Brecon Beacons Nav Training

Jo and I spent this weekend honing our navigation skills in the Brecon Beacons under the guidance of my ex-army brother.  We set off from Cardiff in glorious sunshine, with a string of checkpoints to get through and a quick navigation revision lesson under our belts. Missing the turning to the car park and our starting position didn't bode well for the day and the weather soon turned into the driving rain that Brecon normally welcomes you with, but we were soon off and stomping our way up Pen y Fann and onwards around the course. 

Glorious sunshine, driving rain, the odd hail storm and gusty winds alternated throughout the day and when we came across an icy river that had to be forded, it occurred to me that my brother may have a slightly sadistic streak in him! But, pushing that thought from my mind I followed Jo as she sploshed across the river and, ignoring our cold soggy feet, we carried on and we didn't even get lost once!

On Sunday we put on our soaking wet boots and this time Ed came with us as we navigated our way round some far more featureless areas, as well as quickening up the pace as he had us running over hill and vale! Even when Jo learnt that the big, ankle breaking, grassy, lumps were actually known as 'babies heads', and consequently refused to stamp on them (as she had been enjoying doing previously!), we managed to keep up a good pace and we still made good time :o)

Halfway round I felt obliged to admit that I couldn't remember where I'd put the only car key, but there not being much you can do from the side of a hill, we carried on regardless.  A few hours later we were relieved to see the car still positioned where we left it and even more relieved when, in exchange for 3 burgers the nice burger-van man produced the key having very kindly locked the door for me before removing the key!  I think that the stress must be getting to me!

Nice and tired we returned to London feeling like we'd accomplished something and glad to still have a car.