Trip to Caernarfon, Wales with the 'boys'
This is a diary of a trip to Caernarfon, North Wales with friends John Edmonds, his son Ian, Gilbert Morrey (Bert), Neil Varney (Fred), Me Adrian, Clive Richards and his son Huw. Last year we went on the Oxford Canal, but John, the organiser decided we were all getting too old for canals!
It is as Ian said an 'engineer's diary' of facts, as I do not have my lovely Rosie's talent for writing!
Photos with an asterisk are by Clive
It is as Ian said an 'engineer's diary' of facts, as I do not have my lovely Rosie's talent for writing!
Photos with an asterisk are by Clive
Saturday 31st August.
I was up at 6 o’clock and finished packing. I had breakfast but I was not being picked up until 9.30, so I sat at the computer doing some more of Rosie’s diary of Sardinia, when at 9 o’clock the doorbell rang. It was John, lan and Bert. ’You’re early’, I said, ‘It’s Bert’, he arrived early, said John and I had said to him, ’You’re early’. Bert had come up from Swanage and left at 6 o’clock. So I quickly got ready and my luggage was loaded into John’s car. Then it was off down to junction 13 and along the M4 and we turned off at Swindon onto the A419. John had already decided that we were not going as far as the ‘Air Balloon’ (which was no longer there anyway) as there were extensive roadworks, but even before we turned off the M4, there were signs saying that the road was closed this weekend. It hadn’t been over busy on the M4 but seemed to be busy by the time we turned off at Cirencester to go on a bit of a circuitous route to Cheltenham.
We arrived at Fred’s at about 10 o’clock.’ You’re early’, said Fred! After a quick hallo to Lib and a’ pitstop’ we left on another circuitous route around Cheltenham to the M5 as the main road out was also closed. Finally onto the M5 we headed north on a busy motorway. John had already decided not to go to far north on the M5 on what was the last weekend of the school holidays, so we turned off at junction 6 and headed for Kidderminster along the A449. On through the town and out on the A442 to Bridgnorth and the A458 to Shrewsbury. There we turned onto the A5 and soon stopped at Dobbies garden centre for lunch. This was a gigantic garden centre much like Hillier’s, where we went into the cafe and all had paninis, which were good. I got lost on the way out as the others had gone ahead whilst I went to the loo, and after excellently finding my way back to the entrance, found that it was only that and the exit was on another complicated route – as I said, it was big!
Having been re-united, we left with lan driving, up the A5 and onto the A483 past Wrexham and then onto the A55 – the North Wales Expressway, just south of Chester. Then it was across North Wales to the coast at Abergele, along past Colwyn Bay, under the river at Conway before turning south on the A487 and down to Caernarfon. This was an easy if long journey with the only slow bit being past an accident on the other carriageway which had a long tailback behind it. We arrived at the house at about four o’clock to be greeted by Clive and Huw who had driven up from Pembrokeshire. Parking was behind the house called ’Ty Castell’ and was to say the least narrow with little room for two cars. (later a lady knocked on the door to say the parking was for 3 cars and we were taking up some of her space!).
I was up at 6 o’clock and finished packing. I had breakfast but I was not being picked up until 9.30, so I sat at the computer doing some more of Rosie’s diary of Sardinia, when at 9 o’clock the doorbell rang. It was John, lan and Bert. ’You’re early’, I said, ‘It’s Bert’, he arrived early, said John and I had said to him, ’You’re early’. Bert had come up from Swanage and left at 6 o’clock. So I quickly got ready and my luggage was loaded into John’s car. Then it was off down to junction 13 and along the M4 and we turned off at Swindon onto the A419. John had already decided that we were not going as far as the ‘Air Balloon’ (which was no longer there anyway) as there were extensive roadworks, but even before we turned off the M4, there were signs saying that the road was closed this weekend. It hadn’t been over busy on the M4 but seemed to be busy by the time we turned off at Cirencester to go on a bit of a circuitous route to Cheltenham.
