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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Oct 12, 2009 12:15:47 GMT 1
On Sunday, 8th November at 10.30am for 11am set off and meeting at Llys Trerobert to explore the adjacent tracks and hillside for about an hour, and then back home for a hearty Sunday lunch. The address for your sat navs (but not for post!) is: The Stables, Llys Trerobert, Old Parish Road, Ynysybwl, PONTYPRIDD, Mid Glamorgan, CF37 3EY The RAC have a good route finder facility on the net for those who need it. Link: route.rac.co.uk/Parking can cope with about 4 - 5 cars on the yard, although there's still work to be done on the car park, so it is rough ground at present. We should have the TRPD building available by then to get in out of any rain and enjoy a flask of tea and sandwich, so don't forget to bring those if required. There's a lot of work still to do there to create the bird garden, but yesterday a green woodpecker and a heron flew over, and the hedge behind the building where we have hung feeders was alive with various tits, a wren and a robin, amongst others. As work progresses, we hope to bring feeders around to the front of the building to see more of those. Also the cheeky squirrels that take nuts, race away down the fields and bury them. I'll get the ponies in that morning, and anyone who wants to can have a wander over the fields to the stream on the far side where sometimes in the autumn lots of gold finches can be seen feeding on the beech mast. Coming so far are: Owl (from the Refuge) and probably Amyjo. The route won't be too demanding, as there are several older dogs to cater for, but it will give members an opportunity to see some of the local countryside and the scope that offers for the more energetic ones at a future date. The local ramblers regularly cover 10 - 20 mile routes, and it should be possible to find a guide from amongst them for future events. Please post in this thread if you'd like to come, so that we can get an idea of numbers/cars, thanks.
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Post by reclaimingrebus on Oct 12, 2009 19:15:37 GMT 1
Sorry, Al, its just a tiny bit far for me !
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Post by petdesigns on Oct 15, 2009 15:32:13 GMT 1
I'll have to see nearer to the date if I can come or not - depends on work (I work most Sundays at the moment), the state of my back and how Martin survived the possible Rugby match the day before the walk. I'd like to come over, though.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Oct 15, 2009 20:03:03 GMT 1
There's someone on The Refuge from your area thinking of coming, too, Jutta. Be nice to see you again.
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Post by GoingtotheDogs on Oct 17, 2009 22:39:15 GMT 1
I'll try to make it, Al, with a couple of dogs I won't bring them all
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Oct 17, 2009 23:11:34 GMT 1
That'll be great, Wendy, although if you are coming up during the half-term, you could bring more.
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Post by joshnbecks on Oct 28, 2009 22:17:00 GMT 1
arggghhhh We still really wanna come on this but the day after a big family party and a 410 mile round trip with j at school the next day.............it's so not possible *sob*
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Oct 28, 2009 23:05:16 GMT 1
We'll be able to organise more walks, Becky, and perhaps be better organised next year, so can do some during the school holidays. Mind you, you could always come on a different day - perhaps a free Saturday, and perhaps Peter's young lad, Robert and his sister Amy would be around then, as they are a similar age to Josh.
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Post by GoingtotheDogs on Oct 30, 2009 14:12:45 GMT 1
I'll have to give this one a miss, sorry. It's Firework weekend and I don't go anywhere with my dogs other than the College closed field then. I even managed to leave one dog behind there one 5th November! So I'm really neurotic about it now So please sign me up for the next one.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Oct 30, 2009 14:36:49 GMT 1
I'm so sorry you can't make this one, Wendy, although on a Sunday morning, and situated where it is, I doubt very much if there will be any firework related problems. You could, if you wish, always pop along without a dog or ten, and just to see the new place, have a cuppa - Peter's installing our camping kitchen as I type - and get a general idea of the area and potential there. You'd be more than welcome and it's only a 20 minute drive from Cardiff - probably less on a Sunday morning!
