This annual event started from Asda Car Park at Dowlais Top at 10:00. Ten cars turned up and everyone had picnic baskets packed.
Thanks to the road-works right outside Asda, we managed to lose over half the cars within the first 200 yards!! After several calls to the mobile numbers I had fortunately collected before starting off, we eventually got it together again and it was off along Mark's excellent route.
We followed the same route as previous years and after several tyre squealing braking demonstrations from Ceri on a particularly hilly course, we arrived at Builth Wells for our first coffee stop. We almost lost a few more at the entrance to the car park, but it didn't take long for us all to arrive.
Next
we drove on to Elan Valley visitors centre for a picnic lunch. As it turned out,
it was cold and windy when we got there, but everyone persevered with the picnic
which was made complete when Peter and Heather cut their joint Birthday cake for
us all to sample.
The
very best part of the visitor centre has to be the rubbish bin next to the
children's playground. Every time you put something in it, it says "I like
your rubbish, can I have some more". This provided hours of amusement for
all teh "adults" in our group before we set off on our way.
Next
stop was at Devil's Bridge just in time to see the steam train arrive from
Aberystwyth. This is also a good place for Michelle to get the ice cream she
requires.
After
driving through some torrential rain and getting slightly lost once, we arrived
at Llyn Briane reservoir for a view of the spectacular water spout. It was time
for a few last cups of coffee before we all set off to Llandovery and then
splitting off to make our ways home.
As ever, the route was fantastic. If anything, the rain made the scenery more beautiful once it slowed enough to allow us to see out of the car windows. It seems that this will be an annual event for years to come if the comments form everyone who attended are anything to go by.