The BikeBoatBoot challenge for Tŷ Hafan was born from a conversation in a pub not long after the 10nTaff challenge in late 2022. Once again, day to day life had taken over and the team had not had a chance to get back together. I suppose you could say that we were all missing each other, or maybe it was more about missing the camaraderie of a group of men who have either been through or are going through experiences of families who have lost children or who have with children with life-limiting illnesses. A club that nobody should ever join, but one whose members are some of the most incredible people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
James, Chris and I realised that another challenge was really an excuse for our group of Dads to regularly meet up. And when we met up, we always talked. About all sorts of things, including the tough stuff. Now we had to devise a challenge.
A History of Challenges for Dads and Uncles
In our first challenge, devised by the then Dad’s Support Worker at Tŷ Hafan Gareth Jenkins, we merged the national and Welsh three peaks into one. On the 5in55 we climbed and travelled in between Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Cadair Idris and Pen-y-Fan in just 55 hours.
The second 10nTaff challenge was a significant step up in difficulty, climbing the five highest mountains in North Wales on day 1, the five highest mountains in South Wales on day 2, and then cycling from Brecon to Cardiff Bay along the Taff Trail. Once again, we completed it in just over 55 hours.
The next challenge needed to be something unique and extremely tough. Something people would question was actually possible. In a time when everybody appears to be asking for sponsorship, we knew this had to be different.
Travelling the length of Wales and discovering parts of our incredible country that very few people have seen has always interested me. From that seedling evolved an oak tree of an adventure, bringing together the two key children’s hospices in Wales. We conceived a challenge to cycle (off-road as much as possible), hike, and kayak the length of Wales, from Tŷ Gobaith in Conwy to Tŷ Hafan in Sully. The kayaking section meant it was now a very unique length-of-Wales Triathlon.
The BikeBoatBoot Team
Now we needed to find Dads and Uncles who were interested in taking on the challenge. Without actually having the details of the challenge, brothers Lee and Laurence Morgan signed up having taken part in both the 5in55 and 10nTaff. From that moment the team started to take shape, and we were joined by 5in55 member Dan Forbes, Jason Foster, Tŷ Hafan’s Director of Finance, and Anthony Boggis, who was persuaded after a game of golf (I am pretty sure he did not really understand what he was signing up for). We then needed to find a support team. Dave ‘the Chef’ Haines-Knight, Andrew Evans and Wayne Thomas signed up very quickly, followed by Dave Hinton, James’ Dad. Next a close friend of mine and my wife’s, from Kingston Polytechnic days in the mid-1980s, Matt Brock, agreed to join the team after a night sipping malt whisky. Incredibly, Matt was living in Egypt and would fly over for the challenge. The team was completed when Ryan Tomlinson saw details of the challenge on the Dad’s Facebook page in the Spring of 2024 and asked to join as a participant without ever having met or spoken with any of us.
There were other Dads and supporters who wanted to take part and joined us on some of the training, but injury and family commitments prevented their full participation.
For the challenge, James Davies-Hale from Tŷ Hafan became our planner at the hospice. He had taken part in both the 5in55 and 10nTaff and would be the lynchpin of the BikeBoatBoot, taking charge of logistics. Due to the severity and difficulty of the challenge we also signed up Jake Thompsett and his team from JT Expeditions to plan the route and oversee the challenge on the ground with his team. That would prove to be an inspired decision.
Everything was in place. Now all we had to do was get fit enough for cycle, hike and kayak the length of Wales in just four days. Over the next few months, we would climb mountains, cycle off-road trails, and spend hours kayaking in the waters and rivers around Cardiff Bay. By the middle of June, we were as ready as we could be.
The BikeBoatBoot Challenge
Day 1 – Conwy to Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake)
The 27th June was upon us before we knew it. Every team member had worked so hard to be ready to take on the challenge. The group training sessions in kayaks, on bikes and walking had given us the excuse to get together, which we did as often as was possible.
Just before getting into bed the previous night, in our bunkhouse in Betws-y-Coed, I had opened a card from Jackie, my wife. The beautiful words brought tears to my eyes and I would think about them a lot over the next few days. Such a thoughtful and wonderful thing to do, but precious in so many ways. So typical of Jackie.
We had met up with Jake, his team and his parents at the bunkhouse. After a short briefing followed by a pretty awful meal at a local hotel, we had managed to get some sleep.
We woke at 4:30am in our bunkhouse in Betws-y-Coed and we were greeted by rain. Not the start we wished for, but it is Wales. Sharing rooms in bunkbeds was an important part of the experience, although the snoring and pungent aromas were always challenging. On that first night, I shared a room with Ant, James and his Dad, Dave.
Once we had all loaded the kit on the vehicles, we had a short drive to the start at Tŷ Gobaith, just south of Conwy. Whilst sitting in the minibus, the magnitude of the challenge was slowly sinking in.
There was an incredible buzz of nervous anticipation as we had photos taken in the car park and then outside Tŷ Gobaith. The rain had abated and we all felt fantastic in our wonderful BikeBoatBoot kit sponsored by Lloyd from Convey Law. If only he had been able to join us, although I know he was there in spirit. At 6:15am, we were ready to start our own unique length of Wales triathlon.
Within twenty minutes, the sun was shining and we were all stripping off layers. The cycle ride from Tŷ Gobaith took us down the B5106 alongside the River Conwy towards Betws-y-Coed. We covered the 12.7 miles in 83 minutes and had climbed a surprising 935 feet. We felt great. We were flying. Any reservations about the challenge had been left at the start.
Thankfully, we did not have any idea what lay ahead.
