Skip to main content

September 2020 and we finally get away

What a horrible year 2020 is going to be. The UK was locked down from March to July and then followed rules for social distancing, hand washing and restricted access to family, friends, work, dentists, doctors, shops, cafes and pubs. The expedition to Turkey was postponed anyway as the border with Greece was flooded with migrants and as the restrictions eased through the summer, they were tightened into late August and September. The Pyrenees walking trip in September was dropped as we didn't want to be too far from home. Many of Scotland's campsites remained closed throughout and the idea of grabbing some sneaky 'wild camps' up there was not really feasible as some many staycationers had the same idea. Booking in advance for campsites in Scotland is also advised even as we go into September. So we have come to Wales, specifically the Llyn Peninusla, or Penrhyn Llŷn as they say in these parts. The A55 expressway is a well known route and it's very familiar all the way to Bangor. The North Wales police are just as keen on speeding as they were years ago, at least the drivers are just as cautious. So we trundled along at 50mph max past the Deeside Industrial Estate which was a frequent destination years ago during Operational Improvement of a cereals factory. After Bangor we eagerly awaited Caernarfon but couldn't see anything as we were guided past by road signs. We headed for Nefyn but first had to leave the coast and ascend between two big 500+m craggy hills that looked spectacular on the approach. It's the B4417 and it winds up, down and around. I can't imagine the tailbacks behind a slow caravan on a sunny day. Finally we drive through Morgan Nefyn, past the DIY Shed where we would later find a toothbrush for sale. It was a little strange going into the shop that clearly sells everything and ask for a toothbrush. I was convinced that I'd be met with a "no" however the guy knew where they were amongst 10,000 other stock items and my finger rubbing cleaning of my teeth was about to stop. We camped in a huge field, well positioned to walk straight over to the coastal path and then north to the headland.
As we walked across the golf course to access the coastal path, I mad an instant golfing friend, as I pointed to a lost ball in the rough which he eagerly retrieved as a spare. Usually my golf rounds were judged not by the number of strokes taken but by the number of balls required. So I knew how he felt. At the end of the peninsula there's a Coastguard Station, manned by a friendly chap and his dog. Interestingly the tee for the 8th hole is right next to the building. It's an elevated tee on a short par 3 and with the sea on three sides, it makes for a spectacular setting.
We had come to watch seals and weren't disappointed. There were several appearing for a breather, playing with each other and even inquisitively looking up at us.
We walked around to the famous Ty Coch Inn, which is on the beach and thankfully open for service in the fresh air. Notices warned that it closes in rain or at dusk. We managed a sandwich and a beer; probably only the second or third beer in public this year.
Labels:

Comments

Rachel said…
So glad you managed to get away and hurrah for al fresco beers!!
9 September 2020 at 20:16
Tim said…
Thanks Rach. It’s a great feeling to finally be away (and drink beer)!
9 September 2020 at 21:03
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On y va

Hooray. We are off. The ferry was booked a few weeks ago and the pressure was then on to get all sorts of jobs finished on the house and Landy. Major cosmetic work was to cover the grey front doors with paint that matches the rest of the vehicle. On the engine a coolant leak had developed behind the water pump and so the P gasket and adjacent core plug were renewed. Also a cheapy head unit from those Chinese people replaced the old Sony fm radio. Now we have opened up the wonders of Car Play and all that comes with it. Finally the 9th gen iPad with WiFi became a 9th gen iPad with WiFi and ‘cellular’. This means we can use OsmAnd Maps which need no data and get their gps position off the ‘cellular’ chip in the iPad. More on this useful map in subsequent posts. We headed towards Portsmouth for a mid morning ferry via our old neighbours in S-I-V. There we had a great few hours updating each about our families and then proceeded to save the NHS, the country and the world too. I mean why no...
Post a Comment
Read more

Escaping the weather

We stayed in Potes for four nights and during that time the weather was very hot, with the last two days maxima in the mid 30s. Bizarrely, last Friday night was one of the hottest, as at bedtime it was 27C and even in the middle of the night it was 25C. The forecast though, was ominous for the Picos (and worse for the UK) and so we made the best of the day by zooming up the valley to Fuente De. Here with perfect planning, we had booked the cable car for 10:30 and were whisked up in one cable catenary swoop, from 1,100m to 1,800m. It was sunny with wide views and we walked up a barren valley until we reached a steep scree-crossing path, where we turned around. Any further and it would have needed full kit and sleeping bags, as we were heading for a refugio . We got our fill of that high mountain and were back down in time to escape the mountains before the weather broke. The committee had decided that a city break to Leon was next and we had an overnight opportunity somewhere along ...
2 comments
Read more

Potes and environs

Potes is a bustling town that’s clearly ‘in the mountains’ but isn’t quite a mountain town. Well that was what we thought until we went for a walk. More on that later. First we got to know the site ( Camping La Viorna ) and the neighbours. After the squeeze of the first night near the pool, we were upgraded to a pitch at the end of the lowest terrace which had a superb view of the eastern massive of the Picos. So although this was still a squeeze pitch, somehow we felt good about it. The ‘squeeze’ happened later in the day. ☺️ Happily our immediate neighbours were quiet Dutchland people who like to eat their tea early and retire in good time. They always enjoy taking to us Brits, rather than those Germans and soon I was engaged because I was asked a question. “Why do you have a UK flag on your number plate, rather than a Welsh Scottish or English flag?”. Tricky! I explained that England isn’t a country like Wales or Scotland. They have their own  parliaments and make rules for them...
5 comments
Read more