The Early birds may be making a late dash down there on Thursday night the 10th May, or a leisurely drive down on the Friday.
Rog's taxi will be leaving around 8.00pm on Thursday night but is fully booked with Chap, Phil & Ian taking the available slots. Tone's taxi will be setting off midday on Friday and spaces are available.
Don't forget to bring a sleeping bag, towel & pillow with you chaps, etc.
Rog's taxi left Brum with Phil and Chap for the journey to Barmouth. A smooth, un-eventful run only punctuated by a 'dump-stop' for Rog and a beer for the chaps at a pub 30 mins form the site meant we arrived around 9.45pm. Quickly unloading the bags we head off to Henry's to find Daz already in there supping ale. The chaps needed no second bidding and the festivities began. We stumbled form Henry's around 2.00pm and headed back to Rog's van for a bite to eat and a few more beers. The food fest continued until around 3.30 am when all the chaps departed for bed.
Friday
The Chaps rose at a reasonable hour around 9.30 considering the time we'd crawled to bed at. We lobbed down to the Coffee Pot for a full-English to get us set-up for the day. Following brekkie, Rog devised a plan for a walk up by the Ffestiniog railway to brush away the cobwebs. the weather held fairly well with only the odd shower as the chaps embarked upon their daily exercise. Daz & Chap had a bit of mountaineering to do as Rog failed to point out the correct path so we ended up climbing a 100ft 'sheer-face' to join back up with Rog & Phil. A good stroll to work of the previous nights excesses and work up a thirst for when the other chaps arrived.
Tone's taxi arrived with Ian & Dave around 5.00pm. After a quick dash to get ready we caught the train up to the Derrick Dougan for a few beers, a bite to eat and a game or two of pool. Good ale, food & chap-topics were had until it was time to return on the 9.00pm train to Talybont. The chaps headed yet again for Henry's for a few more beers where Dave decided it was Ian's turn to become the 'week-end stooge' and be the butt of a few jokes. The chap 'look-a-likely' completion was in full flow with Ian being compared to the usual suspects, e.g. Ben Miller and the some not so obvious ones - Charlton Heston in a particular scene from Planet of the Apes - not sure what was in the pipe Dave was smoking at this point in time, but Ian was then referred to as the 'Monkey Botherer' for the rest of the week-end!!. After several ales, it was again back to Rog's van for food and more beer with 'Welsh Dave' also in-tow. Plenty of ale & food and mirth & merriment were had as well as the now expected 'Dorridge Doze' from Ian (oops Sorry Monkey Botherer!). The party ended slightly earlier than the previous night around 2.30am.
Saturday
The chaps lobbed once again to the Coffee Pot for a big brekkie before embarking on the day's activities. A swift train journey to Barmouth was followed by a 3 mile yomp across to Fairborne where the venue for the inaugural Chap Open was held. The short par 3 nine hole course was a bit rain-sodden but the chaps hacked there way around it in no uncertain fashion. The winner and beating the current pros on the circuit (Tone & Phil) was Mr Fish who carded a respectable 38 for the 9 holes, closely followed by chap with a 39. We had a swift drink at the 19th before heading back to Barmouth to plan the evening. Rog decided to go for the ferry back across as we'd missed the train. We only just made it having to wave frantically at the ferry-man who was mooring up for the night!!
Back in Barmouth, we stopped at the last Inn for a pint whilst enjoying the wonderful if rare-these days sunshine. A quick wonder up the road was then mustered to the Tal-y-Don for a final beer in Barmouth before catching the train up to the Ael Y Bryn for a bit of fodder. Splendid food served at the AB wash down with a jar or two whilst looking over the picturesque scenery. After fodder, we headed back down to the Derrick to have a few beers, a quick game of pool before catching the 9.00 train back to Talybont.
Some of the chaps could not handle the pace so they curled up with a cup of hot chocolate watching films - needless to say one of the two Dorridge Dozers along with Tone and Daz were involved in this activity. The rest of the chaps went over to the Sands to meet up with 'Welsh' Dave to sink a final pint or three before heading back to Rog's pad.
Sunday
Just time for a spot of spring cleaning and a walk down the beech for some, Ian & Tone hand in hand!!, before the off.
Excellent weekend, thanks to Daz & Rog for their hospitality.