A few of us had arranged to go out and do some 'laning on Sunday the 8th, on Saturday some of us were discussing it on Facebook, and Brett said he spent some time prepping his Jimny ready for the day, I - with some kind of premonition - said "I just get in the Vit' in the morning and see if it starts"... errr -

Obviously not then! LOL, flat battery, so drove the GV into our front yard to jump the Vit' off it!

Next problem was that the Pocket PC had lost it's memory too... from a flat battery! So rushed inside and downloaded Memory Map onto it again, and luckily all the mapping data was still on the memory card, so we're all set to go!...

We met up at the Ponderosa cafe' at the top of the Horseshoe Pass for a good hearty breakfast... excellent value too, highly recommended... a great place to start a days laning from!

Left to right - Andy's Jimny, Si & Vic in the Frontera (yes, I know it's not a Suzuki!), Gary's Jimny, Stealthy Vitara ;) , and Brett's Jimny... so we're outnumbered by the diminutive Jimny's!

Breakfast sorted and we're on to our first lane of the day, the "Conquering Hero" (don't ask me, I don't make the names up?!)

Nice tiny gate, but even the Fronty squeezes through ;)

Up on the top in the moorlands, and all the rain we've had has settled in the ruts!

Not too bad though, bit of wading - preferably with a Snorkel !

Brett and Lynne coming through with a nice bow wave...

Didn't realise how far I'd got ahead, daydreaming - my mind seems to clear when I'm laning, and I just drift off! - but rounding a bend on the side of the mountains, I'm rewarded with a nice picture looking back at the rest of the group ;)

Stopped to let the others catch up...

Nice view at the end down to the village below (Rhewl).

On to another lane, this one before the descent into the V-gulley...

Again, very wet... lovely!

It starts to tighten up...

And I didn't get many pictures! d'Oh! partly as I was too busy steering and grinning, and partly the ones that I did get are all camera shake! Even this one looking back is a bit shaky!

We enjoyed it so much, we turned round and came back up the V-Gulley! Superb!

The start of another lane, this one being the one known as "Whitestones", until recently it's had a TRO (Temporary Restriction Order) on it, as some of the bank had collapsed, but we'd heard it had been fixed, so we went for a look... all the TRO notices had gone, so we parked at the gate and walked (puffed?) our way up the steep climb for a look...

...indeed, the council (we presume) have been and repaired the bank... happy to proceed!

Climbing up, followed by the Fronty! ;) we'll just pretend it's a big Vitara! LOL

And over the moorlands... fantastic views!

Nothing too demanding, but a good days driving...

LOL! No, it's not overheating... we've just waded through some water filled ruts again, and the radiator is steaming it off, and it's a cold day too... so an amusing photo whilst we open and close the gates...

Down to Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog for a cuppa ;)

Then we're off over "Splashy Lane"... we halt to stare into the distance unbelievably... astonished to find 14, yes FOURTEEN, vehicles in a row on the lane! We stop for a break keen not to be associated with this kind of practice... we believe it was someone profiteering, taking paying customers greenlaning?! A group of three bikers meet us on the lane, and they turn around disgusted as well...

After a short break to let the convoy ahead of us move a safe distance away, we follow them slowly and well back...

Again, the lanes are deep and flooded...

Fronty takes a dip...

This is why it's known as "Splashy Lane" - all the ruts soon fill up after some rain... and boy, have we had some rain recently!

Oh, strange, obviously mis-sized this one?!

Cadbury, my chocolate Labrador, loves coming along and staring at the sheep... he's 10 now, so 70 in doggy years, but still loves to go out laning with his "Dad" ;)

Dropping back down into the valley by Llanarmon DC again... Simon and Vic peel off at this point and make a run for home, things to do... the other four of us carry on for a few more lanes...

Only got one picture from this lane... to busy steering and grinning again... it's the one that climbs through the forest above Pandy...

A couple more lanes and Brett and Lynne and Gary decide it's time for the off before they run out of petrol... so Andy and I decide to round the day off with a trip over...

... the Wayfarer... again, nothing too taxing, but a great 14 mile renowned lane... always worth a trip over if we're in the area...

Ah, the clocks have gone back haven't they?! And by the tim we reach the middle of the lane it's getting dusky...

Note the light shining off my stainless D-rings that hold the tree wires onto the winch bumper... LOL ;)

At the peak, and it's proper dark now... quite eary and hostile up there in the dark I though! So we decide to descend and head home quick as we can...

Not before leaving a Bits4Vits business card in the visitors box though! LOL ;)

Descending in the dark through freezing mist... ready for a shower, a chinese and a couple of beers by now! ;)

Top day! Thanks to Simon, Vic, Brett, Lynne, Gary and Andy for their excellent company... we must get out again soon... I've got mud back in my blood!

More soon! ;)