5 Mile Run
(Ystrad Mynach> Maesycwmmer>Wyllie> and Back)
Station Road is quite slushy again today.
Ran on the road as pavements are sheet ice!
The snow at the start of the cycle track is already a couple of inches deep!
Good grip here though.
It's already snowing and the flakes are getting stuck in my throat when I breathe in!
Gotta squint to see properly!
Ran right at the cycle track T Junction today, towards Maesycwmmer.
Snow's pretty thick.
A good 6 inches have fallen....
View towards the mountains - where are they again???
Slight, slushy, slippy decline.....careful running here!
Slippy incline up towards the road crossing.
View from the cycle track. Praps I'll try that way another day?
Pretty pretty trees :o)
And another......
The first of our "Gren" signs - "From by here" - Typical Wenglish!!
(Wenglish is Valleys slang)
Another snow-laden tree...
The Gren Way on Maesycwmmer Viaduct...
Gren was born in Hengoed - a famous writer of joke cartoons which depict the Welsh Valleys life....
Here is one of his cartoons!
The start of the viaduct....This was a steam railway track years ago...
There's always been a debate as to WHOSE viaduct it is as it straddles 2/3 villiages.....
Depends where you live as to what you call it.
...Hengoed, Ystrad Mynach or Maesycwmmer Viaduct....
I call it Maesycwmmer Viaduct because that's where I was born and bred!
The viaduct, built in 1854 - Stunning!
(I can't take credit for this photo - Googled this one)
Take a seat with Gren himself!
On the viaduct......
View from the viaduct to the right......
....and to the left.....
Further on to the left.......
The woolen mill below. A listed building now, built in 1750!
Hills in the distance. More snow coming in I think!
Nearly at the other side......
The "Wheel O Drams" sculpted out of coal drams to commemorate area's industrial history.
A close up....
Once off the viaduct, the track continues until it crosses the main road in Maesycwmmer....
It got quite slushy here as the track has been well trodden....
More fallen trees to negotiate!
Maesycwmmer - Where I was brought up!
Once across the road, the track continues towards a roundabout....
The snow was much deeper here!
A good few inches have fallen!
Slight incline up to the roundabout....
Now, this doesn't really look downhill, but it is a long one....
Hard to run down because the snow is super deep here!
Having to lift my knees right up!!
Reached the bottom, now for a bit of uphill.......
Ahhhh! My destination - "The Halfway House"!
A nice cosy, olde worldy pub!
Good job I haven't got any money on me - I could murder a pint!
Oh well, about turn and retrace my route......
Back down the hill......
Now, for the long slow drag back up to the roundabout!
Hard going on the legs!!
Must admit, I saw stars at one point!!!
Snow's really deep here!
Crossed the road at the top and back onto the track again....
Slight decline, quite slippy!
Back through the slush!
Back past The Wheel O Drams.......
(Hope you like this photo, I clambered up a steep slope to take this one
- and fell back down it!!!)
...onto the viaduct again.....
Not far now......
Back through the trees.....
View of Ystrad from the track......
Last bit of track..........and back home........
....for a nice warm mug of hot choclate with marshmallows!!!
Mmmmmmmmmm!!!!
Thanks Evryone!
Til next time..
:o)
