So here we are again, back in real life. It’s much cooler, and Dot has just had a call from the doctor – actually about her cholesterol, but she managed to talk to him about her cough, and he was very helpful and reassuring. He has given her a nasal spray and booked her in for a chest x-ray, just in case. She’s actually OK now most of the time but coughs quite a lot during the night. We’ve also popped over to see Des and Chris and had a cup of tea with them, shortly after listening to a Zoom talk on The Paston Treasure, which was OK, but not exactly inspiring.
Back in Wales, last Thursday started grey, but it was sunny and warm by the end of the day. We drove to Snowdonia, by Llyn Ogwen, but there was absolutely nowhere to park; so we proceeded to Bethesda, where we cut across towards Llanberis. Stopped at a tea shop on a roundabout outside the tourist area, and I had a lovely scone; Dot had cake. Tea and coffee excellent.
Drove through Llanberis – nowhere to park again. Eventually stopped on the Beddgellert road, at first in a shallow lay-by and later at the viewpoint. Kept waiting for Snowdon to come out from the clouds, but eventually had to give it up. Bought ice cream and returned through Betwys-y-Coed, which was still packed. Got back to the hotel just after 4pm feeling very tired. After resting, walked up to Adrian’s along the A5 and up the short cut. Had a delicious meal of roast chicken, sausages, runner beans, cauliflower, carrots, roast and boiled potatoes, followed by Eton mess. Got names of all the Roberts family for future reference. Walked back to the hotel up the Crescent and down the road. Identified Alex’s house. Watched some Proms while resting.
Friday was very warm. Dragged the cases down the steep stairs and outside hotel, then went to fetch the car while Dot guarded them. Saw Adrian and Nigel (separately) on the way. Bought cards from the craft shop. Decided against climbing Pen-y-Pigin and drove west. Traffic was extremely heavy near coast. Found the caravan park all right after stopping to look at the turn. Narrow road: problems with tractor and other vehicles, but the caravan was spacious – except our room. Drove back to Criccieth Spar to stock up on groceries, then had lunch and walked round site. Sorted out clothes and put everything I probably wouldn’t need into the big case and put it in the car. Dot still not totally sorted because she really isn’t feeling well. Very tired and coughing quite a bit. However, no temperature or any other symptoms. I did some boiled eggs that we ate with ham and tomatoes. Watched cricket and Endeavour before going to bed.
On Saturday Gareth came by to pick up the parrot cage (Adrian’s parrot has gone missing), and have a chat. He’s a nice bloke. Directed us to an art gallery/cafe at Llanbedrog, which turned out to be excellent: we had lunch there, bought a couple of things and tried to walk up to the cliffs, but the directions were very poor, and Dot was not feeling great; so we ended up doing a circular walk that didn’t get us to the top. I was rather disappointed.
We headed south-west, found thousands of parked cars in every available space and ended up in a National Trust car park, which had a view but not much else. We then proceeded further south, came up again a dead end and headed inland, eventually finding ourselves at the furthest point south – a beautiful spot, high up, with a great view of Bardsey Island. The weather was very clear, the sun low. Walked a bit, then headed back to the caravan, stopping in Nefyn for bread and one or two other things. Again, very awkward parking: I had to stay in the car.
In Chwilog put rubbish in bin and achieved a run up the narrow lane to Parc Wernol without meeting anything. Norwich lost 1-2 to Leicester, but Arsenal have identical record from first three games. Watched cricket, a couple of other things and then MOTD. Bed at midnight.
It’s a bank holiday weekend, of course. Had a good night, and on Sunday Adrian and Clarissa arrived about 10am. Adrian showed us around the site, and we had a chat with Gareth and Nicky. After lunch we all went back to Llanbedrog and finished the climb we started yesterday. Great walk, but very steep in places. Dot and I found a short cut to catch up, and I added a short summit. 🙂 Had tea and cake back at the art gallery, and then drove home. Belgian Grand Prix abandoned because of rain: Spurs won to go top of the table. Adrian fetched fish and chips. Risked it. Excellent. Watched first episode of Vigil, a new thriller set mainly in a submarine.
Bank holiday Monday, and it was still warm. After breakfast Adrian went off in search of the parrot. Dot and I drove to Morfa Nefyn and parked free in the NT car park. The shortish path to the beach was shut; so we walked up hill to the golf club and then over the golf course and down to the beach by the famous beach pub, Ty Coch (Red House Inn). Shared a sandwich and had ice cream ( I had a watermelon lollipop), then decided to walk the narrow path around the headland at beach level.
Reached the lifeboat station and then climbed up to the headland, from where we could see seals in the water far below. Beautiful spot. Walked further up to the Lookout point, then back across the golf course and back to the car park cafe, for a scone and tea. Nearly 9000 steps – and on returning to the caravan we discovered we would be walking to the pub and back tonight (about two miles). Aaargh. Before that, filled up with petrol. At the caravan for some reason I developed an attack of hay fever, but Dot seems much better. Phone call from Des with alarm problem (quickly solved): he said weather had been poor in Norfolk. Managed walk to pub and back ok. Had monster pizza.
Yesterday Dot still had the cough but has tested negative for Covid. We spent most of day travelling, after Clarissa cooked us a breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon. Dot drove first: we went south of the Berwyns and stopped at alleged services near Oswestry that had coffee but no toilets. Useless. I then drove: heavy traffic around Shrewsbury, then stopped at Telford Services, which are excellent. Ate sandwiches in car. I continued driving. The M6 was pretty bad, but we got through it, and the A14 wasn’t too bad, despite HGVs multi-overtaking.
We eventually stopped at Cambridge Services, which was not at all full, and had tea and hot choc at Costa after buying stuff for evening meal (shoulder of lamb) at M&S. Dot drove the rest of the way. Traffic fairly light. Bought petrol at Morrisons and unpacked after watching Vera.