Back at Betws-y-Coed, we changed into our walking gear, swapping padded under shorts and cycling shoes for hiking boots, and set off on a short hike to Conwy Falls, passing the bunkhouse in which we stayed the night before walking up and through beautiful old woods. By 8:40am, we had stopped and were eating a breakfast of hot sausage and bacon rolls and boiled eggs – thanks Dave! On the 2.4-mile hike, we had gained another 506 feet in height. Morale was high and we were feeling good, but now things were about to get serious.
Changing in and out of kit was one of the most difficult parts of the challenge. Putting on either hiking or cycling kit, applying anti-chaffing cream or talc to our feet, took time. Even this early on, the inside of the minibus started to look chaotic.
Our amazing support team – Andrew, Wayne, Matt, Dave the Chef and Dave – had all our bikes laid out ready in a long line, leaving us to focus on getting ready, eating and topping up on supplies. Their support was invaluable and would become increasingly important as the challenge unfolded. Andrew and Matt also became our main team group photographers, taking a photo of us all on my camera before we left on every stage.
At around 9:00am, our cycling guides Will and Dean led us off on the toughest stage of the challenge so far. From Conwy Falls we headed south along the B4406 before cutting east at Penmachno and heading on our first off-road section over mountains towards Ysbyty Ifan, our next stop. As we crossed the mountains, the views were spectacular. Although the steep and difficult terrain also meant we had our first experience of pushing our bikes.
During the stage we had ascended 967 feet, cycling 6.4 miles in 77 minutes.
After another quick kit change, we were ready for our second hiking stage of the day. We headed directly south, between the Pen Ffridd-Sarn and Bryn Cerbyd peaks, initially following a path that simply disappeared. The terrain was tough and heavy going, with tall grasses hiding patches of soggy and boggy ground. You had to be sure of every step, taking care not to slip into the mud or twist an ankle.
As I trudged up another hill I looked down at Greg’s name, written in his own hand and now tattooed on the inside of my right arm. Every time I looked at the magical letters, finished with two kisses, I felt inspired. I could see Greg encouraging me with his beautiful smile.
Keeping the Bryn-Bras peak to east, we finally reached the next checkpoint on the roadside next to Llyn Celyn, a large lake. The 5.8-mile hike had taken 2 hours 40 minutes and we had climbed 937 feet. We were more than happy to swap our damp boots for cycling shoes.
Now it was time for some fun. The A4212 would take us all the way down to Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) for the final stage of the day. We flew down to the lake and took the opportunity to freewheel and rest our weary legs. The 10-mile section still took 53 minutes and we somehow climbed 249 feet.
We arrived at the Glan-llyd Outdoor Activity Centre, operated by Urdd Gobaith Cymru in Llanuwchllyn and on the southern tip of the lake, earlier than expected. Our plan had been to kayak north to south, but a brisk 35-mph southerly wind forced a change of plan. As we looked out across the lake, we could see that the water was extremely choppy, intensifying the anxiety levels of some of the lesser experienced kayakers.
We made the most of a short break before we set off on the water, taking on food, showering, sleeping and catching up with our families. Before we knew it, we were getting into our wet suits, making sure that they were put on the right way around, and heading out to our kayaks.
The many hours of training that we had done with Stephen from Cardiff Bay Kayaking proved priceless. We knew how to row efficiently and handle our kayaks confidently and safely. We cannot thank him enough. Although the kayaks at the outdoor centre bore little resemblance to the quality ones we had trained in.
The next step was getting into the kayaks, which were lined up on a slope next to the water’s edge. Within seconds of getting into his kayak, James found himself sliding backwards, his boat plunging into the lake before he tumbled into the water. The laughter was deafening. Ant turned to me and said, “I’m so glad I wasn’t the first one to fall into the water.” Within moments of being pushed into the water, there was a splash and Ant had followed James into the drink.
Kayaking the length of Lake Bala was tough. It had been a very long day and fatigue was being to set in. We hugged the west coastline to try and get some protection from the wind, but the water was exceptionally choppy. It was a constant battle to stay on course, fighting the swell which wanted to drag you out into the middle of the lake. At times the waves were so high it felt as though we were kayaking in the sea.
When we needed to regroup, those up ahead would row the boat to shore. I saw Laurence, one of the stronger kayakers, struggle to get his boat back on the water because of the waves pushing him back to the shore. It was tough going.
After 78 minutes, which felt like 3 hours, we reached the end of the lake. The kayaking stage was done. I must admit I had loved the kayaking section. That was until Lee and Laurence kindly tipped me off my kayak and into the cold water of the lake to celebrate completing the stage. It was 6:30pm and we had been on the go for over twelve hours.
After a quick and very cold shower, changing into welcome warm clothes, we headed off for the night’s bunkhouse. We still had bikes to clean and get checked, and kit to dry, especially our boots and cycling shoes.
After what seemed to be an endless drive in the minibus, we arrived at our bunkhouse for the night. There was much consternation when it appeared as though we were staying in stables, but the beds were warm and the showers were clean. It was time for a much-needed warm shower, some food and a briefing for the next day.
My final duty was to call and speak with Chris Birch from Bro Radio. Dan and I had been interviewed on Chris’ show some weeks before and he had asked me to keep in touch and give him an update on the challenge. It was funny speaking with someone outside the bubble and telling them what we had that day. Chris just could not believe what we were going through. In many ways, it was a reality check.
Then it was time for some sleep. I left my room mates for the night – Matt, Andrew and Wayne – having a much-deserved drink outside and clambered up into the top bunk. With earplugs jammed into my ears in an attempt to stave off snoring, I eventually fell asleep.
