Wednesday, September 23, 2020

More Summer Wine!

Wednesday 23rd September 2020 - Abersoch.

Here’s the silly list of famous Welsh people:-

Shirley Bassey - Singer

Richard Burton - Actor

Ryan Giggs - Footballer

Ruth Jones - Writer and Actress (Gavin and Stacey)

Anthony Hopkins - Actor (Hannibal Lecter)

Rob Brydon - Comedian (Would I lie to you and Gavin and Stacey)

Hugh Edwards - Newsreader

Ruth Maddock - actress (Hi-de-Hi)

Katherine Jenkins - Singer

Terry Jones - Monty Python

Gareth Edwards - Rugby Player

JPR Williams - Rugby Player

Michael Sheen - Character Actor

Griff Rhys-Jones - Comedian/Presenter

Gareth Bale - Overpaid Footballer

Rowan Williams - retired Archbishop of Canterbury

Colin Jackson - Athlete (110metres hurdles)

Sian Lloyd - Weather presenter 

Geraint Thomas - Tour de France winning cyclist

Max Boyce - Comedian/singer

Alex Jones - TV presenter (The One Show)

Aled Jones - Soprano/ Presenter 

Mary Hopkins - Singer (Eurovision Song Contest, came second)

Cerys Matthews - Singer (Catatonia) & Radio Presenter


Not too difficult I hope but there may be a few that tested you.


I had an embarrassing incident yesterday that I didn’t get in the blog.  Because it was cool yesterday I had worn long trousers for the first time of the trip and I had needed to use a cycle clip when we cycled into Abersoch.  You may have guessed where this is going?  When I was getting ready for bed....I realised that I was still wearing  the cycle clip!  There is a joke about a man with a certain stomach related problem who needed to wear cycle clips.....but I won’t go there....and no, I haven’t got a stomach related problem!  It did make us laugh.


After overnight rain, today was a super day.....far better than the cloudy forecast.  It has been sunny spells all day and though it is blustery it was warmer than expected too.  We had planned to cycle to Aberdaron whatever the weather and packed a lunch as normal.  I say as normal because it was ham and coleslaw sandwiches for the third day running.  Yes, it’s me who made the sandwiches.  Ham and coleslaw has become a constant sandwich filler for this trip since I mentioned that was what my Mum made for me on the beach in Little Haven 45 or more years ago.


The cycle ride was probably the hardest ride we have had on the trip, only 26 miles in total but a lot of up and down hills with a strong wind but we had nothing better to do.  We had some extra Covid restrictions yesterday and like many people I was a bit confused about the rules.  I was concerned that face masks were needed in cafes, so.......



Here I am trying to squeeze a slice of Bara Brith in the side of my face mask.  It’s a good job I’m very resourceful when it comes to food!  I have now found out that I didn’t need to wear the mask whilst sitting at the table.





The small village was less commercial than Abersoch and probably better for it.  Like most seaside places it was a steep hill out.  I caught Janice in a rare moment of what she calls ‘taking in the view’ but I call it ‘pushing’.


On the way back we saw Hell’s Mouth Bay again from the far side.  I can confirm that the Mouth is bigger than mine.



It’s so big you can’t even see the teeth!  Great views of the mountains in the distance too but it doesn’t show up too well on the photo.

Back to the van for a little prep for setting off back tomorrow and maybe a slurp of final Summer Wine.


The trip as a whole has been fantastic.  We had a week before the blog started in Suffolk seeing Oscar (grandson) and family.  Then we came straight across country to the Land of my Grandfather (only just).  It felt like ‘Bread of Heaven’.  We have been blown away by the beauty of the coastline in particular.  I also have a particular love for castles too.  From Abergavenny we came down to the coast at the Gower.  Janice was in need of some coastal walking and that’s just what she has had.


Pembrokeshire is even more gorgeous and the nostalgia of holidays with my parents brought back lovely memories (including, but not only, ham and coleslaw sandwiches).  We recreated my days on the beach at Little Haven and the weather was so kind that I had two swims in one day.  It was super to see Andy and Lene and spend time walking and cycling as well as reminiscing about our early Police careers.


We travelled up the coast and were impressed with every place we stopped.  Fishguard, Aberaerron, Barmouth and Harlech were all stand out places with pretty harbours or massive golden beaches.  The Lleyn Peninsula from Criccieth to Abersoch has not disappointed either because the beaches match up with anywhere in the world.  Perhaps most importantly we have had mainly sunny warm weather, which is now why we are going home.


We will need to face our own four walls again but hope we don’t get a full lock down again.  We live in a lovely place so we will cope with whatever we need to.  We will hopefully be allowed to visit the Lakes and get some good walking in near home.  We certainly intend to bag a few Wainwright’s.


I will send a brief blog to say we have arrived home but otherwise this is it.  I hope those of you brave enough to complete the blog have enjoyed it.  It will certainly be good for Janice and I to look back upon and remind us of our fab trip.  I hope that I haven’t insulted the Welsh nation with my silliness.  Don’t worry I will be fully sanitised by the time I get home......and I thought it was wine that I was drinking!


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