We arrived at Fred’s at about 10 o’clock.’ You’re early’, said Fred! After a quick hallo to Lib and a’ pitstop’ we left on another circuitous route around Cheltenham to the M5 as the main road out was also closed. Finally onto the M5 we headed north on a busy motorway. John had already decided not to go to far north on the M5 on what was the last weekend of the school holidays, so we turned off at junction 6 and headed for Kidderminster along the A449. On through the town and out on the A442 to Bridgnorth and the A458 to Shrewsbury. There we turned onto the A5 and soon stopped at Dobbies garden centre for lunch. This was a gigantic garden centre much like Hillier’s, where we went into the cafe and all had paninis, which were good. I got lost on the way out as the others had gone ahead whilst I went to the loo, and after excellently finding my way back to the entrance, found that it was only that and the exit was on another complicated route – as I said, it was big!
Having been re-united, we left with lan driving, up the A5 and onto the A483 past Wrexham and then onto the A55 – the North Wales Expressway, just south of Chester. Then it was across North Wales to the coast at Abergele, along past Colwyn Bay, under the river at Conway before turning south on the A487 and down to Caernarfon. This was an easy if long journey with the only slow bit being past an accident on the other carriageway which had a long tailback behind it. We arrived at the house at about four o’clock to be greeted by Clive and Huw who had driven up from Pembrokeshire. Parking was behind the house called ’Ty Castell’ and was to say the least narrow with little room for two cars. (later a lady knocked on the door to say the parking was for 3 cars and we were taking up some of her space!).
We wandered around the town and towards the sea and saw the sun going down as a fiery red ball across the water. There were many people taking a photo of the sunset
After looking over the place there was a long discussion about sleeping arrangements – there were 5 rooms, but two were twin rooms. Fred decided on the top floor room which was quite large with ensuite facilities but and extremely low roof in places, which he regretted later! Clive and Huw settled on one of the twin rooms. John grabbed the best room with a large ensuite on the grounds that he organised it. Nobody wanted to sleep with Bert and his snoring so that left Ian and I with the other twin room.
Ian being Ian, found that there was a sofa in the games room, and decided that this was was really good after his ‘bed’ on the boat last year, so we took the mattress from the other bed in ‘our’ room down and he was quite happy, so I ended up with a room on my own. The only down side was that the only bathroom on my floor was John’s ensuite (which could have been built to be either an ensuite or a ’this floor’ bathroom if they had thought about it!). So mine was up or down. Having settled in it was now about 5.30 and we decided to go out and look for food. It had been a beautiful day all day – probably the best day we are going to get and the evening was still and warm. John went into the pub next door and came back and announced that it wasn’t any good – they only had lager! So we went round to the Black Boy pub/hotel, the back door of which is opposite us, but is only an emergency exit! We went in and sat at the bar and had a pint (a very light beer) and then ordered meals each. Fred and I had swordfish which came as a ’steak’, and was nice. After another pint we left, having looked around the pub, and found 2 restaurants, a beer garden and outside tables and hotel rooms, all the middle of the town, it was huge!
Ian being Ian, found that there was a sofa in the games room, and decided that this was was really good after his ‘bed’ on the boat last year, so we took the mattress from the other bed in ‘our’ room down and he was quite happy, so I ended up with a room on my own. The only down side was that the only bathroom on my floor was John’s ensuite (which could have been built to be either an ensuite or a ’this floor’ bathroom if they had thought about it!). So mine was up or down. Having settled in it was now about 5.30 and we decided to go out and look for food. It had been a beautiful day all day – probably the best day we are going to get and the evening was still and warm. John went into the pub next door and came back and announced that it wasn’t any good – they only had lager! So we went round to the Black Boy pub/hotel, the back door of which is opposite us, but is only an emergency exit! We went in and sat at the bar and had a pint (a very light beer) and then ordered meals each. Fred and I had swordfish which came as a ’steak’, and was nice. After another pint we left, having looked around the pub, and found 2 restaurants, a beer garden and outside tables and hotel rooms, all the middle of the town, it was huge!
Access and car park
Outside the Black Boy Hotel
. We walked along the front and round to the quay and down to the West Highland Railway station and then back up into the town. Ian and I had lost the others by then and by the time I got back to the house, I was in serous need of a loo. So I tried to go into the pub next door but it was absolutely seething with young people and the music was seriously loud to me, without my hearing aid in! There was no chance there so I went into a wine bar next door (is there anything other than pubs/bars in this town?) where I found a nice clean loo! The others arrived soon after and we went in and sat around in the lounge chatting. Later we had night-caps and went to bed early at 11 o’clock. It had been along day - and all I did was sit in a car!
