Steam Bunny Bluff

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Originally Posted by Wheeze

Cheers OB1...hope you race a bit faster! Otherwise, its a long day out for everyone (no pressure then!!).
The path coming down to Capel Y Ffin is a bit devious.
If you went into the forest at Grwyne, you went too far southeast. The path runs along the forest edge.
The best line off Waun Fach is open to debate. The tussock field up to TalyCefn can be be tricky to avoid.
Well done for checking the Camelbak!

The bloke in the pick up? Probably the Llanthony Strangler looking for a fresh victim!!

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Wheeze - thanks.

- On the descent to CYF (CP4), after a bit of indecision at the Cairn I took the detour zig-zag 'permitted path' via Trwyn-Tal down to the road as I couldn't locate the more direct path via Pen-y-maes, and I was afraid of potential trespass of farmland.
- On the descent to CP5 I realised I had gone sub-optimal on entering the forest but again played it 'safe'
- I tried to more or less straight line the CP7-CP8 and the CP8-'CP9'(CP9 no longer a Sportident CP?) sections. Picked up the sheep trods on approach to CP8 but after CP8 I somehow ended up with the fence line on my RHS rather than LHS (and had to vault it - oops). I can see reading your notes that as I left CP8 to climb to Talycefn that the fenceline should have been on my LHS.
- Re. Llanthony Starngler - It did cross my mind! You need to add that to the risk assessment. ;)
- Yes, I promise to race a bit faster. I couldn't help but bimble along taking in the views yesterday. I was bang on the cut-off (3:30) at 'training run bimble pace', in fine weather / viz, so that seems a reasonable cut off time.
Cheers - the excitement is building.

PS.
- Your estimate of 7hrs for tail-end of the race seems reasonable after my bimble yesterday.
- I am re-reading the docs on the website as the ones I have printed are 1 week old. I did notice some 'discrepancies' during my reccie but I will finish reading the latest website material before I PM / email you.
- One of my key decisions will be shoe choice. I went round in trail shoes (Kanadia 5) yesterday which were fine (the route is currently dry) for all but the mid third of the route (the fell proper) when my fell shoes (Mudclaws) would have been better. However I tend to get blisters with the fell shoes on long traily runs which I don't get with the trail shoes, so that may swing it on the day.
- I went through a field of cows on the way up and back to Hay bluff, the town side of the common. Skirted round them no problem, but worth a mention.
- I went astray crossing the common (on way out to Hay Bluff) as I hadn't bothered memorising your photos. Again worth a mention for anyone / leaders not familiar with the ODP at this point. There was a stile off to the RHS which was a red herring.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OB1

Wheeze - thanks.

- On the descent to CYF (CP4), after a bit of indecision at the Cairn I took the detour zig-zag 'permitted path' via Trwyn-Tal down to the road as I couldn't locate the more direct path via Pen-y-maes, and I was afraid of potential trespass of farmland.
- On the descent to CP5 I realised I had gone sub-optimal on entering the forest but again played it 'safe'
- I tried to more or less straight line the CP7-CP8 and the CP8-'CP9'(CP9 no longer a Sportident CP?) sections. Picked up the sheep trods on approach to CP8 but after CP8 I somehow ended up with the fence line on my RHS rather than LHS (and had to vault it - oops). I can see reading your notes that as I left CP8 to climb to Talycefn that the fenceline should have been on my LHS.
- Re. Llanthony Starngler - It did cross my mind! You need to add that to the risk assessment. ;)
- Yes, I promise to race a bit faster. I couldn't help but bimble along taking in the views yesterday. I was bang on the cut-off (3:30) at 'training run bimble pace', in fine weather / viz, so that seems a reasonable cut off time.
Cheers - the excitement is building.

PS.
- Your estimate of 7hrs for tail-end of the race seems reasonable after my bimble yesterday.
- I am re-reading the docs on the website as the ones I have printed are 1 week old. I did notice some 'discrepancies' during my reccie but I will finish reading the latest website material before I PM / email you.
- One of my key decisions will be shoe choice. I went round in trail shoes (Kanadia 5) yesterday which were fine (the route is currently dry) for all but the mid third of the route (the fell proper) when my fell shoes (Mudclaws) would have been better. However I tend to get blisters with the fell shoes on long traily runs which I don't get with the trail shoes, so that may swing it on the day.
- I went through a field of cows on the way up and back to Hay bluff, the town side of the common. Skirted round them no problem, but worth a mention.
- I went astray crossing the common (on way out to Hay Bluff) as I hadn't bothered memorising your photos. Again worth a mention for anyone / leaders not familiar with the ODP at this point. There was a stile off to the RHS which was a red herring.

