Storm on Penybont Common

Pictures can speak louder than words
I had a day off. Ooooer!
So - the weather was looking better so let's get out. Let's drive some. Let's take photographs.
Currently i am firing off the cylinders of an Fe 250 (compact) and a Camedia 200-UZ. Both OLYMPUS. And a proper bridge en route.
So - i headed, initially, up Llanshay Lane. ha! waste of time and energy. The road was impassable for my wee motor the higher up so i about-turned an returned to Ludlow Road. Hmmm! what next? Well how about i just head in a south-wester direction and see what happens.
The above pic was taken on the Common so i was heading in a Llan'dod direction.
And i kept going. Now i was on the A44 so that'll take me towards Rhayader. Perhaps i could spot some Red Kites (Milvus Milvus) in the area. There were very few about as i entered the town so i headed for Gigrin. It was very quiet and far too early for feeding so, let's go where i know there are shots to be had.
Hello the Elan valley with your dams, steep sides and glorious outlooks.

Jumping out to take photographs led me to a chat with a couple from Surrey on their winter hols. Atleast they were in the right type of vehicle. A Jeep Wrangler... and a beautiful white alsatian.

Above is the top dam. Craig Coch. And below is the roadway that crosses the dam to a small car park and toilets.
Up and down the valley are loads of trails. In better weather i must get myself up there and see what nature pops out in front of me ¬

The below scenery is taken from the valley's road looking across to the mountain road that leads to Aberystwyth (turn left) or back to Rhayader. That's where i was heading. The weather kept closing in and then lifting. It was beautiful but did leave me with a degree of apprehension especially as, once on the road back to Rhayader, i came across drifted snow and impacted snow on the road. Fun fun fun in a small motor without standard road tyres and no weight in the boot.
There were quite a few other vehicles about. Vans, cars, land rovers.

I made it safely on to the mounatin road with very limited car-bogganing, thank goodness.
The below is the view looking up the upper stage of the ElanValley which the mountain road follows in an Aberystwyth direction. The worst part of the road was still to come. Can car bogan uphill?
Well, a few slips and slides later and i reached the crest.
Now going down can be significantly more dangerous but the east facing side of the hill was cleared and safe.
A glance at the clock told me it was 14.15. ooh! The kites are fed at 14.00. I assumed that by the time i got down in to town there should be some kites left loitering. And i was right. i could see them wheeling about as i came in from the west.
I pulled over on East St and snapped a couple of pics. including one of a carrion crow. I moved to the industrial estate near the welsh crystal place and lay back on the bonnet on my motor trying to get some shots of some of the kites that wheeled overhead.
My last look i took from the lay-by just out of Rhayader on the rise. It was great watching them wheeling and screaming with a few interuptions by buzzards.


It was a good trip out and i returned Storm in one piece.
And allowed her to enjoy her speed a little on the 44.
She's filthy now and desperately in need of a good clean. The weather will dictate when she next gets a quick brush over... if nothing else.