Penderyn, Wales

A few reminders of our weekend

- Charlie "New Car" Grant
- Pete "Mexican Swamp, Blue Sirens, Ceroc Dancing, No. 1 Ranked (But NOT Best In The World)" Smith
- Simon "ARAF!" Piercy
- Tim "We'd Better Cut The Walk Short Or We Might Not Make It Home In The Light (Or At All)" Spate
- Dave "Ouch, My Ankles!" Noble
- Steve "Yet Another 'Blade v Hand' Episode" Barker
- John "You'd Best Not Try And Put That Electrical Fire Out With A Water Extinguisher, Eh Love?" Astbury

Friday

Charlie aces the Music Quiz - Part 1. Tim bags Part 2.

Down the pub ... but which pub is it?

The Usual Suspects

A rare photo of Pete actually spending money on the rest of us, from his once mythical wallet - he bought a round of drinks to say thanks for letting him have a free holiday with his family earlier in the year, at Rosedale Abbey

The Place

The Cottage

The Fleet

Saturday

(Mapping courtesy of Simon Piercy)

Breacon Beacons

"Burger-Van-Lass" chats to us while we wait for 'the other car' to get ready

John discovers (trips over) a mystery object - we all ponder what it might be ... Answers on a postcard, please.

Pete's bog, erm .. sorry - Peat bog

Another trig point in the bag

Piercy Pot Noodle Pic

The Usual Suspects (at the summit)

Frog or toad?

So we head back to The Red Lion and have another good meal and some beers ... then all-of-sudden, the power goes; music stops; lights go out. A few moments of darkness before the emergency lighting kicks in. We improvise with our own torches until the staff bring round candle-lanterns. We hear that the telegraph pole outside is on fire - so John "Fireman" Astbury decides he better see if he can help - and gets outside just in time to stop the landlady spraying a water fire extinguisher on the electricity box that's on fire up the pole! The fire brigade turn up and so does the Welsh Electricty Board - who are overheard saying that the box was on the list to be checked out. Too late. In the meantime we have some difficulty getting more drinks - we have to have bottled beer and only if we've got the right money!

Sunday

(Mapping courtesy of Simon Piercy)

Simon demonstrates his experienced dishwasher stacking methods

Charlie is in his element because it's a waterfall walk!

The Usual Suspects - just after their traditional Rememberence Sunday 11:00 two minute silence

Behind the fall (video)

A tame robin spent some time with us while we stopped for refreshments

Charlie, as usual, goes wading to get a decent shot (video)

Maverick rebels, all of us ...

Logs, logs everywhere ...

Mushrooms or toadstools?

Smashing Pumpkins

Later in the afternoon we're booked on a tour of Penderyn Distillery

"Penderyn Distillery produces award-winning single malt whiskies and spirits in the foothills of the magnificent Brecon Beacons in South Wales."

After the fascinating and enlightening tour and talk on whisky distilling, we all get two taste samples each ...

Charlie gets a little something from the shop for our whisky-loving absent friend ... our Barrie

In the evening we drive to the next town for a few beers, a game of pool and a curry at a nice Indian restaurant.

He doesn't look very grumpy ...

(Photo courtesy of Simon Piercy)

Then we parked the car back at the cottage and popped into The Red Lion for a night-cap ... where we saw one of Pete's "I've 'ad 'er" check-list posters

And finally ... Competition Time - Who is this, auditioning for the next presenter of "The Gadget Show" ??