Mid Wales in February could sound a bit optimistic but MMC people are not easily put off by a few drops of rain. now when it rains the whole weekend things are a little bit different and you have to get the best from what you have. namely high-quality waterproofs and a good sense of humour! The journey up was a game of musical cars: Pete was stopped by a bit of an accident. Delphine and Paul passed from plan A to plans B, C, D, E, F, G, and ended with a "reasonable" plan H on Friday eve at 7:30: Paul, Delphine, Miriam, Helen in Paul's car and rendez-vous with Sarah just beyond the M25. John arrived first with Majia, and moved sensibly to the pub. Lou and Matt arrived about 11. John's car was in the car park so they trudged up the muddy hill with all their stuff only to find the hut dark and locked. Figuring John would be back soon they texted him and sat in the porch having a picnic of beer and sandwiches. An hour later John rolled back from the pub and revealed the hidden key. under a rock, just outside the hut! Eventually everybody arrived (except Silvia, who was stuck in Tring), at Bryn Golau bunk house, "the light on the hill", somewhat ironic name as there were no lights in the hut (the wind turbine wasn't working properly. despite the wind!?!). Anyhow, it was time for bed.

Saturday

Everyone did the same thing on the Saturday (apart from Silvia, still stuck in Tring), a fairly long and very wet walk on Cadair Idris. John and Paul did a (wise) minor variation on the ascent up Cadair Idris by going round the cwm and straight up the headwall. This kept them out of the wind longer than the group who ascended gradually along the horseshoe ridge.

After sheltering at the top, John led an early descent party from the top a few minutes before the main group, led by Rick. Rick was "pleased with himself" when John and co finally turned up behind Rick's group on the descent path. Bit of a cafe/ pub crawl in the evening trying to dry up and lots of rugby watching. Unsurprisingly, Delphine didn't cheer very loudly when France beat Wales.

Meanwhile Silvia managed to arrive at the hut around 12am. Finding it closed, she decided on a short, steep walk up to Cwm Cywarch. Then feeling a little bit lonely on the welsh hillside she moved to a tea-room and then back to the hut, where she found Lou, Matt, Rick and Niki drinking tea in front of a gorgeous fireplace, meticulously attended by Lou!

Most of the evening was spent cheering up under candle light, whilst sampling some experimental pasta menus, and some good, and less good wine. The latter brought by Mark, the welshman who has emigrated to Spain but who still comes home to his origins once in a while, as Matt pointed out, to re-hydrate! The evening ended with a bottle of champagne offered by new member Maija. and everybody agrees that new members should follow this very inspired example!

Sunday

Sunday morning eyes were pointed at the usual suspect: clouds everywhere. Nonetheless, the rain didn't stop a small group of us (Helen, Delphine, Maija, Miriam and Silvia), leaded by map-reader Sarah to do a gentle walk around Foel Dinas. Despite the muddy and slippery path, the group enjoyed a nice view of cliffs and waterfall of Craig Maesglasau and not less than 4 amazing rainbows.

John went cycling solo not too far from the hut. and this is all I know!

Most members made a quick exit home, while John, Helen and Miriam headed to the Centre for Alternative Technology in the afternoon.

Once again, another typical winter meet in Wales, in an atypical nice welsh bunk house and overall a very enjoyable and relaxing weekend.

A final word goes to Maija: "Did you know that Cader Idris was inhabited by a mythical giant and is known as Chair of Idris? People who spend a night there are supposed to wake up either blind, mad or a poet ..." Nobody got blind, for the rest, only time will say!

Silvia