We had completed day 1.
Day 1 Statistics
- Time hiking, cycling and kayaking: 8 hours and 23 minutes
- Distance covered: 40.64 miles
- Elevation gained: 3,594 feet
Day 2 – Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) to Ponterwyd
The second day started with another 4:30am wakeup call and we were back at the Glan-llyd Outdoor Activity Centre by 6:00am. It was cold and raining. Summer had not yet arrived in Wales. We had a quick motivational huddle before setting off on a hike with Jake and Joe, heading for Drws-y-nant on a path running parallel to the A494. 30 minutes in and we were presented with an amazing full rainbow. Rainbows and Greg always went together and I could not help think that this was a message telling me that I was doing really well and to keep going. It may sound strange and illogical, but little signs like that gave me a much-needed boost.
The hike took us up and through fields, one full of cows and their calves with at least one bull who glared at us with menace. We meandered through the glorious Welsh countryside along the lower slopes of Foel Fawr. Near the end of this first stage of day 2, we followed a fire track up and through the Coed y Brenin woods before dropping down to our next meeting point near Drws-y-nant.
On our early morning hike, we covered 8.3 miles in 3 hours and 11 minutes, ascending 772 feet. That was going to be the easiest stage of the day. None of us really knew what lay ahead, only that it was going to be tough.
At the first checkpoint we refuelled with bacon and sausage baps – thanks again Dave – and anything else we could eat and drink, changed into our cycling kit, applied the necessary cream, and then got back on the bikes. We would be cycling for the rest of the day with Will and Dean.
It is worth noting as this stage that Dean did not always tell the entire truth. And he always told us what lay ahead with a smile. So, when asked if the stage was tough, he’d simply smile and say that it wasn’t that bad. We soon learnt neither to ask or believe him. As for Will, he was just a machine. I have never seen anyone ride a mountain bike like him. The trouble was, he greatly overestimated our (maybe my) level of skill on a mountain bike.
On stage 2 we would head for Corris on minor roads and then head off-road. Leaving Drws-y-Nant, we headed south west, past Brithdir and across the A470. Now heading south, we kept the Pen-y-Bwlch-Coch peak to our right and crossed the A487. Then we hit a steep climb.
Following a minor road up between the peaks of Mynydd-y-Waun and Fron Fawr, we headed for Aberllefenni. The steep road was endless, and we really had to dig in. You just had to somehow keep your legs moving to turn the wheels. Your muscles burn and, on the real steep sections, your heart is almost pounding out of your chest. I dread to think what my heart rate was.
The rest of the team were either by my side, in front or behind me. Lee, Dan and Chris tended to lead the group, followed by Laurence, Jason and James. Anthony and I were the slowest, plodding along at the back with Ryan keeping us company although he could easily have been up the front. However, the team was never that far apart. The group was fluid, with people dropping back to support others. And when you reached the top of a climb, everyone was there to cheer and celebrate another peak climbed.
At the top of the climb, we all took a break to catch our breath and take in the surrounding views. You could see for miles. There was low cloud touching the tops of some of the surrounding mountains, but the rain was staying away.
After a quick refuel, we headed back down the mountain into Corris. The long and steep downhill was a welcome relief from the climbing. However, when Anthony shouted that my brakes were on fire, my heart sank. Smoke was billowing from my rear brakes where the pads had actually caught fire. With the speed of descent, down the windy, tight country roads, I had held the rear brakes on too long. When we stopped, there was nothing I could do except watch them smoke. Everyone’s brakes were red hot.
Finally, we arrived in Coris at around 12:45pm. It had been a long and tough day already. On stage 2 of day 2 we had covered 14 miles in 2 hours 45 minutes ascending 1750 feet.
Our support team had set up in a car park next to a school. A parent of one of the pupils had asked what was happening and when the team explained she gave a donation. And then the headmistress came out and also gave a donation. Moments like these were precious and gave us all a real lift. Thank you Ysgol Dyffryn Dulas Corris.
Once refuelled and changed we were back on the bikes. By this time, our bike saddles were becoming increasingly uncomfortable for our bruised backsides. And it was only day 2. Stage 3 was relatively short and painless, on minor roads running alongside the A487, taking us down to Machynlleth. We covered the 6 miles in 49 minutes and only climbed 607 feet. It was the calm before the storm. The challenge was about to get interesting.
We were welcomed into the back end of the car park, where Dave had cooked up some chicken pasta served in paper cups. It was delicious and helped refuel our ever-emptying reserves of energy.
The next stage would be the most difficult we faced so far. The terrain, the distance and the ascent were eyewatering.
We left Machynlleth at 2:20pm, heading south west and then south towards Glaspwll, and hit a steep incline almost immediately. Ant, who had been suffering with his knee, took the wise decision to give the stage a miss and headed back to the support team.
Just 40 minutes after leaving the car park we were pushing our bikes up the side of a steep hill with no paths to be seen. We were heading into the wilderness. I tried not to think about what lay ahead, and just focused on keeping my legs moving and the next five minutes. It was the only way to survive.
The terrain was unforgiving. The paths either did not exist or were unrideable with large loose stones. Everyone was struggling and maybe the magnitude of the challenge was hitting us.
After the first big climb we stopped and took in the views, which were incredible. We were joining a select group of people who had seen these parts of Wales. Beautiful rolling mountains as far as the eye could see. We got back on our bikes and rejoined a path, navigating heavily rutted tracks which were nearly impossible to cycle on. And then we started to climb again.