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Post by GoingtotheDogs on Oct 30, 2009 21:58:33 GMT 1
I'm so sorry you can't make this one, Wendy, although on a Sunday morning, and situated where it is, I doubt very much if there will be any firework related problems. You could, if you wish, always pop along without a dog or ten, and just to see the new place, have a cuppa - Peter's installing our camping kitchen as I type - and get a general idea of the area and potential there. You'd be more than welcome and it's only a 20 minute drive from Cardiff - probably less on a Sunday morning! It's a deal, Al. I'll give it a try. Have to do a homecheck on Sunday morning in Bridgend though..............
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Oct 30, 2009 22:09:30 GMT 1
It'll be lovely to see you there, Wendy. The walk is scheduled to meet at 10.30 for 11am set off, and to cover about an hour, so we should all be back around noon and gasping for a cuppa. I'll try to arrange for a volunteer who won't be working to man the fort and make tea or coffee for you if you arrive while the walkers are away. ;D
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Post by petdesigns on Nov 1, 2009 7:48:17 GMT 1
I won't be able to come this time, either I hope I can pop over sometime a bit later this year!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Nov 1, 2009 8:25:33 GMT 1
Once we are fully organised there, it should be possible for any members who wish to visit and walk their dogs, or whatever, to come at any weekend (or even weekday) at their convenience. They will need to contact me or one of the appointed keyholders, to arrange for the gate to be unlocked etc., and, if they want to use the fields, for the ponies to be brought in.
However, for the serious, longer distance walker, there is a plan in place for the future to arrange a local guide from the rambling group to be available. Each Wednesday, a group walk from the village to the Brynfynnon Hotel, and Llanwonno Church for lunch, and through farmland and Forestry Commission land.
With the cycle trail also on the doorstep, some may also wish to visit with their bikes, and we are not far from the Taff Trail.
Those with horses could feasibly stable those at Llys Trerobert during the summer months and use that as a base or stop-off point if doing a longer trail ride. There's no human accommodation there, though, unless they wanted to pitch a tent of have a caravan/camper van.
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Post by foawales on Nov 7, 2009 9:24:28 GMT 1
Would love to join you for this and will see if a couple of local FOARCT members are available who live in the area.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Nov 7, 2009 18:43:20 GMT 1
It'll be nice to see you there and meet you, if you can come.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Nov 7, 2009 19:20:54 GMT 1
I rode Merlyn up onto the open ground earlier today, pre the walk, and did a quick recce for sheep and things, but no sign of any there or in the adjacent fields, although there are ponies grazing in a field near the top. On the way back, I passed a tree where a buzzard often perches, and it was there! It rose when I was only about 30 feet away, then moved from telegraph post to telegraph post ahead of me. Beautiful sight, and what seems like a massive wingspan. Of course, Merlyn used that as an excuse to behave more like a 3 years old instead of a 23 years old horse, and got himself in a right sweat. I wish there was someone living near enough, and with enough experience, to help exercise that old reprobate! He hardly walked a step all the way home, and was, instead, jogging sideways and cavorting like some hairy clown. My back could have done without that, and I just hope I can walk okay tomorrow! Definitely need another date with Radox! Mind you, after mucking out and spreading the last of the bark chips over the car park, I'd have needed that anyway.
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Post by reclaimingrebus on Nov 7, 2009 23:14:41 GMT 1
Al, what breed is he ?
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Post by foawales on Nov 8, 2009 0:09:14 GMT 1
Looks like I wont be able to make it after all as we have someone coming to meet a dog. Will keep an eye out for the next one.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Nov 8, 2009 0:28:31 GMT 1
Elaine, he is an over-height Connemara pony, but built like a tank/carthorse! Not to worry, Eileen. I daresay there will be other chances, and you can always contact me with a weekend date that suits you, and we can probably arrange something for then. I can always arrange to have the car park gate unlocked and so on, even if I'm not available, and it is a lovely area to explore on one's own with a dog or two, anyway.
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