The Linux Beer Hike in Wales
Talybont-on-Tux
Pretty little villages with unpronounceable names, cozy pubs, a beautiful countryside with canals, rivers, waterfalls, sheep, and hills – welcome to the annual Linux Beer Hike in Talybont-on-Usk, Wales.
It's one of my favorite weeks of the year, and I've been to most of the 16 Linux Beer Hikes (a.k.a. Linux Bier Wanderung [1]). This year's event took place from 20 to 26 July. About 40 hikers and hackers from various countries met up in Talybont-on-Usk [2], a small village in Southern Wales in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The weather gods were smiling upon us, and it was almost a bit too sunny to conquer the mountains, but we managed anyway and climbed a few of them, including Corn Du (873m, 2,864ft) and Pen y Fan (886m, 2,907ft).
Long-time LBW attendees pack several liters of water, GPS devices, and a first-aid kit with blister treatment, especially when a "short stroll to the next village" is announced. What had been advertised as a quick walk and lunch, turned out to be a day-long 18km hike with two pubs and one rescued sheep on the way. I usually learn something new and useful during the LBW. This year I found out that duct tape around the toes is a really good idea if you run out of Band-Aids – although a somewhat sticky experience!
Lessons Learned
Talking about useful skills – Hilary and Les Williams of the Talybont-on-Usk conversation group taught the geeks some basics of the Welsh language.
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