Running Solo In Wales

Day Three.

After Lake Bala let me go I started towards my next point of interest and my last port of call.
Lake Vyrnwy. To get there meant more roads, single tracks, passing places, hills and sheep. Plenty of sheep! Again the scenery won over the road and I made more stops than cars I passed.

The best part for me was keeping off major routes and A roads and sticking to B roads and tracks. Granted it can be interesting if you meet oncoming traffic but isn’t that part of the journey? You never know who you are going to meet and if they will be friend or foe or just courteous, doff your cap, say good morning and carry on about your business. You’ve got to love it!

To keep my mind from stagnating I have took up flying drones. I know they have done and keep getting bad press but, if flown correctly and in adherence to the Drone Code, can be a great source of fun and brilliant for aerial photography/video. I have been practicing a lot and I’m no way professional. I class myself as an enthusiastic learner. Please enjoy.

Running Solo In Wales

Day Two.

It had been quite a rainfall over night so much so it woke me up. I lay there listening to the rain make imperfect but unique drum solos on Bumbles roof. Cooking facilities in Bumble are basic to say the least, a single gas ring cooker,  but that doesn’t mean I cant be a bit of a cordon bleu from time to time. Last night was no exception. I made a meal of pasta parcels filed with spicy sausage and chilli and other herbs in a tomato sauce. No! It wasn’t ravioli from a tin either before anybody chips in. It was cooked fresh by my own fair hands.

This was accompanied by a glass or two of Mamajuana.

 An interesting concoction of rum, red wine and honey that is then stored in oak casks. This hails from the Dominican Republic and was a present from a friend who ventured there on holiday. The drink is a little like cocaine. Very moreish.



 Breakfast was done and time to move on. Bala is a beautiful little town. Almost one road in, one road out. Everything is where it should be, pub, post office, grocers etc, and if not you don’t need it. I stopped to buy a few provisions and also increased my welsh thanks to the little old lady in the butchers.
I now know that Diolch, pronounced Deeyok, means thank you. Diolch yn fawr, pronounced Deeyok un vower, thank you very much. I already knew Bora Da means good morning and Nos Da means good night. Educational as well as informational.


The next place I used was right by the edge of Llyn Tegid or you may know it better as Bala Lake. A beautiful stretch of water over 3.5 miles long by half a mile wide. It was the largest natural body of water in Wales before Thomas Telford raised it to support the flow of the Ellesmere Canal. The River Dee flows through it.

I hope they finished the fence

I don't think they did

Robin keeping me in check

Lunch with a local

Van with a view

In case I never get a waterfront property

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
It began to rain again this evening but not before I managed a night time walk on the shore line with a nice cigar. As I watched the wind whip the surface of the lake, the white crests barely visible in the twilight, I followed my smoke into the air only to be greeted by the sight of pipistrelle bats performing feats of aerial acrobatics that would put the Red Arrows to shame.
Not a bad end to a beautiful day.



(Lake Bala facts courtesy of Wikipedia)

Running Solo In Wales

Day One.

Time has always been an issue for me. Either never enough, or it goes too fast or, if at work, goes too slow. The right time, however, made itself available when I managed to get a few days away in Wales. Just me and Bumble. No great distance. Close enough if I’m needed but far enough away to be away! Sunday 6th October was departure date. Bumble was checked, packed, then with a cheery goodbye, off we went.

 Traffic was light and nice to be part of, so progress was good.
The waving to other VWs is something that never gets boring.
Sometimes you don’t get the wave back. My justification is that I wave to the van and not the                                               occupants!

The last time I was in Wales was with some friends from work. We were going to climb Mount Snowden. I say we. They went on foot. I was going to let the train take the strain but unfortunately due to bad weather it had been cancelled so I had some quality time with Bumble. This was also the first time Bumble and I had a road trip and was the day after I drove her back from Gloucester.
I digress.

What I was getting to was that I had forgot how beautiful Wales is.
The landscape can go from flat plain land to rugged mountainous
terrain the next. I spent time stopping to take photos which also
added time to the journey although I wasn’t in a rush.

Locals

Take a break

Bumble and the family holiday to North Devon

Day Five

So the realisation that this is our last day hits home. We decide to do a mini farewell tour starting with Combe Martin, through Ilfracombe and finishing at the place we got married ten years ago, Lee Bay.

Combe Martin first. The weather was being kind to us again with blue skies with wispy cloud and a cooling breeze to take a little of the heat away. Beautiful.

The Memsahib and the Daughter

The Daughter and the Memsahib

This was busier than our first visit at the start of the week. In fairness it was mid morning and not early morning. The town had woken up this time around. We partook of the local shops and hunted souvenirs to take back to the folks at home including the obligatory tea towel which is a family standard present. The memsahib got what was probably the closest thing to driving Bumble as is evident from the picture below.

Hot Wheels.

We carried on through Ilfracombe looking back at the past week and the harbour and beach...

The daughter and Poppy.

We arrived at our final destination. Lee Bay.

This was where we got married ten years ago at the Lee Bay hotel. That is now, unfortunately, closed and is in a rundown state. Something that, we were told, was attributed to the locals who had complained of the noise from the hotel during wedding season. They won and the hotel lost. What they now want is for it to be turned into luxury holiday apartments. High payers at the front with the view and lower classes at the back. I managed to"find' a way in and take a pic or two.