It was a path of loose stones, big and small, which we cycled for a while. But then we came to ‘The Chute’. I looked at Laurence and he just shook his head. It seemed as though we had pushed the bikes more than ridden them in the past hour and there was no way we could ride up ‘The Chute’. Will set up and made it most of the way. But for most of us, cycling was a step too far.
At 4:15pm we reached the top of ‘The Chute’ and stopped. The stage was taking its toll on all of us. As we were taking on food and liquids, we noticed a sign next to the path which said: ‘The Chute. Ride with Extreme Caution. Steel Slippery Rocky’. That was an understatement!
As we prepared ourselves to get back on the bikes, we gazed out across the mountains. To the south was Mynydd Bychan and Bryn Moel. We were deep in the wild, miles away from civilisation and it was wonderful. I could have sat there for hours. But it was time to press on. There was still a lot of cycling to do.
For the next hour we cycled south, skirting around or over Mynydd Bychan, Bryn Moel and Banc Llechwedd Mawr following a series of narrow and rough tracks. After cycling down the west side of the Nant-y-moch reservoir, we kept heading south between Y Garn and Dinas. As we descended from the mountains, we greeted by Jake and Joe who had taken to their bikes. I know that both of them wished they could have joined us on more of the cycling stages.
After all the climbing, we were enjoying the downhill. But these downhills were treacherous and Laurence quickly found himself upside down in the long grass. The concentration and physical exertion needed just to keep the bike upright was exhausting. At the bottom of the mountains, we cycled across large streams, with the majority of us failing to reach the other side and ending up to our calves in water. We left the hills behind us and enjoyed cycling along a few miles of undulating tracks and roads.
There was huge relief when we reached our final meeting place at a petrol station in Ponterwyd at 6:45pm. Everyone in the team was tired. On the last stage we had covered nearly 18 miles, ascending nearly 2800 feet in 4 hours 27 minutes. It had been a wake-up call. We needed to rest. We got into the minibus and Matt drove us to the bunkhouse 40 minutes away. There was notably less conversation. Exhaustion was kicking in. And we still had a briefing as well as needing to clean the bikes and prepare our kit preparation for day 3.
Once back at the bunkhouse we also needed to try and dry our walking boots and cycling shoes, which were soaking wet. A few of us put out boots and shoes out in the evening sun, which proved fruitless. Once the sun had gone down, we build a wall of shoes and boots around an electric fire, which would remain on all night. I am not sure of the fire risk, but at least of footwear managed to dry out a little.
This bunkhouse was lovely, with a centrally located large table in the dining area next to a kitchen and the showers on the ground floor. Upstairs was one large room packed with beds.
Dave rustled up our second pasta meal of the day and then, after a quick shower, we headed off to sleep in the most comfortable beds of the trip.
It had been another very long day.
Day 2 Statistics
- Time hiking and cycling: 11 hours and 12 minutes
- Distance covered: 46.24 miles
- Elevation gained: 5,911 feet
Day 3 – Ponterwyd to Brecon
Day 2 had been tough, but we knew that day 3 was going to be tougher. This was the longest day in terms of time and distance. And we would be hiking and cycling across some of the remotest countryside in Wales. Again, it was time to just focus on the first stage of the day, on the first five minutes, on the first few turns of the wheel. Otherwise, the enormity of the day would have been overwhelming.
The previous night’s accommodation had been the best yet and we all managed to get some decent sleep. Most of us had managed to at least partially dry our boots and shoes. Apart from Laurence. I need to apologise as I had left his boots out in the evening sun to dry but did not bring them in when darkness fell. It was only a few days later that Jackie told me that Laurence’s still-wet boots were filled with slugs. And he never said a word to me, but he had told his wife who had then told all our wives and partners on the ladies WhatsApp group. The legend that is Laurence simply removed the slugs and loaded the boots onto the bus ready for the day’s action.
We had awoken at 4:30am and were back at the petrol station in Ponterwyd, sitting on our bikes, ready to set off, by 6:30am. Despite the obvious tiredness, there was an amazing positive buzz in the group with lots of smiles, laughter and banter. We had completed two days and there were only two to go. It couldn’t get any harder. Could it?
It is strange how quickly tiredness leaves your body when you’re cycling or hiking. Within twenty minutes, everyone was well into the first ride of the day. We headed south on B roads and had a quick stop for photographs at Devil’s Bridge, before taking on a long forty-minute climb up yet another mountain, along the B4574, before finally stopping for a rest at the top near Coed yr Arch. And whatever goes up, has to come down, and we had a fast descent down to our next meeting place in Cwmystwyth. In 1 hour and 13 minutes we had cycled 7.6 miles and climbed 885 feet. Stage 1 of day 3 had been completed.
Jake and Joe took over from Will and Dean for stage 2, which involved hiking due south east and then south over remote mountains. I do not think I have ever been in places more remote that on that hike. We followed a road and then a footpath but after a short while there was no recognisable route to follow. Jake and Joe just took a compass bearing and that is the direction in which we walked.
Once we had climbed up the first mountain, we could only see just empty moorland stretching for miles into the distance. You could not see any evidence of civilisation. There were no towns, no roads, nothing. The landscape was devoid of trees, with all the surrounding hills coated in just grass. Our phone signals were either weak or non-existent. It was an incredibly positive feeling of being totally isolated from the world.
But the moorland was not easy to hike across. We were constantly walking into very wet areas of peat and bog and at one stage I saw Anthony’s right leg sink in a bog up to his thigh. We all panicked because we knew that Anthony had suffered with knee issues and operations for many years. He got dragged out and just lay on the grass, catching his breath as the rest of us trying to navigate a way across the soaking wet bog without sinking and getting our feet sodden. Ryan seemed to float across the bog, which got him the nickname ‘Spider’.
