Well I'll be Dam'd

[CuppaTea]

Wife's away for a few days with her best bud. So what's a bloke to do?

Uh huh, a trip to Wales to see Victorian engineering. It started badly. Hadn't been in the car five minutes and it started drizzling. 2 minutes after that it poured down. Was beginning to consider turning around and writing it off, but mother didn't raise a quitter.

90 minutes later, I've crossed the border and am now well into Wales. Time for my #1 priority.


Don't know if I own anything better than my Kelly Kettle. It's the doggies do-dahs. (Yes, I needed two cos I'd only had one before leaving)

Onwards to Dam #1 of my trip. Coban Coch Reservoir. Epic.


Built to give Birmingham water. Imagine if they'd failed...

Minding the sheep, I continued onto Dam #2. Pen y Garreg. This involved some walking (which tested my fitness going up the stone path to the side). They had some sort of 'elf and safety shenanigans going on, so this was the best I could do.


On my way back down, I saw they'd opened the door, so you now you've seen inside a Victorian Welsh Dam too!


Doubling back, crossing the Garreg Ddu bridge


(More to follow)

 

[CuppaTea]

Passing Dol y Mynach Reservoir...


You begin to get an end of the world feeling. Illustrated best by this


When did you last see a pay phone?

I arrived at Dam #3. Claerwen. Made from concrete, they used Italian stone masons to make it look like the older Victorian ones.


Noticers will have noticed this is the Dam Top Gear's Hammond drove (winched technically) a Land Rover up.

It must see some lightning...


4! Lightning conductors.

The rumble was low key frightening.


As you went closer to the left hand outlet, it rumble becomes stronger but with no increase in volume. I'm sure Bruce Lee said something about being like water.

Then, doubling back, was a chance at some "proper" Z4 driving. The B4358 was amazing. Step climbs, drops to match and a very fast road. No pics sadly, was too busy enjoying it.

After some more driving (and tea). I eventually arrived at Lyn Briann. The youngest I saw today. It's 53. Very sterile compared to the others (Victorian's knew how to build properly). But epic due it's size, and construction.





The spray from the sluice was misting me, and it was about 1/4 mile away. Photos do not do it justice.



And then I went home. Via some cheeky side roads. Well definitely be doing it again. The wife has seen some pictures and wants to visit herself.

 

[IRD]

Sounds like a great day out.

 

[BigDave]

Thats a great drive out, been there many times... Did you see any Red Kits flying.?

 

[CuppaTea]

Thats a great drive out, been there many times... Did you see any Red Kits flying.?

One or two. Saw more Buzzards than Kites. East Gloucestershire/West Oxfordshire is easy spotting ground for them

 

[caius]

When did you last see a pay phone?

Last weekend, cycling through North Wales

 

[Mr Tidy]

That looks like a great trip and there are some lovely roads in Wales.

We have a red phone box in Windlesham although it doesn't have a 'phone inside. It has a defibrillator and is also a book exchange.

 

[Pondy]

We have a red phone box in Windlesham

My wife was born in Windlesham. Completely off topic, but hey.

 

[paddy wright]

My wife’s part of the world l- great roads!

 

[Mr Tidy]

I went on a driving trip to Wales in 2021 and was pretty impressed with the Victorian engineering at Lake Vyrnwy.

 

[Pondy]

Lake Vyrnwy.

Due to global warming, in 2027 they are re-naming it "puddle Vyrnwy" so I heard.

I'm guessing the Welsh for puddle is "pydlll" cos they don't like a lot of vowels in the that particular colony.