Its 7 am and I've just ridden to the Junction Pool on my electric bike.

This is the point where the Towy and Doethie rivers meet and is a popular bathing spot on the few occasions when the weather is hot enough.  To the right is the Dinas, a conical hill where you can find Twm Sion Catti's cave. This spot also featured in the S4C drama "Pen Talar" as the site of a rape.

I've brought my breakfast with me and am sitting on a rock watching the sun hit the mountains opposite. It'll be hot later but for now it's cool and absolutely quiet except for the birdsong. A pair of dippers just chased each other up the Towy.

I first came to this valley in about 1974, and for several years I came every spring to help guard the Peregrine Falcon sites. I used to climb up through the trees here...

... and sit watching the crag opposite:

 On one occasion I saw a group of racing pigeons speeding through the valley. The Peregrine stooped, one of the pigeons tried to escape by flying staight up but the falcon took it from below; one of my most exciting bird watching episodes.

Now I must ride the half hour back to Cilycwm - a great way to start the day.