Sunday 1st September
I was awake at 06.10, but hadn’t got up in the night! I wrote yesterday's diary. Went downstairs at 8 o’clock but no-one was up, so went back and finished my diary and went down again at 08.30 for breakfast, which I then had. After a bit of organising we watched the Grand Prix qualifying event, recorded from yesterday and then the England versus Sri Lanka cricket first test match from Lord's. Late morning we went out and wandered down past the quay and harbour which was packed with ‘posh’ yachts,
I was awake at 06.10, but hadn’t got up in the night! I wrote yesterday's diary. Went downstairs at 8 o’clock but no-one was up, so went back and finished my diary and went down again at 08.30 for breakfast, which I then had. After a bit of organising we watched the Grand Prix qualifying event, recorded from yesterday and then the England versus Sri Lanka cricket first test match from Lord's. Late morning we went out and wandered down past the quay and harbour which was packed with ‘posh’ yachts,
and along to Morrison’s where we had tea and coffee in the cafe. We then did some shopping for a few meals over the coming days.
Walking along past the harbour
We walked back to the house, and dumped the shopping and left again and went to the ‘Anglesey’ pub, which was again busy. We managed to find an empty table in the bar and had beers, It was now 1.30 and we ordered Sunday lunches or lasagnes and me fish and chips which later was changed to Scampi and chips, as they had run out of fish! By the time we left it was 2.30.
Sat outside our 'select' cafe
We walked along to the West Highland Railway, and bought tickets for the train ride to Porthmadog on Tuesday (at £66 each!). We then returned to the house and watched the end of the cricket which England won. Then it was the turn of the Grand Prix which was the whole race as Huw had recorded it on Sky and which was quite exciting and was won by Leclerc in his Ferrari. Cups of tea were supplied by Huw and Ian. By this time it was 7.30 and had started to rain outside and was damp all evening. It was decided that we would have cheese and biscuits etc. for supper with wine and G &T for me, This was all organised by lan and Huw who have become great ‘butlers’. This with lots of chat and finally nightcaps lasted the rest of the evening with some retiring soon after 11,00 and the rest after 12.00.
The 'Anglesey' pub on the waterfront, Caernarfon
Monday 2nd September
I had a good nights sleep although I was woken by heavy rain once or twice. When I finally awoke about 6.30 it was still raining heavily. I went down to breakfast about 8.30 and everyone except Clive was already there, and I joined them for cereals and toast. A long chat happened and it was decided that we wouldn’t go on the boat trip we had planned today as the weather was so bad. I returned to my room, and updated my diary. However the weather improved and by 11.15 it had stopped raining, so we went down to Victoria Harbour and found there was another boat at 12.45. It was now 11.45 so we went in search of somewhere to eat. We found the little Bell Tower cafe in ‘Hole in the Wall’ street where they sold various Welsh rarebits. I had a hog one which came with bacon on top – Ian had a Paddington one which had marmalade in it! However, even though the waitress was jolly, there were too many people and the food delivery was slow and it was fairly obvious, quite early on, that we were not going to be ready for 12.45.
I had a good nights sleep although I was woken by heavy rain once or twice. When I finally awoke about 6.30 it was still raining heavily. I went down to breakfast about 8.30 and everyone except Clive was already there, and I joined them for cereals and toast. A long chat happened and it was decided that we wouldn’t go on the boat trip we had planned today as the weather was so bad. I returned to my room, and updated my diary. However the weather improved and by 11.15 it had stopped raining, so we went down to Victoria Harbour and found there was another boat at 12.45. It was now 11.45 so we went in search of somewhere to eat. We found the little Bell Tower cafe in ‘Hole in the Wall’ street where they sold various Welsh rarebits. I had a hog one which came with bacon on top – Ian had a Paddington one which had marmalade in it! However, even though the waitress was jolly, there were too many people and the food delivery was slow and it was fairly obvious, quite early on, that we were not going to be ready for 12.45.
We were not that worried as we thought there was another boat at 2 o’clock, so at 12.50 when we left the cafe we went back down to the dock to check. However we were now too early so we went back up to the Castle Square to the Morgan Lloyd pub. The sun was even shining by now, so we sat outside and had a pint of Hobgoblin beer.
Bell Tower cafe in ‘Hole in the Wall’ street *
We left in plenty of time at 1.45 and walked back down to the boat, ‘The Queen of the Sea’, which left on time at 2 o’clock.
