New Years Eve, Inspirational Company and Snow?

Neil, Helen and Carys had driven up in early morning temperatures of -7 degrees Centigrade to the Castle at Brecon - where Neil is to join me and Daffy on the Taff Trail section of Lon Las Cymru to Pontypridd.

Firstly, Neil held a master class, truing and making reliable both of BadBoy's wheels! No ordinary mountain biker, he is best described as an 'acrobat on wheels' who enjoys long black runs down French mountains. Watch out though, this year the taxman is buying Daffy a mountain bike and lessons, so she might carry out a long time wish to downhill Ben Nevis!

Ho, another long time mountain biker and our guide on few previous adventures in the Brecons can not now join us today.... But, here at the start I have my soul mate and hero Daffy. The best and truly inspirational friends, Neil and Helen! So I am feeling good, happy, loved and yes, ready for what awaits us this New Years Eve.

Helen, captures an image or two of this happy threesome at the start, then will deliver my rear panniers to Daffy Towers in Ponty. We set off through Brecon, to follow the canal for a mile or so before signs take us winding up to Talybont reservoir.

Here, with ice in our hair and in my beard, the cloud white-out sees us start the forest trail on-up past beautiful ice and stalagmite grotto's to our left and views of the Brecon Beacons o'so slowly appearing above the clouds as we pedal ever higher. Near the top, the cold flooding at the entrances to the old railway tunnel is as Ho advised. In a few minutes, its midday and we are in Sunshine before the freezing cold that win's out when we descend.

I am wearing warm liner socks under thermal waterproof socks inside roomy leather boots which are again partly shielded by the front panniers I am still using - its this combination of footwear carefully dried each night, that has kept my feet warm during the damp freezing cold afternoon and evenings of my journey from Holyhead. Daffy and Neil have tight fitting light cycle shoes and socks, thus their feet are 'blocks of ice' within minutes of leaving Brecon during a light snow fall. Plastic bags, loosened shoes, extra socks and plastic bags, plus some walking brings a little relief.

We are trying to avoid exhaustion through snacking and taking drinks every forty minutes. As we travel down through Mertha, Daffy realizes the need to find warmth and eat - the choice is very limited, so we end up enjoying poor food, poorer service and late service. Which means we are warmer yet going to now reach Ponty in the dark! Its the cold that is sapping our energy the worst, so we are happy to find ourselves nearing our evening's destination.

Daffy is passionate about surprises! So when she stops at a pub we are greeted by friends and start in on the New Year celebrations....