We were still miles from civilisation. To our relief, Anthony’s knee was sore, but he was ok to continue. I am not totally sure what we would have done if he had not been able to walk.
The tough terrain made it difficult to get any momentum. It was a slog. The endless moorland was sapping our energy and spirit. At one point I was at the back, plodding along just focusing on putting one step in front of another. Doubts were entering my mind, which is never good. I looked down at Greg’s beautiful signature tattooed on my arm for inspiration and suddenly a high-pitched sound came into my left ear, which some people believe is a message from a spirit or guardian angel.
“Greg’s telling me to get on with it and stop feeling sorry for myself,” I told Ant. It was the boost that I very much needed at that moment in time.
The biggest highlight of that hike was when we reached the geographical centre of Wales. It is an unmarked place, on a hillside, where there is a 360-degree view of hills, distant mountains, lakes, and miles and miles of open moorland. It was 10:00am and we took the obligatory team photograph to mark the occasion.
However, being at the geographical centre of Wales meant that we still had half of Wales to cover before we reached Tŷ Hafan. Once again, we were struck by the magnitude of what we were doing.
We continued to head south, along the east side of the Llyn Fryddon Fawr and Llyn Fryddon Fach lakes, with the Llan Ddu Fawr mountain just in the distance in the west.To make the hike a little more interesting, the weather changed and we were caught in a few rain showers. As we left the mountains, we passed by a remote stone cottage that walkers would use as for shelter in bad weather. One inscription suggested that the house dated back to 1866.
Finally, after hiking for 2 hours and 47 minutes, covering only 5.3 miles but ascending 1,214 feet, we reached our next checkpoint on the edge of Llyn Teifi and enjoyed a much-needed breakfast. It was only 11:00am.
After refilling our water pouches and stocking up on snacks, we prepared ourselves to spend the rest of the day on our bikes. The afternoon of day 3 was going to be the toughest part of the challenge. We had a lot of miles to cover before we reached our night’s destination in Brecon. We had a lot of mountains to climb. Thankfully, we had no idea how tough the terrain was going to be. If we had, I think I would have stayed with the support team.
Our stage 3 destination was Beulah. We had a half-decent track to follow that took us along the north side of the Cronfa Ddwr Claerwen (Claerwen Reservoir). The views were incredible, with the huge quantity of water held back by an incredible dam which stood at the southernmost point. We reached the dam by 12:45pm and had a quick stop to restock our water and food. This would be the last time we saw any of our support team for quite some time. We were heading back out into the wilderness.
Ant had been struggling after sinking into the bog earlier in the day and was advised to hold back from this stage. I think a few of us would have joined him if we had known what was ahead. We left Ant and within five minutes, Dean stopped and pointed down a steep fern covered slope at a small river, the Afon Claerwen.
“That’s where we need to go,” he said. “It’s more interesting than taking the long way around.”
I can assure you it was interesting. Too interesting for my liking. A few of the team cycled down, with Ryan crashing and disappearing in the tall ferns. When we got to the river, there were no designated paths or crossings. The previous night, we had all spent ages trying to dry out our cycling shoes, which now turned out to be a total waste of time. The only way across was the walk through the stream was to scramble down the riverbank and then either carry or wheel your bike through the water.
We struggled across, Ryan again coming a cropper in the middle of the water. With wet feet, we climbed back on the bikes and joined a rocky, uneven and uncompromising path that would take us onwards. We cycled through deep pools of stagnant water, whilst navigating around big rocks. Within ten minutes Chris had a mechanical failure with his shifter breaking. Despite Dean and Will’s best attempts, it could not be fixed. There was no turning back and so Chris had no option but to cycle the rest of the stage in gear 4. Nobody apart from Chris can ever appreciate how difficult that was and we all were in awe of what he did.
Although there were some much-needed downhill sections, for the majority of time we were climbing up and into the mountains. We headed between the peaks of Gorllwyn and Drygam Fawr, both over 2000 feet. The terrain was incredibly challenging and we cycled along heavily rutted paths with ruts were so deep that it was impossible to fully turn the main crank on the bike without hitting the ground or a rock. The next moment we were on the faintest of paths, strewn with hidden rocks waiting to catch you unawares and throw you off into the tall grass. There was no going back. You just had to keep going. Cycle when you could. Push when it became unrideable.
It was the moment when Will, our group leader, stopped just before a particularly rocky rise devoid of any path.
“This is how to carry your bike,” he said, lifting the bike up in the air holding the peddle and front fork and resting it on the top of his back. “We’ve got around 2km to cover carrying the bikes.”
My heart sank. I didn’t even know if I could get the bike up on my back never mind about carrying it. With Dean’s help, I got the bike onto my back and trudged forward, following the others through the rocks and up the hill. Nobody complained. Nobody argued. Nobody actually said anything. We just did it. The top of my back was throbbing, my shoulders burning. Every step was slow and steady and painful. Finally, we reached the top of the rocky hill and joined the faintest of paths to take us through the desolate moorland.
The route did not get any easier. I spent my time struggling along at the rear, whilst the others struggled along ahead. There were tales of crashes. Laurence going over his handlebars when his front tyre just sank into a hidden bog was just one. I believe nearly everyone had come off at some point.
We finally reached the end of the moorland and dropped down into the top of a forestry area. However, my hopes of decent tracks were quickly dashed and we hurtled down some very tricky, steep, tree-lined tracks with large exposed roots. Brakes only slowed the bike and we had no chance of actually stopping. Suddenly, my front wheel got caught on a root and the bike just stopped, sending me crashing to the ground, once again. It was my third crash of the day. And this one hurt.