Castle Square
* Outside the Morgan LLoyd pub in Castle Square
After turning the boat around the captain gave a couple of blasts on the boats horn for a man to open the pedestrian bridge across the River Seiont, so by the time we got there it was wide open. Then it was out to sea – well the Menai Straits for a quick trip down to the end and out to sea and round an island. The weather was dry but there were menacing clouds over Anglesey in one direction and Snowdonia in the other so the views were poor. The trip therefore was not that exciting, but it gave us a ‘quick blow’!
Waiting to board
Our boat the 'Queen of the Sea' *
Boarding the boat
All aboard the Skylark - well the Queen of the Sea *
The trip was only ¾ of an hour and then it was back through the opened pedestrian bridge again – the man opening it hadn’t got much else to do – and back up the river to our dock. It was now mizzerling as we walked up to Asda and got a bit of shopping and then walked back up to the house. Then it was a cup of tea organised by lan and Huw again and by the time we had finished and discussed where we were going, it was lime to get ready and go out. We left, about 6 o’clock and walked in the damp air in the opposite direction to the boat and past the harbour full of yachts again to Fu’s Chinese restaurant, This turned out to be very large and they easily seated the 7 of us.
Our route in red
The open pedestrian swing bridge
The castle and the 'big wheel'
The castle from the Menai Straits
We all chose different starters and main meals, I had salt and peppered mushrooms and then prawns and cashew nuts, which was more than plenty, washed down with a couple of pints of Boddington beer. By the time we left, the place was very busy. We returned to the house in heavy drizzle after 8 o’clock. Everybody seemed tired tonight and people started drifting off to bed at 10 o’clock except John, Ian and myself who after a G&T night-cap went to bed about 11 o’clock.
Our meal in Fu’s Chinese restaurant *
Tuesday 3rd September
After a good night's sleep, I awoke about 6.40, wrote the diary and was ready to go down to breakfast soon after 8 o’clock. We all gathered together after breakfast at 9.30 and walked down via the quay to the Welsh Highlands Railway Station. We collected our tickets (actually a printout) and headed out onto the platform where we were directed to our carriage. It was empty at that time but by the time I came back after looking at the engine, it was full of people on a coach party!
After a good night's sleep, I awoke about 6.40, wrote the diary and was ready to go down to breakfast soon after 8 o’clock. We all gathered together after breakfast at 9.30 and walked down via the quay to the Welsh Highlands Railway Station. We collected our tickets (actually a printout) and headed out onto the platform where we were directed to our carriage. It was empty at that time but by the time I came back after looking at the engine, it was full of people on a coach party!
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The train left on time at 10.10 and initially followed a course to Dinas station, which was the old standard gauge railway, where it turned onto the old slate railway from Dinas to Rhyd Ddu. This was very different to the ‘main line’ railway in that it climbed quite quickly and twisted and turned like a typical narrow gauge railway. It climbed higher and higher past Llyn Cwellyn (a lake) through spectacular scenery to Rhyd Ddu where the original line of 1881 went on up to Glanrafon Slate quarries.
Route of the Welsh Highland Railway
We left the train at 12.30 and walked up the main street and found the ‘Australia' pub, where we all had a pint of porter and a tuna panini.
The next section of line was built in 1923 to join this line with an earlier built section the Creosor Tramway built in 1864. This later section which was about 8 miles long, climbed to the summit of the line at 648ft (197 m) and then twisted round and back descending through 3 tunnels to Creosor junction. The coach party left the train at Beddgelert and we had the carriage to ourselves We joined the Creosor Tramway, after which it was relatively flat across fields to Porthmadog which it entered travelling down the main street across a bridge and into the station (for Ffestiniog Railway).
Well refreshed it was a quick return to the train which left on time at 2.05. Our carriage had a few extra people in it but without the coach party it was basically empty. Then it was a repeat of the journey backwards, arriving back at 4.30. It had been a really enjoyable journey with spectacular scenery and great steam engines (others had passed us going in the opposite direction both ways of our journey.
The Australia Pub
West Highland Railway and Porthmadog Station
We walked back to the house fairly tired considering we had been sitting a lot of the day and had a cup of tea and much talk! I wrote some of today’s diary. We decided to stay in tonight, so John and Ian cooked a spaghetti bolognaise for supper which we had with some wine and was excellent. The evening disappeared and as some went to bed early, it was soon over. Ian and I chatted till 11 o’clock and then it was bed.
