which must be th most picturesque we have ever seen. to Talybont on Usk . Stopped for coffee as the climb to the gap was about to start. This was every bit as hard as I remember. A long drag on a tramway to a road then a fast (40mph) descent to more track through forest. then out onto the BW proper. Met lots of bikers and walkers doing the gap. A steady climb with a dangerous bit in the middle. Then a 1 hr climb to the gap a rest and plummet for 30 mins on rough track with boulders. no spills to the bottom and follow the route back to brecon. 25 miles . A shower and back to the bosrs head for more ale and then to a flashy new bar for dinner. Sadly the steaks were cold and the lamb dissappointing so back to the boars head for more ale. not too much this time as erics decoration of the pavement had been cleaned by now.!
On wed. Dick and Gordon made it halfway up the tramway and diverted back to the cana, leaving eric and JC to climb for another hour trying to follow the map. Finally lost the trail on the top going left to a quarry where they were filming clash of the titans ii A long downhill to village then over a BW to another village losing some height so a climb back to the top of the usk valley a swift descent to a village and finding a pub with the tennis on watched murray in the q final. met a family and had some good crack. after rain we made a dexcent to the canal and back via talybont to brecon. did about 42 miles and I was ready for the knackers. then out to te boars head and on for a curry v nice and soon home to bed. up on thurs and a gentle drive back via hay on wye a stop to admire the books, lunch and on via worcester to solihull. An exhausting trip completed by eric and jc