Two weeks since the injury but some signs of improvement, and with more cycling now in my legs I decided to up the mileage on a stunning morning of perfect clarity. This is quite unusual for August, but given the time of year an early start was necessary to minimise the traffic so I slept in Hod and left at 7.30am. Beautiful riding south down the west side of the Conwy valley with numerous sharp climbs and steady drags through Tal y Bont and Trefriw to Betws. A bacon bap and mocha for breakfast by the bridge, and it was still relatively quiet for the very familiar road to Capel Curig, which I don't remember ever cycling before. Stunning views of Siabod and then Yr Wyddfa, searing clarity. I pushed through Capel and then upped the pace through Ogwen as the road finally starts to descend at the lakeside. The descent down Nant Francon is superb, really quick. I have run this in the past, but again I'm not sure whether I have ever ridden it. Less than 10 minutes from Ogwen Cottage to Bethesda: and a 16.40 10k from Gwern Gof, which by my abysmal standards is quick. A short water break and then up and along the very narrow Ffordd Coetmor. This is more like a path than a road but leads all the way down and over the A55 with Penrhyn Castle ahead. Then comes a superb cycle route (5) all the back to Conwy. Next to the A55 at times, then inland through Llanfairfechan before hugging the coast from Penmaenmawr. A nagging easterly breeze but not too bad, and then I encountered the crowds for the first time at Conwy Morfa. A short break for milk and snack in Conwy, and then a 20k extension round the Conwy half marathon route: 20 minutes for the loop of the Orme round Marine Drive with the sea glistening deep blue below.
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