Day 2 100 miles completed!
Welsh mountains in the rain!
I have to say for most of us this was one of the toughest days of our lives. We left at 7am this morning in the pouring rain to climb the biggest mountains in Wales. On many occasions it crossed our minds that we were crazy and “what were we doing here???” We got through the first leg well. Today I followed David, my accountant’s advice and picked a backside and stuck to it. This provides a wind break and you get a bit of a drag up the hills. This really helped me in the first leg as not only was it pouring, it was also extremely windy. The mountains are vast and it is a rural wilderness with nowhere to shelter.
Finding shelter in the support bus
At the end of leg one everyone was drenched. We warmed up in our wet gear in the minibus. To put it mildly the mood was low and the smell was worse! We had only cycled 23 miles and we had another 77 to go! We all bit the bullet and battled on, with the minibus on hand to pick up anyone who was struggling. Stubborn as I am I refused to get in. The decent from the mountain was just as tough, as in the rain the roads were slippy and with brakes on the whole way our arms soon got sore. The wind and rain was so bad that it felt like needles hitting your face. At one point I scared myself as I could not see out.
The road ahead? Not another hill!!
I hit a real low 5 miles from our lunch stop I had no water and no glucose tablets left. My tank was empty. It is so funny the crazy things you think of when in this state and the demons in your head are saying stop… stop… STOP!! I had thought of stopping at a few pubs and cafes to beg for food. I even had a thought that I could learn from yogi bear and steal the picnic basket from the campers in a passing camp site!
I made it to lunch, 48 miles done, force fed myself then got back on my bike. Our answered prayer was the rain had stopped. The thought of another hill was too much, especially when
Snowdonia National Park
at the briefing we were told it was 4 miles long!! So I fought my way into the bus and got a lift to the top. I really just wanted to see what it was like inside!! Again the demons were saying “stay in the van.” However we were kicked out and off we set. It was brill because I got to cycle with Justin the expetition leader up at the front for the first time. Normally I am with my best friend Paul at the back!! Finally we made it to the last stop. If I see another cereal bar I will be sick. Tomorrow I can assure you I will be having mars bars. 12 miles from home I got a refill of water and of course glucose, washed my face with cold
Its good to be alive... really!!
water and that was enough to fight on. At the top of a hill in this little welsh town we spotted some of the boys. They were at a fish & chip shop getting some supplies! We did not stop as we would not have got started again. I can not believe we made it. The last 28 miles today was pure endurance for me. I really had the drive to complete it but was so physically drained. Paul was fab, because at my lowest point he put his hand on my back and literally pushed me for a mile. If Jess had not been with me, spurring me on, I think I would have caved. It is an awful feeling waiting for the glucose tablets to kick in. Just a pity they kick out quicker than they kick in!! The scenery was beautiful today, even in the rain. I hope some of the pictures show the fabulous views of the Snowdonia National Park. Sleep now in preparation for tomorrow. Still very positive, I am praying for a gale that does not allow the 12 noon ferry to go from Holyhead… not because I do not want to come home… but because a coach will then have to take us to Drogheda!! Till tomorrow, good night.
Lisa & Jess