Ok, here we go again......
Last year we did somefekking great fords.....and some really naff ones.....
This year I'm planning on doing the good ones again and finding some new ones to do....so with much browsing of Wetroads.co.uk, maps, guides and having consulted that funny green lichen that grows under Timolgra's navel,, here we go.....
The rtoute is 135 miles long........that IS long for a fords ride (given the play time and photo ops at each splashy bit) but it's a lovely ride with good scenary.
It should be do-able on tourences but I'd recommend TKC's or similar if you want to tackle the actual rivers....there will however be 'tooned outs' so those who don't want to do any particular crossing can get around the wet bit (Gary rode with us last year and seemed to have a good time watching the frolics armed with his camera......so don't worry if you want to come along and see what fording's all about without committing yourself to geting wet)
For the above reason, it should be fine for Pillions......we won't be going fast, it's more of a meander to the fords than the road ride might be......plus it'll be easier than the off-road ride- the best of both worlds really
The first (and also the biggest, deepest and most funnist ford ) (ps Schtum ) is the mighty Corwen.
I've only done one of them, but I'm determined to find and conquer the second Corwen crossing....
Corwen 2 (the missing one)
Corwen 1...easier than it looks here
Another view of Corwen 1...this is about how it'll look....it's also the one I had the video of up here last year....it's fun, seriously!!!!
Ok, that's the big hairy one out of the way...there is a bridge that non-forders can use further down (and we'll meet on for those who do cross)
Second ford of the day will be Pont-y-Llyn-du.
I haven't been there, haven't seen it so don't hold me to how good it'll be...this is how it looks though....
As you can see, there's also a 'tooned-out' here as well....
Then it's on to the third ford....Nant-yr-onog.
This was my favourite ford from last year.....I got stuck on it on the recce and BHT had to help me lift my back end out of the water, and on the ride itself we had a few big splashes IIRC....
It's got a footbridge for non-forders to watch from, but the actual crossing is down a steep muddy/rocky track about 300 metres long, then a nice shallow entry and a realy god ride some 80 metres up river before a small bank to exit onto another 30 metre flat mud track to get back to the road......
It was fekking ace!!!! (and this pic doesn't do it justice)
After Nant-yr-onog, we'll shoot along to Manafon for a tarmac bottomed easy one.....
Next ford, number 5 of the day, Pant-y-ffridd.
Again, I've not seen this one so we may have to explore a little but the WP's in the file and this is the description of it.....
Looks good.....
After that one, there's a fair old wiggly trek through some great lanes and roads to the ideal photo opp spectator friendly ford at Aber Rhaeadr.
Or as it looks....
From that last ford, there are some more wigglies and scenary back to the Hand Hotel.......
Assuming there are a minimum of 4 people up for it (as Corwen is potentialy a bike-drowner, I want that number as a minimum to help pull fallers out) I'll plan
to leave the Hand 30 mins after Simon's offroad ride starts...so that's 10.30 on Saturday morning.
I will do a short brief before the ride as normal, but we'll use the drop-off system (read Sorebum's post if you're not sure, or search here, or I'll explain on the day if you're not sure) and it should be fun......
Hmmm.....I think I might have made that seem scarier than it actually will be......
Seriously, don't worry, it'll be fun
Last year we did somefekking great fords.....and some really naff ones.....
This year I'm planning on doing the good ones again and finding some new ones to do....so with much browsing of Wetroads.co.uk, maps, guides and having consulted that funny green lichen that grows under Timolgra's navel,, here we go.....
The rtoute is 135 miles long........that IS long for a fords ride (given the play time and photo ops at each splashy bit) but it's a lovely ride with good scenary.
It should be do-able on tourences but I'd recommend TKC's or similar if you want to tackle the actual rivers....there will however be 'tooned outs' so those who don't want to do any particular crossing can get around the wet bit (Gary rode with us last year and seemed to have a good time watching the frolics armed with his camera......so don't worry if you want to come along and see what fording's all about without committing yourself to geting wet)
For the above reason, it should be fine for Pillions......we won't be going fast, it's more of a meander to the fords than the road ride might be......plus it'll be easier than the off-road ride- the best of both worlds really
The first (and also the biggest, deepest and most funnist ford ) (ps Schtum ) is the mighty Corwen.
I've only done one of them, but I'm determined to find and conquer the second Corwen crossing....
Corwen 2 (the missing one)
Corwen 1...easier than it looks here
Another view of Corwen 1...this is about how it'll look....it's also the one I had the video of up here last year....it's fun, seriously!!!!
Ok, that's the big hairy one out of the way...there is a bridge that non-forders can use further down (and we'll meet on for those who do cross)
Second ford of the day will be Pont-y-Llyn-du.
I haven't been there, haven't seen it so don't hold me to how good it'll be...this is how it looks though....
As you can see, there's also a 'tooned-out' here as well....
Then it's on to the third ford....Nant-yr-onog.
This was my favourite ford from last year.....I got stuck on it on the recce and BHT had to help me lift my back end out of the water, and on the ride itself we had a few big splashes IIRC....
It's got a footbridge for non-forders to watch from, but the actual crossing is down a steep muddy/rocky track about 300 metres long, then a nice shallow entry and a realy god ride some 80 metres up river before a small bank to exit onto another 30 metre flat mud track to get back to the road......
It was fekking ace!!!! (and this pic doesn't do it justice)
After Nant-yr-onog, we'll shoot along to Manafon for a tarmac bottomed easy one.....
Next ford, number 5 of the day, Pant-y-ffridd.
Again, I've not seen this one so we may have to explore a little but the WP's in the file and this is the description of it.....
'Just off the B4390 half a mile west of Pant-y-Ffridd village, this ford lies on an old public lane obviously still used by 4x4s (although not readily motorable in an ordinary car. It's a roughish crossing of the River Rhiw, with pretty rapids on the upstream side. The nearest footbridge is 400yds downstream.'
Looks good.....
After that one, there's a fair old wiggly trek through some great lanes and roads to the ideal photo opp spectator friendly ford at Aber Rhaeadr.
'A serious deepish paved ford, about 30ft long, across the River Tanat immediately above its confluence with the Rhaeadr. With 6" to 8" of water, it's a fair challenge for an ordinary car, especially as there are now sharp lips each side. The asphalt road through the ford is public, despite the misleading appearance given by the signs and landscaping of Plas Tanat, the large house on the north bank. Footbridge; no signs or depth gauge.'
Or as it looks....
From that last ford, there are some more wigglies and scenary back to the Hand Hotel.......
Assuming there are a minimum of 4 people up for it (as Corwen is potentialy a bike-drowner, I want that number as a minimum to help pull fallers out) I'll plan
to leave the Hand 30 mins after Simon's offroad ride starts...so that's 10.30 on Saturday morning.
I will do a short brief before the ride as normal, but we'll use the drop-off system (read Sorebum's post if you're not sure, or search here, or I'll explain on the day if you're not sure) and it should be fun......
Hmmm.....I think I might have made that seem scarier than it actually will be......
Seriously, don't worry, it'll be fun