Mudlarks Walk, 23 January.
Apologies to all who are still drying out their boots, gaiters and pants after Saturday's walk - and explaining the farmyard smell to any visitors. When I did the walk last Autumn the 'path' by Aber Ogwen farm was a little messy, but nothing like the quarter mile long morass we had to navigate on Saturday. No doubt this was as a result of the recent snow and rain, but it has taught me a lesson about checking routes near to the date of a walk, particularly lowland paths through farmland. It's easier in the mountains! Perhaps it's just as well the walker from another group who objected to my route along the shoreline from Abergwyngregyn left us just before Aber Ogwen, otherwise he might have been very upset!
Otherwise I have nothing but praise for the restraint of our party towards their leader for the day. (Nobody tried to trip me as we found our way through that brown liquid delight). I had started by setting of at too fast pace, being involved in talking about the Tour de France and other cycling matters with Guto and Nigel from Llanberis. They are fast walkers and very fast cyclists, so a memo to other leaders - don't let them near the front at the start of a walk! Then I led the group into the mud bath. Great.
However, things got better after we climbed up to the North Wales Coast Path, with good views out to Anglesey and the Great Orme. As we contoured along the hillside the incoming tide below us proved the wisdom of the route this way, plus it gave a fine view of the cascades at Rhaeadr Fawr as we turned the shoulder of Cae'r Mynydd into the cwm.
We had 26 people out for the day, including walkers from Prestatyn Ramblers and Vale of Clwyd, Conwy Valley, Bangor and Bethesda and Ynys Mon Groups - plus a dozen or so from out group.
Having not led many group walks I am still on a learning curve. With the smaller groups and even the big Danish group I have tried to be informative about things we might see during the walk, but somehow I lost this thread on Saturday. Must do better next time. Lifes a learning curve, even when as far around the bend as I am.
Dave Woods