You can check out any time you like etc etc...

Even though it was warm and sunny, when I took this picture of the front entrance that is as close as I got. It felt a little cooler standing there. I don't know what I was expecting to see or appear!

The gardens were some of the prettiest I have seen in a hotel setting. We had our wedding photos taken in them. There was a small stream running through the middle of it and it is probably still there, hiding under the overgrown bush.









We walked further round the bay to a little cafe where we had what was one of the best cream teas ever. Mainly because the memsahib bought it but also because it was the only we had all week. The local wasp community invited themselves which at any other time would have been nice but not when I was gums deep in a clotted cream and strawberry jam smeared scone. A quick swipe with my trusty fedora and they were dispatched to bother some other poor unsuspecting fool. No wasps were killed though.

We finished up on the beach where, once again, the dogs managed a little paddle and I took some shots of the surrounding rock formations. Fascinating patterns and shapes thousands of years old. There before me and will be there years after I've gone the way of the Dodo.

Oi!

Who me?

A reflection of its former self.

I can only describe this as one of the best family holidays we have had in a long time. Me and the daughter didn't argue, the memsahib didn't moan and above all, Bumble was faultless in all that I asked of her. She carried luggage, two dogs and three hefty lumps there, around and back home. What more could you want. So I shall finish how this started, with a picture of her!

Thanks old girl!

Bumble and the family holiday to North Devon

Day Four

Today was going to be a day of staying in one place for the day. We had only dropped in and out of Ilfracombe previously this week so this was our day out!

Straight away Bumble struck up a friendship with an older sister again whilst admiring the sea views.

Her friend was looking out, possibly over the water to her homeland, Wales!

Friends everywhere!

Smile!

We left them both talking and went along the quay into town. We passed by the latest attraction to grace Ilfracombe.

                                                                    VERITY

Verity. (Left Side)

Verity (Right Side)

Verity is a 66 feet tall sculpture by Damien Hirst, located at the mouth of Ilfracombe harbour looking out across the Bristol channel. It has been loaned to the town for twenty years by Hirst who lives in Combe Martin. The name refers to "Truth" and Hirst himself describes his work as a "modern allegory of truth and justice". (Wikipedia is fantastic!)

The Memsahib A.K.A she who must be obeyed.

Brit on holiday

Ilfracombe Harbour.

Crowley admiring the view.

Film star pose.

The memsahib reckons that in a previous life Crowley was a sailor in the victorian period, hence looking out to see with a longing to return to his shipmates. I thought I had a vivid imagination! 

As an aside, we were having a cup of tea at a lovely tea garden when Crowley, as usual, made his presence noticed by barking at a couple who had just entered the garden and sat behind us. Nothing unusual about that. It wasn't until the man started to bark back at him and talk to Crowley that I recognised his voice. Weird I know. I recognised his bark! I kept quiet till he walked past us, where upon he looked back to his wife and as he looked at me I smiled and wished him a good afternoon. He returned the greeting and away he went inside to order. Stick with me. It wasn't until he came back that I received a text from the daughter sitting opposite me.

The Daughters text.

Memsahib

 I just looked across, nodded and carried on with my tea. I then sent the memsahib a text as I didn't want her to miss out as she enjoys the programme as well. Thankfully she didn't until we left. His wife had  left him at this point and he was sitting on his own. I approached him and apologised for interrupting his afternoon. I said "I believe every man is entitled to privacy but may I say thank you. We enjoy the programme very much and the work you all do is fantastic. How do you put up with the tall one?" He laughed and said it was very hard but I ignore him.

Mark Miller. You are a very nice gentleman and not like some personalities you read about. I didn't ask for a photo or an autograph. He was having a spot of tea and hopefully we didn't spoil that.

Bumble and the family holiday to North Devon

Day Three.

After quite a good rain storm over night to the extent of waking us up with the rain hammering on the caravan roof, the next day we decided to retrace our steps from a years ago visit to Lynmouth and a brief stop at Lynton.

She loves her sea views.

Once again we left Bumble with a sea view and took a trip down memory lane. The last time we came here it had been a very grey and damp day. This time, as you can see, it was the complete opposite.

You've seen one beach you've seen them all!

Lynmouth.

We took a trip up the hillside to Lynton on the cliff railway, which is a water powered funicular railway. It is a return to a time long ago. A time where engineering came to the fore. The sounds and smells of another century.

Whilst waiting for the queue to lesson for the return journey down the cliff, we made use of the cafe for a much needed pot of tea. The flower displays outside of the cafe were beautiful. The photos do not do it justice although the bees were enjoying a feed. The little bakery where we last had a pasty from has changed into a fully-fledged restaurant and chippy but we did find the alcove where we shared the pasties in the rain.

  We made our way back to Bumble who was admiring the views

Lynmouth

On the road out of Lynmouth

There are some very steep hills.

We decided to head towards Woolacombe where the dogs could explore a bigger beach, maybe have a paddle with hopefully fewer people. 

Woolacombe. Dog friendly beach.

They both enjoyed it judging from the barking and the tail wagging. Poppy was the bravest of the two as she went in the water. Crowley was the cleverer as he kept out and stayed dry! To finish off the day it was fish and chips for tea and back to the caravan.

A little ray of sunshine!