We are off on a jaunt to Beddgelert today. Looked at the steam train timetable for options. Bloody typical. They don’t start running until tomorrow. Tomorrow we are in liverpeul. Ah well. At least we are off out for a curry tonight with Rhys and Eirian. Bengal Spice which has apparently improved. The last time we were there, Iolo from Springwatch was in with what looked like a couple of his film crew. Someone from the next table started chatting with him about stuff. Wildlife presumably. We left him alone. People need their space. I guess it’s a problem that comes with celebrity.
So because we are going for a curry, breakfast will very much get pared down to a simple bacon sandwich . Brechdan bacwn, or cig moch, you choose, they both mean the same thing. Good quality bacon here. With HP sauce natch. And a glass of milk.
There’s a nice walk along the river in Beddgelert. It’s a regular of ours. Places you can stop to skim stones and shouldn’t be too crowded being just before the Easter holidays. Everywhere will be rammed next week. We will be away from it all in Peel. Fenella Beach, far away in time.
Heard on the wireless that today is the spring equinox. Of course I knew that but it was useful to be reminded, I suppose. Dunno why they bother changing the clocks though. I’d be tempted to leave ours as is but expect there would be pushback from other members of the household. Also my pesky devices will automatically change the time anyway. They like to conform. Sheep. Plenty of sheep around Beddgelert. Baaaah.
Back in the room I have to report that as well as the aforementioned simple bacon sandwich I also had a weetabix and a raspberry yoghurt together with a glass of milk (well two actually), an OJ and two cawfees. See vid in previous Facebook post on how to apply HP Sauce to a bacon sandwich. Of its time. I have a post on philosopherontap on how to make the perfect bacon sandwich. Google it if you are interested. This particular sarnie was not perfect as the bread wasn’t quite right but the bacon was good quality. I’m not complaining but I am unlikely to leave a review. I usually only leave a review if the experience was good or if it was particularly bad. Something like a bacon sandwich is very objective anyway.
We need to think about timing for leaving for Beddgelert. No point in getting there too early. Beddglelert will be part of a circular route that takes us around Y Wyddfa to Llanberis and back to Caernarfon. A well trodden path stopping at the occasional scenic view point to take photos. We have quite a few of them from over the years. Same scenic viewpoints. The shame nowadays is that it is virtually impossible to park at Pen y Pass. The car park is always rammed and I think they may even charge. Might get lucky. Seehowitgoze.
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Noted a few things seen on the way today, or in the case of Waunfawr not seen. The sweetshop I used to go to of a weekend and ask for 2oz wine gums was no longer a sweet shop. Had reverted to being a cottage. Happened a long time ago I think. Then the village hall across the road from our house appeared to no longer be there and the Whiteways bus garage was now just a pile of rubble. Used to catch the double decker bus to school in Caernarfon from there. It’s amazing to think that in the school summer holidays I used to walk from Waunfawr to the Golf Club in Caernarfon and back. