Wet Wales Where It Never Rained

Well, my scheduled post for Wet Wales was a big lie as it never rained whilst we were there - tell a fib, it was wet when we got up on Wednesday morning so it had rained in the night.  We were lucky though and the first day was lovely and quite warm too, second day a bit cooler in the morning but coming home on Wednesday it was glorious.

Thought I would share some photos sorry if there are too many

Llandudno on the way down and a new carving relating to Alice in Wonderland - this is on the prom

and a trip down Memory Lane for some - we managed to catch the Punch and Judy man

Spent too much time enjoying Llandudno, then on to Moelfre - I love being here

a short coastal walk took us to the new Lifeboat Station

saw someone with a fishing net

Rabbits in someone's garden

Lovely hedgerows

and powerful monuments

These two are dedicated to the 100's of men who lost their lives when the Charter was wrecked on this coast (26/10/1859).  The bottom one to Joe Rodgers who was a hero of the Royal Charter sinking.

Then it was on to Caemes Bay where we were to stay for two nights. We were not happy with the room we were allocated in the hotel and so we elected to eat at The Stag, a local hostelery which we had frequented before.  Delicious food (I had a fabulous mushroom and asparagus risotto) and a lovely atmosphere (plus a lovely and good looking barman). We ate there again the second night because the steak and ale pie had taken our eye (massive and gorgeous) and I fancied the home made fat chips they served.  (We did find out the second night by talking to someone else from our hotel in The Stag that the food in the evening at the hotel was very very good - must say we were pleased with our breakfast - it was just the room that we were unhappy with.)

The Harbour at Caemes

DAY TWO

Trearddur Bay - sorry it was not raining Sam

Me and Spencer in one of the coves at Trearddur

Then a ride to Holyhead Breakwater Country Park

Loved it here, so much to see and do, just didn't have enough time (or energy) to do some of the lovely walks.  We parked under the quarry where they had taken some of the material for the breakwater in Holyhead which is the longest one in the UK.  There was a section showing machinery and explanatory pictures on the wall about the quarry and then if you walked across to the brickworks (ruins) you could read all about how the bricks were made.

Brickworks

 

Love the windows but then I have a thing about windows and doors

a kiln and the slag that runs off the bricks (not sure about this but that is what I imagined it to be - you know how you sometimes get that luminous glaze on rough pottery)

part of one of the information boards

a couple of the ducks - they are so tame

As I hadn't slept at all well I was so tired so we went to Penrhos so Chas could sit and look across the estuary and read his book.  Me, I went to sleep and had a good hour or so before heading back to the hotel for a quick change and then off for that steak pie and a couple of glasses of cider!

Now before DAY THREE I must say that I never blogged the Olympic Torch relay that we went to see in a neighbouring town, Bury.  We got there in good time and decided to stand on the road just up from where it was due to start.  Luckily for me there were some barriers there and I was able to sit down on one of them and while away the hour or so we had to wait.  Cannot believe how quickly the torch bearer went past, no waving, nothing, just "flash" and he was gone. A very deflated pair we were as we made our way back to the bus. Isn't that a naff photo?

Well, imagine my delight as we went in the store at Llanfair PG when I saw a gentleman standing with an Olympic Torch in his hand.  Not only did I get to hold it but I got my photograph taken with it.  This worthy runner has raised over £400,000 for charities over the years (don't know how long he has been doing it) and one of the things he does is play the organ in the entrance to the store to raise that money.  His latest venture, whilst the Olympics are on as well as the lead up to them, is to stand all day for days on end in this store.  If you are passing please put something in his collection bucket and grab the opportunity to see and hold one of the torches.

Right, instead of leaving it as LllanfairPG - here is the full name and the pronunciation of that village on the edge of Angelsey.