I meant to tell you where that was ...
There seem to be 2 types of cyclist - '
Hillophiles' and '
Hillophobes'. (I think of a '
Grimpeur' as being a rider who is good at climbing rather than just enjoying it!) With the name '
Col', I had to like climbs, didn't I!
So, when I spotted this very steep climb from the A496 near Harlech, I
had to give it a go ...
View attachment 411959
View attachment 411960
I knew that there is a gate across the road before the main climb so I used the first few kms as a warm-up. I went through the gate and found a good spot to take the photo, then remounted and attacked the hill,
full-gas. Sheep scattered in terror as a cycling tornado swept past them, spraying a shower of gravel behind him ...
Ok, that isn't
strictly what happened ...
In reality, I engaged my grovelling gear and rode up as slowly as I could while still keeping my balance. There were sheep on the road ahead of me and I begged them to get out of my way because I knew if I stopped, I would never be able to get going again and would have to walk up! I made it, but it was very hard work. Great views from up there over to Portmeirion (of 'Prisoner' fame - you can see the beach that 'Rover' used to bounce around on at the start of each episode, smothering would-be escapees) and Porthmadog, with the mountains of Snowdonia in the distance and the hills of the Llyn Peninsula somewhat nearer.
