Friday 9th June (Day 1)
So off after a long time not using the motorhome for our travels due to going to India and repairs to Billina. We left just before 11.00am and after 17 miles thought we had left the cables for the satnav (which Matt had taken to update). Back home we went but could not find said cables. Off again. The trip was relatively traffic free. Due to the delay in leaving we stopped at Rugby services for a Greggs sausage roll. While Chris was off buying them I looked up and the cables we needed were above us all the time! We continued on and the M6 was congested ahead so we took the M6 Toll which was traffic free and the £12.80 was, in our opinion, worth the money. By 2.35pm we arrived at Park Gate Leisure at Penkridge. This was a chandlers car park next to a canal boat hire company. We parked up less than 6m from a canal lock in bright sunshine. Having quickly settled we waked along the canal to Penkridge, a thirty minute stroll. It was a lovely small town with traditional butchers, green grocers, gift shops and more. On our return journey we stopped at The Boat public house for a pint before returning to sit in the sun and watch the canal boats going through the lock. Dinner was eaten and we sat in the waning sunshine until almost 8.30pm. For £10 it was a bargain.
PHOTOS: Crane ; Chris and mh;
Saturday 10th June (Day 2)
So a slow start today as not many miles were needed to the next stop. We decided to empty the loo before leaving but the owner’s rockweiler was loose so they did the emptying for me. By 10.00am we were off. We needed AdBlue and had a couple of potential sites to fill up. The first on the M6 would only service HGV’s, the second was no longer there! Not being urgent we just continued on to The Crooke Inn at Shevington (in Crooke Village). We parked up overlooking the canal and around 2.30pm Matt an Nala arrived and we went for a stroll along the canal for a couple of miles and then on our return sat in the sunshine watching the boats and chatting. The ‘local’ rugby club were celebrating one of their teams 30th birthday and were on a pub cycle crawl in full German Lederhosen, all good fun. They left after a while and were followed later by a cycle group supporting cancer. Around 5.00pm Matt left and at 7.00pm we went for a meal - not only was it not expensive but good quantities also. We sat with another couple who were staying over and hit it off really well. Mid meal the heavens opened with apocalyptic rain and lightening and so I had to run to close the Hekis. After the meal we reconvened in our motorhome to chat and have the occasional drink. They left around 11.00pm and we retired soon after.
PHOTOS: canal; ‘Germans’; Nala
Sunday 11th June (Day 3)
A busy (sort of) day. We started with an easy breakfast of cereal and then said goodbye to the couple from last night. Off we went. We had identified a garage for AdBlue near Ellesmere Port and filled up successfully. We then went a few miles for cheap diesel - so cheap they had sold out! A second choice was next and on the way we found a Morrisons that was also a good price so filled with diesel and then a shop. The final drive was a couple of hours but we still had a quick stop for lunch and bought a couple of bits at a Tesco store. We arrived at the Haven Hafan y Môr site (pronounced Hafan A Mor). This was at 2.15pm and we were soon settled with Alan and Sue already there and Graham, Chris and Masie about an hour behind. We then sat out in the sunshine and chatted until we cooked a late dinner (7.15pm). After eating we all sat around and chatted more and played ‘Logo’ until gone 10.00pm.
PHOTOS:
Monday 12th June (Day 4)
So today is the first of two birthdays. Al is 76! (Graham 80 in two days.) So the day started off quite unremarkable with a shower, breakfast etc. Then it really was a lazy morning (well Chris and Graham are not into ‘go’ mode until 11.00am usually). We then opted for a walk around the site, which is very large, and down to the beach. The site is really well run and spotless. Down at the beach we saw (sort of) the dorsal fin of a dolphin but so far out it was difficult to be sure. Al and Su turned around before we got to the beach. On the way back met up with them at a bar and had a drink. (one thing ‘wrong’ with the site is they have no really good beer - but we persevered brave souls the we are). A stroll to the other bar and more drinks follow with a snack also. The weather had started in the morning cloudy and cool but had got better during the day. 4.00pm saw us back to the motorhomes and a doze in the warming sunshine. We then had Prosecco and cake for Al’s birthday and we then split up for dinner (Chris cooked us all baked potatoes). A light rain started to fall but the warmth was till present.