For a moment I just sat there, wondering about the impact my helmet took and the building pain in my shoulder. Dean stopped to ask if I was ok. I just told him that I needed a minute.
I looked at Greg’s signature on my arm. Greg never gave in. Greg was the bravest person I have ever known. So, I got back on the bike and set off again, hurtling down this incredibly difficult descent, desperately trying to stay on my bike. By the end of the descent, I don’t think I have ever been more pleased to see a proper fire track.
We still had several miles to cover. We followed fire tracks and then would divert off through the trees on another narrow path, before returning to another decent wide pathway.
That was the most challenging off-road cycling I have ever encountered. Technical, physically and mentally demanding and endless. It was an incredible experience and, despite the difficulty and often danger, I now look back and realise that I loved every minute.
At around 4:45pm we rolled into the car park at Beulah for our final checkpoint of the day. In just over 5 hours, we had cycled 21.5 miles, climbing 1,955 feet. But those figures do not do justice to the difficulty of that section. For the stage, our average cycling speed was only 4 miles per hour. On my training walks I have an average of 3 miles per hour.
And the day was not yet over.
Weeks later, Anthony told me that when we all arrived in the car park we looked broken. There was little conversation as Dave, Matt, Andrew and Wayne handed out ration packs to the team. They were eaten in silence. Dave handed me a chocolate cake one, which was delicious. Slowly, people started telling the horror stories of the last stage. The laughter returned. The banter flowed.
Lee’s cycling shoes were now in tatters and the support team stuck them together with gaffer tape. Maybe his shoes reflected how everyone was actually feeling. Broken but held together by the gaffer tape of the team’s spirit.
Anthony was ready to rejoin us for the final stage of the day, which would take us to Brecon. The route would be mostly B roads, but there was a climb. A long and steep ascent. We left Beulah at 5:00pm and then turned onto the B4519 after cycling through Garth. This road would take us up to around 1,500 feet, to the top of The Warren, through the middle of the Sennybridge Training Area, a UK Ministry of Defence military training area. That hill was never-ending.
We had been cycling or hiking for over nine hours before we started this final stage. Legs were aching, bodies were tired, and energy levels were low. It was simply a case of knuckling down and keeping the legs spinning. Encouraging each other every step of the way, we plodded up the hill.
We all finally reached the top of the climb after cycling for around 80 minutes. It was 6:00pm. We all knew that the final big climb of the whole challenge had been conquered. There was a relived smile on everyone’s face. We had smashed the last climb. A climb that would have broken cyclists who hadn’t already been out for nine hours. Looking around me, all I could see was an incredible group of men. I felt honoured to be with them.
There was still a lot of miles still to go, but now we had a long downhill and then some rolling up and down hills into Brecon. Although just after Upper Chapel, our guides decided to take us off the B4520 and on a slightly longer and possibly more rolling up and down route along safer back roads. I wish I could say that nobody questioned that decision.
At just before 8:00pm we rolled into the car park at Brecon knowing that the hardest part of the challenge was now over. In that final stage, we had cycled 21 miles in 2 hours 51 minutes, climbing 2,141 feet. And we were ready for some food and much-needed sleep.
The bunkhouse was pretty basic, but had a kitchen and a load of rooms packed with bunkbeds. We all could spread out, which meant hopefully getting a little more sleep. I shared a huge room with Jason and Ryan.
It was burgers and chips for dinner, which tasted incredible. I had a quick catch-up with Chris from Bro Radio and then it was off to bed. I was not feeling great, but just put it down to exhaustion.
However, it was not bedtime for Ryan. During the day he had been constantly in touch with his wife Amy. Their son Talis had been admitted to hospital with a high temperature. He was worried, as was everyone in the team. On the way back to the bunkhouse, we arranged for Dave, one of our drivers, to take Ryan to see his family at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr. Ryan could then see Talis and speak with Amy and decide whether to rejoin us or stay with his family. At 11:30pm the door of our room opened and Ryan walked in. Thankfully, Talis was responding well to the treatment and Amy and Ryan were happy for him to continue.
They are both incredible people and Ryan just epitomised what it is like to be a Tŷ Hafan Dad.
Day 3 Statistics
- Time hiking and cycling: 11 hours and 59 minutes
- Distance covered: 55.29 miles
- Elevation gained: 6,196 feet
Day 4 – Brecon to Tŷ Hafan in Sully
When I woke up on day 4, I had a mix of emotions. Although day 4 was going to be tough, it was nothing like day 2 and 3. This was more endurance, getting our bodies and minds through two hikes and one long ride. We knew what was ahead. There were no more surprises.
I also did not want the challenge to end. This may sound strange, especially after describing how difficult the previous days had been, but I wanted a day 5 and 6. We were all in a bubble, away from the world. I was with a group of amazing people.
Then I looked at the team’s Just Giving page, which continued to build over £50,000. This money was a small contribution to Tŷ Hafan to ensure families like ours got the help they needed. I also missed Jackie, my rock. We had been through so much together and being apart for so long felt wrong.
And I thought of Greg. My inspiration. The bravest person I have ever known.
After some cereal to get our metabolisms going, and a mini crisis about the lack of Weetabix, we headed off to the car park in Brecon. By 6:15am, we were on foot heading for the mountains of Bannau Bryceiniog. Everyone was in a good place.
