Back to Criccieth

Yesterday we made a visit to the car boot sale at Y Felin (Valley), but it was not very good. We did a load of washing at the local launderette and later we drove back to Criccieth. The journey takes about an hour and the driving is fairly relaxed, we arrived here just after midday. The site is quiet at the moment but we anticipate that it will get busy for the weekend. I have had a little wander around with the camera but I can see that I will have to put in more effort.

Right from the word go this morning, we had the sound of rain falling on the roof of the truck, as the day got longer the rain got heavier. Meg would not get up for a walk and the mist would not leave the windscreen. The River Dwyfach, which is no more than ten feet away from us, began rising steadily. I could tell this was concerning Pat as she kept me posted with a running commentary on it's height and speed. I had time, time to sit and just think as I so often do, from the tragic killing of a young four year old girl who was murdered in the night near Liverpool, the child's mother has been arrested, to the soldiers to whom we owe our freedom. I felt such great sadness for them all, children, mothers and soldiers who could no longer enjoy life. In turn this made me remember people that were once close to me, soldiers, friends and of course family. So I set about some photographic manipulation that has been in my head for some time.

I had seen something similar whilst studying photographic techniques and wanted to create my own version. The picture is made up using four separate images, I had them all, with the exception of the soldier. I collected this final picture in Pwllheli last week when we went with Ian and Maria. It is a photograph of a war memorial that stands overlooking the harbour. I hope that you like it, we owe them all so much.

More meetings

As I suspected, we have met up with loads of friends here at Holyhead, from all over the country and all walks of life. One, (Colin) even gave us some fish to eat, bless him. We have not moved a great deal, but then we seldom do. Holyhead is our maritime observation post, we have the Irish sea 50 meters to our left and the marina 50 meters to our right, we really enjoy it. All day, every day there is something to watch in the harbour. The bird life has been pretty good too, we have seen wheatears, swallows, oystercatchers, herons to name but a few, but the highlight of the stay so far, has to be a snow bunting. I have never seen one before but it was so bold that I got within about ten feet of it. I decided not to fish, I don't think that I could stand much more ribbing on the subject for a while.

Still fish free

Well our diet is still fish free, it's a good job that we have some money in our pocket. I have no idea where the fish are at the moment but they will not be tempted by my efforts. Never mind, newspaper doesn't taste too bad. On Monday we were met by our dear friends Andy and Pip, who also own a motor home. We first met them about two years ago, whilst on the road at Towyn and we just hit things off and so we have been in contact ever since. It was great to see them both, it has been the best part of a year since we last said farewell. With Andy's expert guidance, I had several sessions hunting the trout but he says that I am a jinx. Also, whilst getting in some provisions from Porthmadog on Monday I was wandering about and thinking of some friends (Adrian and Joyce) that moved to the area ten years ago. I used to work with Adrian and we go back thirty years or so. Whilst stood in the queue to pay in Wilkinson's, I handed my payment to Joyce who is now working there. How amazing is that?

Shopping traumas complete, we made our way back to the truck and walked passed a large camping and outdoor clothing shop. You can imagine my amusement when I looked at a stack of boxed, inflatable, two man dinghies and read the words.......DANGER, CHOKING HAZARD. I turned to Pat and said "I would expect some breathing difficulty if I stuffed one of those in my mouth eh" Are we really so dumb?

Anyway, on Wednesday we made a further trip to Porthmadog with Andy and Pip. As we walked across the car park of the afore mentioned shop, I heard someone pipping a car horn. I turned to check what danger was imminent and saw that it was Adrian waving and beaming a huge smile. Well, he looked so good, it is like he has "de-aged" ten years. We chatted and laughed in the middle of the car park for quite a while before he had to leave for work. It was really good to see him again.

Sadly, Andy and Pip had business to sort in Towyn and so first thing (07:00hrs) they departed and left us with a campsite to ourselves and a promise to join up with us again soon. Pat wanted to have a change of scenery, so we headed up coast and soon landed at Holyhead once again. I wonder who we will bump into here, and I bet they wont smell of fish.

Taking stock

The day began with a cold start and threatening sky but once the sun was up the cloud dispersed and the temperature rose quite rapidly. Most of the morning was given to chatting and taking the sunshine on our faces. The hours passed quickly and it was soon time to say goodbye to Ian and Maria, once again we were alone with just the birds for company. The day got progressively warmer and much later in the afternoon I began to take stock. I had walked two miles to post a birthday card, I later walked a mile to collect half a dozen wild garlic leaves. I had fished for trout and watched dippers flying up and down stream above the glistening river. We had washed several days clothes and hung them in the breeze behind the truck. I noticed for the first time the traffic racing up and down the adjacent road and I thought again about how lucky we are, living this dream of ours. Ian returned after dropping Maria at the train station in Bangor. Pat prepared the evening meal and I chopped and added the garlic leaves to my meal, it was really tasty. The leaves have quite a delicate flavour, not at all overpowering I felt really satisfied and very content. As I sat in the sun a beetle bit my bare foot, it made me jump, I brushed it to the ground and watched as it burrowed in the grass not once thinking about taking my revenge by stamping on it, like I may well have done in the past.

Yes indeed, we are so lucky, life is good and I love it.

Fish Fingers

For the last four days I have been fishing every day, I have fished high tide, low tide, ebb tides and flood tides, over sand, over rock and over weed. I have used live baits, frozen baits, dried bates and countless lures and the only fish meal I have eaten is fish fingers. How on earth people can get so enthusiastic about fishing I don't know. I will not give up, but my patience is being tested. On a positive note, today as we walked the 11/4 miles to the sea, I discovered a large patch of wild garlic which I intend to revisit and harvest a little. If the leaves are eaten rather than the cloves, the taste is said to be very mild so I have to give it a go. I believe that the leaves can also be dried and stored for future use or preserved in oil. I know that damsons grow here also and in great quantity, but it is way too early for those yet. It has been another good day, despite the lack of fish.

I must apologise for such a lengthy absence, we have been in Mid Wales for about 10 days and have not been able to access the Internet there is no 3 network there, typical, as I have just increased my monthly bandwidth to three gigabytes. For several days we stayed just outside of Towyn, we then moved down the coast a little to Aberdovey. Three nights and four days in this pretty little town and then back to Towyn. Whilst in Aberdovey, we met a smashing couple called John and Lucy who taught us how to catch, cook and prepare crab to eat. One evening they kindly provided us with a lovely sea food meal of crab and muscles. Thank you both, it was delicious and we will remember what we have been taught for the future. We also made friends with a couple from Bolton who gave us several locations to free camp along the stretch of coast. I took loads of photographs whilst in the area and have put some of them on Flickr.

We have now moved up the coast a little to a spot just west of Cricieth, this is a private site and very basic. (Now bear in mind that we have not been to this neck of the woods for 2 years) As I went to book in the lady who owns the site Alison, said "Oh hello Keith, do you know we were only talking about you two yesterday, and now you are here. How funny" Well I was amazed, because we have only been here once before. As we pulled on to our pitch Sharron and Pat (another couple we befriended) came out of their van and greeted us and also told us that they had only been talking about us the previous day. It was as if we had just popped into town for some shopping and come straight back, rather than the two years since we had seen everyone. But what amazed me more than anything, was that everyone remembered my name, what a lovely crowd of people.