More views along the West Highland Railway
Wednesday 4th September
I awoke about 6.30 as usual, after a good night’s sleep. As I had written much of the diary yesterday so I did not have much to do. I went down to breakfast at 8.20 to find everyone else already there. Breakfast of the usual muesli/ tea/ toast and marmalade and then came up and finished the diary and loaded all the photos/diaries onto the computer. About 11.15, John, Ian, Fred, Bert and myself left in John’s car to go to Anglesey. Clive had decided he was a bit tired (still recovering from his kidney removal) and so Huw stayed behind with him. After we’d managed to extricate ourselves from our parking spot we left Caernarfon and went along the straits and crossed on the old Menai suspension bridge. This was a bit slow as they are working on the bridge and there were temporary traffic lights. We then travelled along to Beaumaris, managed finally to park in a 2 hour slot (and not 6 hr which most parking seemed to be), and had a walk around. We eventually ended up in the lifeboat station on the front, where Fred was ‘accosted’ by a lady, selling membership of the RNLI. She also said they get called out to a lot of paddle boards in distress nowadays – Emma note.
I awoke about 6.30 as usual, after a good night’s sleep. As I had written much of the diary yesterday so I did not have much to do. I went down to breakfast at 8.20 to find everyone else already there. Breakfast of the usual muesli/ tea/ toast and marmalade and then came up and finished the diary and loaded all the photos/diaries onto the computer. About 11.15, John, Ian, Fred, Bert and myself left in John’s car to go to Anglesey. Clive had decided he was a bit tired (still recovering from his kidney removal) and so Huw stayed behind with him. After we’d managed to extricate ourselves from our parking spot we left Caernarfon and went along the straits and crossed on the old Menai suspension bridge. This was a bit slow as they are working on the bridge and there were temporary traffic lights. We then travelled along to Beaumaris, managed finally to park in a 2 hour slot (and not 6 hr which most parking seemed to be), and had a walk around. We eventually ended up in the lifeboat station on the front, where Fred was ‘accosted’ by a lady, selling membership of the RNLI. She also said they get called out to a lot of paddle boards in distress nowadays – Emma note.
We finally left there and went along to the George and Dragon, a Robinson’s pub. There we had a pint of Stout and ordered some quite expensive prawn sandwiches, which when they came had salad, chips, coleslaw and a lot of prawns so didn’t seem quite so expensive!
We walked along to Beaumaris castle a picture pf which I'd taken in 1955.
We walked along to Beaumaris castle a picture pf which I'd taken in 1955.
Walking along the front at Beaumaris and the inshore lifeboat
The lifeboat at Beaumaris lifeboat station was an inshore rigid inflatable boat , but the lady had said there was a big one at Moelfre, so we headed there. The weather had been dry up until then, but on the way we had a shower of rain. When we reached there, we parked in a little car park on the front, but found the lifeboat station was a bit of a walk around the headland to it. We arrived there and climbed up some steps to an all-weather lifeboat which we walked around at high level on a walkway. Having viewed this, we walked up to a visitor centre where there was all sorts of information about lifeboats over the ages. There was also a lifeboat from 1970 which looked much older, than that.
Beaumaris Castle 1955, sorry about the fence railing!
Beaumaris 2024, without the railing!
The sun had come out by now, although rain threatened. We returned to the car and Ian drove back via the ‘new’ Menai bridge to Caernarfon where we ‘parked’ round the back. We had a cup of tea and more chat. Huw had booked a table for tonight at The Osteria restaurant at 8.00 which was the earliest he could get as there were other people booked earlier and so about 7.00 we walked out and went to the Bar Bach pub, supposedly the smallest bar in Wales and had a pint.
We arrived at The Osteria at 8.00 and were greeted by the Italian owner who apologised that he had tried to get hold of us to say that he had had a cancellation and we could have come earlier. We told him it didn’t matter as we had gone to the pub. Our table was upstairs and what followed was an amazing Italian meal for the price. I had salmon and goat's cheese Bruschetta as a starter (£5.50) and for mains a Tagliere Vegetariano which had a selection of cheeses and grilled vegetables on a bread base for £14, together with a couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio. The others had different similar things or a dish based based on pasta and a couple of bottles of red wine.