PHOTOS:
Tuesday 13th June (Day 5)
So today is an ‘in between’ birthday day. After another simple breakfast and shower etc we did little other than wait for the others to get sorted. We then caught the 11.55am bus to Porthmadog which arrived at the destination at 12.25pm. It was a pleasant bus trip but without any spectacular views. Once there we went to a cafe for a coffee and I perused the shop attached to the café buying a couple of T-shirts. I would have purchased some walking shoes but they did not have my size. We then left the others and strolled up the high street which had a nice variety of shops (Chris bought a scarf). We then rejoined the others on Platform 1 of Porthmadog Highland Railway for the Welsh Highland Heritage (Mountain Mist) train to Blauneau Ffestiniog. On the platform we ate a packed lunch waiting for the 2.10pm train. Eventually once on board we left at around 2.25pm. This was a portent of problems to come. We had only gone a short distance and stopped for over ten minutes. Off again and this repeated itself, stop and start. The female guard confirmed that there was a problem without telling us exactly what is was. This was the hottest day of the year for the UK and Porthmadog the hottest in the UK at 31 degrees. On one occasion Su felt really unwell and needed to go and stand by the exit door window for some air, it was very humid in the carriage. The guard brought water to the travellers as it was very so hot and humid. We eventually arrived at Blauneau Ffestiniog some 30 minutes late. Our first stop was a Co-op for water for the return trip. While there I saw someone I thought I recognised, which Chris confirmed I was correct. It was John Clark and his wife whoo we have known for almost 50 years (plus his wife’s sister and brother-in law). We last ‘bumped’ into them in Malta in 1986/7! Back onto the train for the return journey. To be fair the rail journey was ok but did lack any ‘wow’ factor. This railway was the first in the UK being built before the steam engine was invented. It is a continual gentle climb that went, originally, to a slate mne. The trucks were pulled up by horses and every so often the horses were swapped at a ‘station’. Once the truck reached the top it was filled with sate and a brakeman stood on the truck and gravity took it down, with the brakeman controlling the speed. Porthmadog fried around this and the owner diverted the river to cater for the truck and allow a deep water access to the dock. Over 1000 ships would dock in a years. Back in Porthmadog we all went to The Station Inn which had a nice outside space. We had planned to get the 18.55 bus back to the site but this ‘slipped’ and the 20.15 was boarded. Back on site and we all opted for a simple dinner of …….. sandwiches. Then we gathered together for a game and sat out chatting until just gone midnight to wish Graham a happy 80th birthday.
PHOTOS: Train trip; John Clark and the gang/
Wednesday 14th June (Day 6)
So today is Graham’s day as he is 80 years old. We all had agreed to have a joint brunch around 11.00am and so it came to pass. Then a sit in the sunshine (only 25 degrees unlike yesterday’s record of 31). A lazy sit around in the shade (mostly). By 1.30pm we had cake made by Chris and champers supplied by the other Chris. By 4.00pm we were on the bus to Pwllheli (pronounced 'poo-weli apparently). Here we enteretd a bar overlooking the inner harbour for a drink or two and then were off for a pub evening meal. The only dog friendly pub had a private function. So by just after 6.00pm were were returning to the camp site. Then stroll down to the Coast bar for a meal that was ok and value for money but not great.
PHOTOS: cake ; gra and chris
Thursday 15th June (Day 7)
Another hot night but we slept well. After a simple breakfast etc we sat around for a while in the sunshine. Al and Sue wanted a lazy day (we have had a lazy day each day so far by our standards) and Chris and Graham were planning to walk the site and take Maisie to the beach. I had plotted a circular walk of about five to six miles. Armed with some water we left on what was to be a really pleasant walk. Through wooded lanes, across gorse filled fields, along sand dunes (the Welsh Coastal Walk), along a sandy beach, over a headland and back to the site. Just under five miles and very hot. We stopped at one of the bars for a cold cider and were joined by the other four. Then back to our pitches for scones, jam and clotted cream, ‘birthday’ cake and Prosecco. The rest of the day we all sat around our own motorhomes dozing and reading. Another day with the temperatures in the mid to high 20’s.
PHOTOS: us on the walk
Friday 16th June (Day 8)
So today we re saying goodbye the the ‘foursome’. Al and Su left first and we were son after, around 9.50am. We were due to meet up with a couple we met in India later today, Nicki and Phil. That said they were Tony a short drive away so need to fill in the time. We found a National Trust site called ‘Carolyn and Beddgelert. We parked up and donned our walking shoes and set off to Dinas Emrys a ‘castle’ at the top of a hill. It was a two mile walk over quite rough, steep, terrain, which afforded great views at the top. Around the 5th century (I believe) the local powerful ruler, Vortigen, needed to build a fort here to defend the principality. Each morning the building completed the previous day was destroyed. Vortigen consulted his wizard who said they need to find a fatherless boy and shed his blood over the site. They found one who convinced the ruler that there was an underground lake with two dragons that were causing the problem. They found the lake and two dragons were released - one who was white and one that was red. They fought and the red dragon won resulting in this dragon being on the Welsh flag. The boy had the fort named after him and his name was Myrddin. This is, in English, Merlin and this ’’boy’ travelled south and joined the King Arthur legend (truth?). Upon returning to the motorhome we had a light lunch and then drove to our friends from the India trip. We stopped on the way to buy some flowers, which was more difficult that we anticipated. We parked up and had a lovely evening chatting in the sunshine followed by a great curry. Around 11.00pm we went to bed.
PHOTOS:
Saturday 17th June (Day 9)
A slightly earlier started later than we are use to. We sat outside and chatted over a tea and a bit later had a bacon roll. Around 10.00am we said our goodbyes and were off home. A lovely start to the journey over the Horseshoe Pass but the upon joining the M6 traffic was almost stationary. we left he motorway and went cross country to the M6toll and continued our journey home arriving around 5.00pm
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