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I've suggested to wheeze we do a final update on the maps/ instructions , so contact him with suggestions.

Corrected Final Entry List

Simon Neville
Janet Richards
Ben Beaumont
Paul Beeson
Helen Fines
Jerome McAllister
David Powell
Gareth Jones
William Darby
Karen Elvers
Steve Long
Jonathan Gledson
Andrew Litaba
John Stephenson
David Williams
Roy Silver
John Magee
Allan Jones
James Blore
Mark Nelson
Susan Clapham

A nice round 21!.

Poor Sue got missed because someone else paid her entry so her name did not appear on my PayPal paid-up list. If the race happens next year, the cart will be set to single entry fee only.
OB1 thank you very much for the heads up about the cows. I was going to check that on Friday. Most importantly, did they have calves with them?? And yes, you are right, the photos of the ODP section are there for a reason. Unless you have reccied it, it is VERY easy to go wrong! But that all adds to the spice, right?
As for the fence line issue, there will be a marshal at CP8 on the OTHER side of the gate so you will be directed to cross at the gate (there is a gap in the fence) in order to dib in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alwaysinjured

I've suggested to wheeze we do a final update on the maps/ instructions , so contact him with suggestions.

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Wheeze - just emailed you a few comments / suggestions for documentation clarity after re-reading the website last night in the light of Saturday's amble around the route. Sorry, I cant say for sure if the cows had calves or not, but if they did not very young uns.

Evening all...looking forward to Saturday even though I'm on marshaling duties. . Is anyone staying / camping in hay on Friday or Saturday? Would be nice to have a post race beer or two, and I could fancy a long run around some of the route on Sunday?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boy Wonder

Evening all...looking forward to Saturday even though I'm on marshaling duties. . Is anyone staying / camping in hay on Friday or Saturday? Would be nice to have a post race beer or two, and I could fancy a long run around some of the route on Sunday?

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Evening BW.
We (Gloss/Manc contingent) considered / researched this and currently are more likely to drive down (M6, M5) at dawn on Saturday/
We did consider camping and research suggested the following pub-linked campsite options for Friday or indeed Saturday night:
- Radnor Arms pub with campsite with showers £6 pppn, north of Hay, HR3 5JA Tel 01497 -874460
- Bulls Head Craswell pub with camping field and toilets but no showers £5pppn south of Hay, HR2 OPN Tel 01981-510616
We have no experience of these, but if we do end up modifying our plans for F/S night we would likely consider these - unless the locals on here have a better suggestion.
Cheers!

PS. Neither of these pubs are in Hay, but approx. 15 mins drive outside. One north (Radnor) and the other South (Bulls Head, Craswell). Didn't seem to be any camping options in Hay itself out of festival season.
Locals on here can correct me...
PPS I noticed here is an 'Indie night' disco at the Globe in Hay on Saturday night for anyone staying in town after the race,

I have stayed in the Radnors End Campsite, also £6ppn and only 5mins walk down the B4351 into Hay. Has all the facilities you need.

Craswall may look only 15 mins on the map but the lanes around there are tiny and you should allow longer. I visited the pub a few years ago and it was worth the effort of getting there.

Bulls Head if fookin' magic. Serious Royston Vasey vibe...middle of nowhere, stone floors, mysterious ales, belly bustin' food. And, yup, like Stevie says ridiculous tiny lanes to get to it plus a very steep hill. Go for it!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boy Wonder

Evening all...looking forward to Saturday even though I'm on marshaling duties. . Is anyone staying / camping in hay on Friday or Saturday? Would be nice to have a post race beer or two, and I could fancy a long run around some of the route on Sunday?

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I'm staying 3 nights starting Friday - looking to have a bimble Friday afternoon to Hay Bluff & Lord Herefords Knob (can somebody tell me why it was thus named....). Beer/pub meal in the evening, Marshalling at SR1 for the race, more Beer / pub meal post race and finally a social run on Sunday.