The Bar Bach - supposedly the smallest bar in Wales - didn't seem it
Inside the bar
We left about 10 o’clock with the owner still apologising for not being able to get hold of us earlier and walked back to our house. We then had night-caps and lots more chat about older times and finally went to bed after 11.30 feeling very full!.
Arriving at the Osteria Restaurant *
Our meal
Sculpture of Richard 'Dic' Evans at Moelfre Visitor Centre, Anglesey
Moelfre Lifeboat
Thursday 5th September
I went to sleep very quickly last night, but woke at 1 o’clock and felt very bloated and could not get back to sleep. Eventually I finished yesterday's diary and fell back to sleep about 1.45. So I awoke late about 7.15 and as didn’t have to finish the diary and went down to breakfast soon after 8 o’clock. This seemed to go on till about 10 o’clock! Eventually it was decided to go along to Morrisons for coffee, so we arrived there late morning and while we were having that, Ian and Huw did some shopping we needed for tonight. We wandered back to the house, on a day which was dull but dry – whereas ‘down south’ the weather was horrendous, with torrential rain. Having got back to the house, we realised it was lunch time, so out again to the Black Boy pub where we had various sandwiches again with crisps and salad washed down with a pint of beer.
I went to sleep very quickly last night, but woke at 1 o’clock and felt very bloated and could not get back to sleep. Eventually I finished yesterday's diary and fell back to sleep about 1.45. So I awoke late about 7.15 and as didn’t have to finish the diary and went down to breakfast soon after 8 o’clock. This seemed to go on till about 10 o’clock! Eventually it was decided to go along to Morrisons for coffee, so we arrived there late morning and while we were having that, Ian and Huw did some shopping we needed for tonight. We wandered back to the house, on a day which was dull but dry – whereas ‘down south’ the weather was horrendous, with torrential rain. Having got back to the house, we realised it was lunch time, so out again to the Black Boy pub where we had various sandwiches again with crisps and salad washed down with a pint of beer.
Afterwards we went back the house.
and then looked at my photos from past holidays of 1963/4 and others of cars etc. finally ending with various car videos from You-tube. About 6.45 John and Ian started to cook supper and G&T’s arrived. Our supper was a stir-fry, which was excellent, along with wine. The evening seemed to disappear with lots of chat, and finishing with night-caps. Many didn’t leave until 11.30!
John cooking our stir fry *
Outside our house
Our house
Back at the Black Boy pub
An amusing sign outside a pub in Caernafon
Friday 6th September
I was awoken at 5 o’clock by somebody clomping around in the bathroom above me! but managed to go back to sleep until 7.15. I saw on the weather how it had rained most of the day 'down South' yesterday, often torrentially. The sun was already shining and it is forecast to be a lovely day. I went down to breakfast at 8.15. Later we walked out along the waterfront to the pedestrian swing bridge, they were dismantling the big wheel there.
I was awoken at 5 o’clock by somebody clomping around in the bathroom above me! but managed to go back to sleep until 7.15. I saw on the weather how it had rained most of the day 'down South' yesterday, often torrentially. The sun was already shining and it is forecast to be a lovely day. I went down to breakfast at 8.15. Later we walked out along the waterfront to the pedestrian swing bridge, they were dismantling the big wheel there.
We walked across the bridge and along the Foreshore Road until we reached a little grass area (where there were lots of signs saying’ no overnight parking!) and sat on a seat looking out to sea, in the sunshine, looking like a load of old cronies. We sat for a while enjoying the ’view’.
The 'big wheel' being dismantled
We then headed back across the swing bridge past the wheel and the ‘Queen of the Sea’ which was just leaving at 11.45 and up to the Palace Cafe where we all had ice creams – mine not surprisingly mint-choc chip.
We wandered a little and then arrived at Wal’s bar, where we sat outside in the sunshine and ordered various snacks for lunch, mine Eggs Royal – two poached eggs with salmon on muffins. This along with a pint of Snowdonia bitter made a nice lunch.
Old Cronies - sorry Ian & Huw
The pedestrian swing bridge across the River Seiont
Ice creams for all on a sunny day
Lunch outside Wal's bar
The building opposite looked really 'foreign'
Afterwards we walked around looking for a fish and chip shop for supper tonight. We came back and watched cricket, the 2nd Test between England and Sri Lanka and it was so exciting that some of us ‘nodded off’.
