Brecon Visitor Centre to Cwmcarn Forest Drive
3^rd Jan 2010

We met at the Crown, Pontllanfraith and at 1000hrs, Derek & Chris in their modern MG, Tony & Jane in their Clio, (I love that little thing) the Clio not Tony, Darren in his Granada, with all the comforts of a modern car, like a decent engine, heating and just to show off, a roof, Haydn, Loraine, Katy & Lassie in his trusty Vitesse, Sylvia, Steven and I in our Herald, long John’s, thermals, 5 layers of clothing, hats, scarves, gloves, no heating and no roof. Geoff also met us with plans of joining us at Cwmcarn. So with 5 cars we set off for the Brecon Visitor Centre, with me hoping that this time I would actually get to the car park, as this time last year my MGB GT left me short of 200 yards and had to wait hours in the dark and snow to be towed home, although Steven and I made the most of it, snowball fighting. I even made Steven a special yellow ice lolly, but he didn’t want it. Just as well really.

The journey started off great with me leading, my only complaint was cold ears, the rest of the body was numb so didn’t matter. Darren and I kept in touch on the CBs making sure we were all together. Once on the A470, it was time to put my foot down a little and managed to get up to 60mph with tail winds, it was cold but bearable. As I left the Merthyr roundabout the unforgiveable happened (again). I lost all power and pulled over onto the verge. Darren and Haydn pulled in behind and in front while Derek and Tony passed to find a safer place to stop a little ahead of us. Haydn had the bonnet up in a flash, pulling wires and fuel lines apart asking, with doubt in his voice, “have you got petrol in this”. I had learnt my lesson before so ensured that my tank was full this time. Having no joy, but suspecting the electronic ignition was at fault (bugger, I fitted that), Haydn joined the others and headed for Brecon, while Darren towed me home to meet up later at Cwmcarn. I never knew that my Herald could go so fast, then again it’s not every day you are dragged home with a V6 pulling you. I must get a longer tow rope as well.

Haydn phoned a little later saying they were having great fun sledging down the snow covered mountain, there were lots of people around and the police & mountain rescue helicopters were hovering about them, showing off their skills. Haydn twisted the knife a little further by pointing out that I should have went with them as they were all having a great time. Thanks mate. As I did not make it again this year and can not do a write up of their time there, here is a little information to fill in the gap.

The "Mountain Centre" is located 5 miles south west of Brecon and some 15 miles north of Merthyr Tydfil . It was opened in 1966 with financial assistant from the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust. The Mountain Centre, which is how everyone refers to it in South Wales, is run by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. It is consistently the most popular visitor attraction in the National Park.