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