There was a little sprinkling of rain, but the cool morning quickly warmed up, forcing us to shed clothes as we follow a small B road, Bailihelig Road, out of Brecon. In the distance we could see the peaks of Fan-y-Big and Cribyn appearing and then disappearing behind banks of ominous cloud.
When the road ended, we joined a path that would take us up to ‘windy gap’, the saddle between Fan-y-Big and Cribyn. The path ran along the west side of the Bryn Teg peak, with Cribyn looming over us in the south west. The blue sky was interlaced with wispy white clouds, coating the beautiful mountains in sunshine. Concerns about rain fading into the distant memory. We all felt amazing.
I even handed Jake my camera for some different photos of the team following the path up into the mountains. However, I must admit, it felt as though I had lost a limb.
As we followed the track up the mountain side, sheep farmers with helpers passed us on quad bikes, clearly on their way to tender the sheep scattered across the mountains.
The views were incredible, with Fan-y-Big looming over us on the left and Cribyn on our right.
At 8:50am, around 2 ½ hours after leaving Brecon, we stood at ‘windy pass’, which lived up to its name with strong gusts from the north blowing through the saddle. The views were incredible and as we followed the stoney path south. We could see Corn Du, Pen-y-Fan and Cribyn standing proud with the Blaen Taf Fechan river deep in the valley. Parallel to our path was the ridge I follow when walking the Horseshoe Ridge Trail.
By 9:35am, we stood in the Upper Neuadd Reservoir car park. We had covered 8 miles in 3 hours and 17 minutes, ascending 1,657 feet. Stage 1 of day 4 was done.
After a much-welcomed breakfast, refilling of our water, and the application of anti-chaffing cream on our sore rear ends, we were ready for the long cycle ride down to Cardiff Bay.
We left at around 10:10am, joining the Taff Trail and following the roads along the reservoirs to Pontstcill, before crossing the dam. The minor road then led to an off-road but tarmaced section of the Taff Trail, which provided a downhill run to our next checkpoint.
We reached the top of Merthyr at 10:55am. We were flying. Day 4 alone would be a challenge for most people and, even after hiking for 8 miles, somehow everybody was full of energy.
The next stop was McDonalds in Rhydycar. We had stopped there on the last challenge and it was a bit of a pilgrimage, as well as a much-needed opportunity to refuel. We also needed to slow down as there was a triathlon taking place in Cardiff Bay and the roads were not opening until 2:30pm. And we were running way ahead of schedule. After having my chicken selects and fries, just what Greg would have had although minus the ketchup, we headed off for Cardiff Bay along the Taff Trail.
The trail runs parallel to the A470, crossing over once and then back under until we reached Abercynon, where we cycled alongside the River Taff towards Pontypridd. After cycling through Ynysangharad Park in Pontypridd, we crossed back over the A470 and passed Glyntaff, Rhydyfelin and Upper Boat. We were now on familiar tracks, which many of us had trained on.
At Nantgarw, where the Taff Trail crosses the A468 dual carriageway leading up to Caerphilly, we stopped and caught our breath. It was only 2:00pm and we were cycling at a ridiculous speed. The thought of seeing our families was injecting energy into our tired legs. Now we had a long and mainly flat ride down to Cardiff Bay. Chris guided us through a redirected route near Taffs Well, before we passed through Tongwynlais and rejoined the off-road track. Before we knew it, we were cycling in Bute Park in Cardiff, which we passed through in a flash.
After navigating the busy streets of Cardiff, we passed the Principality Stadium and followed the River Taff towards the coast. There was a sense of incredible achievement and almost disbelief as we cycled down Roald Dahl Plass by the Wales Millennium Centre. We could now see the sea, which meant we had travelled the whole length of Wales under our own steam. Even now, as I write these words, travelling from north to south Wales in four days sounds crazy.
At just after 3pm we arrived in Cardiff Bay to an amazing reception. Outside the Norwegian Church, family, friends and Tŷ Hafan staff had gathered to welcome us. I had felt the tears well up on the later stage of the cycle ride and now I just let them flow. All of us were searching for our families as we cycled into the finish area and I could not wait to see and hold Jackie.
As I hugged my wife, I could see all the others tightly holding their loved ones and children. There were tears, hugs, photographs and even ice creams before we had to prepare for the final stage. For the challenge was not over. We still had to hike 8 miles to Tŷ Hafan in Sully.
We changed for the final time, although most of us left our hiking boots in the mini bus. I had to borrow some incredibly trendy sunglasses from Chris as mine had been efficiently packed away with the bikes by our support team. The final walk followed the Wales Coast Path from Cardiff Bay to Sully and one of our 10nTaff team, Matthew Evans, joined us. He had pulled out of the BikeBoatBoot due to injury and it was so good to have him join us for that final stage carrying his gorgeous daughter Darcy. Whilst walking across the barrage, friends and family had joined us. It was wonderful.
That final stage is a bit of a blur. It was just a case of putting one foot in front of the other and keeping going. It was almost mechanical, just going through the motions to get to the end. Jason and his wife guided us on a short cut through Penarth. At the pier I stopped to buy and ice cream only to find that I didn’t have enough money and then a gentleman next to me bought it for me. Whilst passing one pub we were suddenly greeted by clapping and cheering after someone told them what we were doing. I think they even donated some money.
As we got nearer to the hospice, we started seeing little signs made by the staff saying things like ‘You are doing great!’.
Finally, at 6:50pm, over 12 hours since we had started hiking in the centre of Brecon, we stopped on the coastal path, just outside Tŷ Hafan, and waited for everyone to catch up. Suddenly, fatigue hit us, the result of extreme exertion over four long days. Our bodies were empty of energy. I looked at Dan, one of the strongest and fittest men I have ever known, and he looked exhausted. In my head that meant I was allowed to feel totally drained.
