Di's Sunday Walk, Feb 3rd by Rachel

The forecast had been dire all week, but as there was no rain that morning, 14 set out from the Nantlle barracks, steeply up to Y Fron & a coffee stop in Edmund & Rachel's conservatory, sampling Aberfraw cakes...a medieval biscuit recipe, stamped with a scallop shell [pilgrimage sign for St James & Santiago de Compostella]. Two new members were welcomed, Tony & Ann. Now swelled to 17, walking continued, passing the heap of rubble that had been Hogan's Shed, on towards Mynydd Mawr, but no views, all hidden in cloud/mist but eyes were down, watching where to put feet as it was very wet underfoot, And conversations flowed easily. We tracked over the heath, pausing to locate one of several geocaches along the way, on the huge ice-age "pebble", stranded among the heather. Then skirting Moel Tryfan to climb up from the Rhosgadfan side....A new approach for me, & VERY steep, taking the wind out of chat, all breath needed for the up,up,up. Sudden long glimpses out to sea, Anglesey & Yr Eifl, brightened spirits, & finally Darwin's rocks loomed ahead, with another group of walkers already in possession, eating their sandwiches tucked out of the wind, ...but Di was planning to go down into Yr Orsedd quarry, film set for Tomb Raider 2 & S4C Mabinogi, An awesome lunch setting, & about 1/2 way on the walk. Fortified, talk flowing again, we set off, out the other side of the quarry,up, through works ruins, onto the moors & down to Y Fron, where Rachel & Ann peeled off, leaving Edmund & the rest to carry on back to Nantlle, a creditable 10 miles in all. The cloud had lifted somewhat after lunch, giving longer views at last. It had been a good lung, heart, leg & tongue work out & a happy introduction to walking with our group: thank you Di!!!....Cheers, Rachel!