Friday – the journey

Everyone seemed to make it OK to the campsite on the Friday, although the meet organiser was accused of giving directions which only made sense if you were travelling from Barmouth. Did she care? Not really, frankly. However, she also disappointed campers by failing to identify the nearest pub to the campsite. Now this was considered a fair criticism by the guilty party but the pub really wasn’t handy and, knowing the boozing tendencies of many MMCers, the concern was that revealing this fact would have resulted in a poor meet turn-out. In the event, there were just short of 30 people on this meet and Mark Rennie deserves a “Mark will fix it” medal for driving the magical minibus once again and making dreams come true for otherwise transport bereft individuals.

Friday – Niki’s moment of glory

Although not strictly part of the official meet, Niki led Rick up Grim Wall Direct (E1) at Tremadoc on Friday. Definitely worth a mention.

Saturday – MMCers do some stuff

A walking group consisting of Sarah, Ian, Barry, Geraldine, Margaret and Tara tackled the Cader Idris horseshoe finishing up at a teashop, although they timed it too late for afternoon tea – blame it on the morning faff. No major gossip to be had there, although Barry noted that not everyone had woolly mittens and hat; come on you guys, this is basic equipment. You’ll be telling me you forgot your emergency chocolate rations next.

A Very Wise Man aka Rick lured Niki, Mark R, David Dees, Chuck, Jiri, Simon Atkins and Hilary to Craig Cywarch with the promise of sunny, sheltered multi pitch climbing. He didn’t bank on the rain though did he. Rick took all day to lead Niki up Shade of Pale (E1) in what he describes as a slightly ponderous fashion and what Niki describes as a pace designed to bore the pants off the second. Metaphorically speaking of course. Mark R and David completed an HVS and then went on to also do Shade of Pale, although rather quicker due to rain and hungry midges who found David particularly tasty and left him looking like a small pox victim. Simon led Hilary most of the way up Willo the Wisp (VD) and permitted her to lead the final section so he could have a good laugh over her gear placement. Chuck and Jiri got somewhat chilly on an exposed route called Doom (VS). There was plenty of greenery along the way and not much in the way of gear placements which made Chuck wish he’d brought reinforced underwear.

Steve and Nick - who fancied themselves ‘real mountain men’ having spent the preceding week climbing in Snowdonia – took Nikki Ashley and Cath Billson to Tremadoc. Nick and Cath knocked off 3 routes – Meersham (HVS), The Brothers (VS) and One Step in the Clouds (VS), all of them starred multi pitch routes. Nikki followed Steve up some HVS multi-pitch routes and managed to successfully wedge herself in a chimney for a while.

Andy and Cheryl failed to fulfil their climbing ambitions owing to somewhat useless directions from a Park Ranger which had them battling through head high bracken and over ravines for much of the day before giving up.

John B undertook a solo 65km bike ride, the only mishap being a broken spoke which was deftly repaired by a bike mechanic in a local shop who initially declared himself far too busy to help. However he soon succumbed to John’s charm and ended up fixing it for free and even threw in a cup of tea while John was waiting. You’ve either got it or you haven’t.

Saturday night: MMCers enjoy a well-earned drink

Whilst some folk cooked up pasta at the campsite and washed it down with a bottle of wine per head, Mark R heroically drove a minibus of eager thirsty folk into Dolgellau and was rewarded with a hot dinner whilst everyone else tucked into their pints. The evening nearly turned ugly when everyone’s pooled food money failed to match the billed amount. Tara was pushing for a public enquiry to reveal the identity of the freeloader, but in the end everyone dug a little deeper into their pockets to cover the shortfall. Phew.

Sunday – MMCers explore teashops

Robin and AG spent both days biking every conceivable route at Coed y Brenin at least once, covering over 70km of technical off road riding. Judging by the cuts and bruises proudly displayed (even those perilously close to bum cheeks – thanks for that Robin), there was considerable presumably unintended parting of company between boy and bike. The boy in question was mainly AG who had matching red patches on both elbows to prove it.

Nick and Andy also turned cyclists on the Sunday, tackling the Mach 2 mountain bike route from Machynlleth. They returned to find Andy’s car marooned in the middle of a Sons of Glendower rally, complete with black clad paramilitary types. Being hardened mountain men (well Nick is apparently), they hid in a nearby café until it was all over. Andy expressed relief that his car hadn’t been fire bombed.

A walking group comprising Steve, Simon, Cath, Niki and Nikki stomped their way round the Cader Idris horseshoe, encountering full-on winter conditions at the top. I don’t know if they all had the requisite mittens, but gather they went fast enough to keep tolerably warm.

A Very Wise Man once again led a climbing crowd comprising Mark R, Jiri, Chuck, Tara, Geraldine and John B to Craig y Merched, an obscure gritstone crag near Dolgellau. Mark and Rick climbed a short VS (Rhino’s Corner) in the pissing rain whilst everyone else decamped to the nearest tearoom. Rick’s reputation for wisdom pretty much in tatters by this point.

Sarah, Ian, Barry, Margaret and Hilary went to Barmouth to spend time on a cold and windy beach building sandcastles with David, Beatrice and Alix. The verdict on the attractions of Barmouth was rather harsh - crossing the footbridge on the way out featured top of the list. There was a visit to a coffee shop at some point. In fact, there were several sightings of MMCers in a number of teashops by mid afternoon on Sunday. Some attempted to deny it but the tea stains and crumbs said it all really.

Sunday afternoon / evening: MMCers go home.

The seemingly endless drive home, the weariness, the coffee, the Monday morning dread. Enough said.

HD