Welsh TET Day 3

 I think he still lived with mum, either that or his girlfriend was 80, but I'd stopped to chat when I saw him working on this...

He was an engineer and as enthusiastic as a kid at Christmas to show me his wonderful heath Robinson creation.  135cc of pure engineering genius. Love it. 

Leaving Barmouth we stumbled upon this old bridge, it was 30p per bike to cross it and you had to place your money in a copper pot. Quaint. Gotta love the olden days!

Below, the last view of Barmouth before you cross into the next valley. 

Here's Jason causing a traffic jam when the lead rider of this troop stopped to chat. Honestly the lead man wouldn't stop talking. I could hear Jason on the intercom trying to be really polite, but the under tone was 'please f off'' 

Theres loads of lanes and off-road sections in the south Snowdonia range. Some were incredibly tough, either wet or extremely rocky. 

The rocky sections are easily the most challenging, it's tough on the bike and the body. Jason had a slip at one point and was bruised by the evening.  I dread to think what the muscle pain will like in the morning, probably rise from bed with all agility of an arthritic great grandmother. 

Jasons gate technique demonstrated below, dump the bike anywhere, anyhow. Mine was a little more considered, if there was any possibility of blocking the gate so I couldnt f-ing open it, I took it.  Time and time again I blocked the gate and then pushed, grunted and shoved the bike back, like the stupid ape I am, not understanding a simple puzzle. 

Our path today headed south through Snowdonia and into mid wales. Though, it's not what anyone would call a direct line, the TET map looks more like a toddler threw spaghetti at a wall and thought, 'that will do'.

Who's gonna win this clash of minds?...

After a long day we contemplated where to stay for the evening. The next section of the TET is the Strata Florida into Llandovery which we've already completed three times. 

Instead we took the opportunity to stay in the town of  Lempeter, one of the oldest university towns in the UK.   Strange, it's the only uni town I've ever been to without any students! It's a bit of a nowheresville with little charm, the majesty of its past lost to time...

We actually ran into one of the local 'hard men' who took offense to us chatting to the barmaid. ...how were we supposed to know it was his girlfriend?!  😄

Not wanting to test our luck on his neanderthal forehead we left him beating his chest and moved on. So long Lempeter.