Putting on damp kit had been a worry of mine, it wasn’t cold, I managed to air it a bit, so it wasn’t too bad. For night time I’d packed cotton boxers & t shirt and I always treated all cracks & crevasses with athletes foot talc before bed. I probably didn’t clean my teeth as often as I should have & I was beginning to smell a bit.
My front fork mounted bag bodge with the cable ties was now becoming a liability, so I headed into a sunny Machynlleth for a more robust solution.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445782926_eac8df9fd0_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445782926_eac8df9fd0_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZirq ]Machynlleth bathed in sunshine.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445788496_3085e6537a_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445788496_3085e6537a_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZk6s ]Return To Base.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
Breakfast first though:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445787176_604f3264ab_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445787176_604f3264ab_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZjGG ]Mach bap.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
I should have just used these in the first place, much stronger and the cage plate is in full contact with the fork leg:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445792756_e8630ecc9d_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445792756_e8630ecc9d_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZmmU ]Reinforced.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
I had already decided that Machynlleth would be my turning point, Bala will have to wait for another day, so I started my return. It wasn’t failure, just managing expectations & not treating my trip as a pass of fail. I was content with my choice, after all I wasn’t even sure about my trips final outcome.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445948217_ce5aa561ba_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445948217_ce5aa561ba_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gP19zg ]Graaaavel.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
I struggled to find a “nice” spot for the next night, I thought about riding into the dark, but didn’t want to pitch my tent in the dark, I settled on this midge infested, humid spot in the end.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445949357_1b22fe685f_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445949357_1b22fe685f_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gP19UV ]Just up from Llyn Brianne[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr
Day five, turned out to be my final day. I set off from just before Llanwrtyd Wells, the weather was dry & sunny
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445796986_1f27106b3e_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48445796986_1f27106b3e_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2gNZnBQ ]Beautiful.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr