Barmouth – Yarmouth cycle challenge
The challenge: to cycle over 300 miles from west coast – Barmouth, Wales to east coast, Great Yarmouth.
The takers: amazingly, 12 cyclists fancied the ride (not sure how many read the mileage bit!)
Team Bar-Yar: Mat, Anna, Dave, Paul, Jude, Stav, Charlie, Phil, Jo, Em
Helen, Rrrich-ard (aka Tricky)
Support Bus Crew: Caroline and Elaine
Day 1: Thurs 9th April
Challenge: 14 people, 12 bikes and 1 transit van to travel to Barmouth, then complete a 10 mile ride to Dolgellau. Only 2 bikes allowed per train…
After collecting some new tyres for me following 5 punctures already this week, we headed off on our 5 hour train journey. We had a few slightly stressful moments getting bikes on and off trains and into a small wardrobe-sized bike compartment, but eventually arrived in a very blustery Barmouth.
We quickly orientated ourselves onto the Mawdach trail to Dolgellau and set off over a wooden bridge over the estuary. It was a pleasant cycling along an easy track for about 10 miles to Dolgellau. We arrived at the hostel to be greeted with a cuppa and offers of help to fit my new hardy tyres. Plas Isa hostel is very comfortable and well worth a visit – one to remember for future group trips. We then headed to the Italian restaurant for a pasta meal (or a vampire pizza – bloody hot! – Well done Jude – the German hostess was very impressed and apparently you were the first person to devour one!).