We had G&T’s while they were gone and when they returned we all enjoyed the fish and chips washed down with red/white wine. People seemed to retire extra early tonight, but lan and I stayed up and watched/listened to episodes of ‘Dick Barton Special Agent’
and ‘Journey into space’ on You-tube before retiring to bed about 11.15.
and ‘Journey into space’ on You-tube before retiring to bed about 11.15.
The kitchen and the table set for fish & chips
I went up to my bedroom and wrote today’s diary and sorted some photos. Later, Ian and Huw went to the shop and bought fish and chips for supper.
Watching TV in the lounge
Saturday 7th September
I was awake soon after 6.30 a.m, got up and packed.I went down before 8.00 to find most of the others ready. We had to strip the beds and put all towels and bedding in a big blue bag and put in the hall and then put all the rubbish out in the bins out the front of the house. Finally we had to clear the kitchen of all the surplus food and drink which was given to Huw and Clive as they had the most room in their car. Everything was loaded into the cars and we left about 8.30, with John driving.
It had been decided that we would have breakfast at the cafe in Morrisons, so we all proceeded there. Most of us had full English which was ably cooked by a lady behind the counter, and then the finances were all sorted out by Huw, who had been our very able treasurer for the whole of the trip. By the time this had all been sorted out it was 10 o’clock.
We said our goodbyes to Huw and Clive and left in sunny weather on the long Journey home. This was a reverse of our journey there, so north on the A487 to the A55, the North Wales Expressway and along to south of Chester and then south on the A483, around Wrexham and on south to join the A5 and on to Shrewsbury. It had started drizzling by the time we got there and again we stopped at Dobbies and their excellent cafe to have a sandwiches/paninis for lunch at about 12.30.
Ian took over driving here, then it was south again on the A458 to Bridgnorth and the A442 to Kidderminster, around there and then on A449 to the M5 and south and across to Cheltenham. It had rained a little on this part of the journey, but by the time we reached Fred’s house, it had stopped.
It was a quick hallo to Lib and then off again via Cirencester and onto the A429 towards Swindon. I think Ian got tired of busy dual carriageways there although there had been virtually no hold ups anywhere, but we turned onto the B4000, through Baydon to junction 14 on the M4. Then it was a quick drive along to junction 13 at Chieveley and to my house arriving at about 4.15.
It had been a fun week away with the weather being very kind to us and everybody had enjoyed it. Thanks to John for organising it, and to him and Ian for all the driving. Where next year?
I was awake soon after 6.30 a.m, got up and packed.I went down before 8.00 to find most of the others ready. We had to strip the beds and put all towels and bedding in a big blue bag and put in the hall and then put all the rubbish out in the bins out the front of the house. Finally we had to clear the kitchen of all the surplus food and drink which was given to Huw and Clive as they had the most room in their car. Everything was loaded into the cars and we left about 8.30, with John driving.
It had been decided that we would have breakfast at the cafe in Morrisons, so we all proceeded there. Most of us had full English which was ably cooked by a lady behind the counter, and then the finances were all sorted out by Huw, who had been our very able treasurer for the whole of the trip. By the time this had all been sorted out it was 10 o’clock.
We said our goodbyes to Huw and Clive and left in sunny weather on the long Journey home. This was a reverse of our journey there, so north on the A487 to the A55, the North Wales Expressway and along to south of Chester and then south on the A483, around Wrexham and on south to join the A5 and on to Shrewsbury. It had started drizzling by the time we got there and again we stopped at Dobbies and their excellent cafe to have a sandwiches/paninis for lunch at about 12.30.
Ian took over driving here, then it was south again on the A458 to Bridgnorth and the A442 to Kidderminster, around there and then on A449 to the M5 and south and across to Cheltenham. It had rained a little on this part of the journey, but by the time we reached Fred’s house, it had stopped.
It was a quick hallo to Lib and then off again via Cirencester and onto the A429 towards Swindon. I think Ian got tired of busy dual carriageways there although there had been virtually no hold ups anywhere, but we turned onto the B4000, through Baydon to junction 14 on the M4. Then it was a quick drive along to junction 13 at Chieveley and to my house arriving at about 4.15.
It had been a fun week away with the weather being very kind to us and everybody had enjoyed it. Thanks to John for organising it, and to him and Ian for all the driving. Where next year?
