Betwys-Y-Coed to Dolwyddelan Station
6.1 miles
The start for this leg was right in the town, next to the church. From the map Take Five knew the first leg would involve some steep climbing up through the woods. With careful attention to detail, the team picked its first martyrs.
Last year the final day was a full on sprint. This time things looked more difficult, but for certain everyone was going to be going flat out for the final day. Taps, Mole Grips and Loser led the way charging upo the first steep incline, then speeding up the first steep incline, then walking up the first steep incline, then stumbling and finally groaning up the first steep incline. Taps took the opportunity to lose about a stone in effort. All questioned Loser's un-erring ability to find yet another shortcut which wasnt.
"Look everyones gone left, so lets go right" Loser stated logically as the grass got higher and the bushes thicker. The team finally came out behind the first checkpoint. "IN YOUR FACE!" Loser shouted with good grace at his team mates. Mole Grips joined in the sporting conduct, laughing at the teams that had missed the checkpoint and encouraging them with comments like "Oh dear. Have you gone wrong. Never mind. We didnt...". Taps ability to join in the banter had disolved after he had almost killed himself on the first hill, going various shades of pink and red and adding to the watertable.
It wasnt long though before a combination of lucky navigating and bravado saw Take Five making good time on the descent to the station at Dolwyddelan. Overtaken at one point by a group of speed walkers, the team proved that brains beats brawn every time but taking a hidden shortcut and coming out in front of the speedsters (yes finally a shortcut that worked!). The quizical looks from the speedsters said it all as they overtook Take Five for the second time in ten minutes.
The walk through the valley was very beautiful, not that anyone had much time to appreciate it. Snowdonia really does offer a bit of everything. At the changeover it was almost like a relay race, with Taps taking over support duties and Stumbles and Choker adding a boost in pace for the team.