Together we walked into the grounds of Tŷ Hafan and were greeted by the most amazing reception. Our families, children staying at the hospice, and Tŷ Hafan staff were cheering as we followed the path around to the memorial garden. It was overwhelming.
My memory starts to get fuzzy at this point. Tiredness and the emotion of finally arriving at Tŷ Hafan cascaded over me like a huge wave. And the realisation of why we do these challenges. For our children and for our families. For all those families who desperately need support at the darkest of times.
By the time I reached the memorial garden and knelt down by Greg’s pebble, uncontrollable tears were running down my face. I felt Jackie’s arm around my shoulder but the rest of the world was blocked out. All I could think about was Greg and my family.
When I finally looked up, I saw the other Dads in similar emotional states, with cheeks coated in tears and red swollen eyes from crying. Lee kept his sunglasses on to hide the tears. Jake and his team respectfully stood back and, after meeting up with Jake since the challenge, I know how much this outpouring of grief hit them.
There was a lot of hugging in the memorial garden that evening. We all found and held each other as tightly as we could. Hardly any words were spoken as the expression on our faces said it all. Grief for the dads who had lost children and the pain of what may come for the dads whose children are still cared for by the hospice.
Somehow, we managed to collect ourselves for some team photographs. And then we moved to one side of the pebble rings and all stood together, arms around each other’s shoulders, and just thought about our children and families, and all the children whose names were on the pebbles around the mirrored water orb.
We had completed the challenge. We had cycled, hiked and kayaked the length of Wales in just four-days. Only in time would we fully appreciate the magnitude of what we had done.
This was now the time for celebrating. James from Tŷ Hafan had booked Sully Social Club for a few hours and the team, our families and friends met up and enjoyed a well-earned drink or five. Stephen from Cardiff Bay Kayaking joined us, and it was so good to see him. Then Jake took the stage to say a few words about every participant before he presented us with a very special medal.
The challenge was over. Over four days this incredible group of men had cycled, hiked and kayaked the length of Wales. As I tried to stay awake in the car on the way home, I had a deep longing for the challenge to continue and to be back in that very special bubble.
Day 4 Statistics
- Time hiking and cycling: 11 hours and 5 minutes
- Distance covered: 55.23 miles
- Elevation gained: 3,552 feet
The BikeBoatBoot Challenge Statistics
Over four days, the BikeBoatBoot team travelled by bike, kayak and on foot from North to South Wales:
- Time hiking, cycling and kayaking: 42 hours 36 minutes (this does not include the time at check points or during any travelling)
- Distance covered: 197.4 miles
- Elevation gained: 19,253 feet (5,868 metres) – note: Ben Nevis, from sea level, is 4,413 feet
It is only as I write this, over two months after the challenge, that the enormity of challenge becomes apparent. I am not saying that it wasn’t tough when we were on our bikes, hiking or kayaking, but you just did it. The momentum of the team got you through each day. It is only in hindsight do you comprehend the extremity of the challenge. We have travelled the length of Wales under our own steam. But I would do it again in the blink of an eye just to spend time with the others.
Fundraising
The support we had with sponsorship and donations was incredible. As of 10th September 2024, the BikeBoatBoot team had raised £58,842 with an additional £3,522 in gift aid. This means that the total raised on the three challenges – the 5in55, 10nTaff and BikeBoatBoot – has exceeded £150,000. An incredible amount of money raised by so few people.
Thank you
There are so many people to thank and so I apologise if I miss anyone. Firstly, thank you to our primary sponsors, especially Lloyd at Convey Law. Your support is always incredible. Our other key sponsors to thank were Bunting, The Events Room and TLC Fostering, although I want to give special thanks to my old school friend Phil Davies and his son Lloyd and the Freemason’s Lodge of St Martin in Caerphilly.
The nine who did the walking, cycling and kayaking want to thank the five guys who supported us throughout. Andrew, Dave the chef, Dave, Matt, and Wayne, we could not have done this without you. Your encouragement when we finished a stage in bits, feeding us, and getting our kit ready before sending us back out on the next hike or bike ride made such a huge difference. And I want to thank my fellow hikers, walkers and kayakers. You all got me through some incredibly tough times and not just during the challenge. Over the past few years you have been there to support me and my family. You are all like brothers to me and you are the most incredibly amazing bunch of total lunatics that I have ever known.
Thanks to Jake and the JT Expeditions team of Dean, Joe, Will and Jake’s parents. Your ears might have been burning a few times and please don’t take offence at what we were all calling you, but your guidance and support throughout the challenge was precious. You were all such a key part of the challenge and as much a BikeBoatBoot team member as any of us.
Thanks to so many people in Tŷ Hafan who supported us, but especially James Davies-Hale. You had the thankless task of logistics, including finding bunkhouses in the middle of nowhere.
A big thanks to Stephen from Cardiff Bay Kayaking, not only for getting us to a kayaking standard that would be sufficient for Bala Lake but also for the hours of fun we had on the water during all those training sessions. Must admit I’ve fallen in love with kayaking and we will be back.
Thank you to everyone who donated, shared or liked a post and gave us all that love and support. We cannot tell you how much it meant reading messages of support during the challenge, often when we were totally exhausted.
We want to thank our partners, our children and our families. You are all simply amazing and we love you. We couldn’t do this without your support when we are out training, yet again, and whilst away on the challenge. And seeing your faces when we reached the final stages was simply magical. We might do the challenges, but you are the real heroes.
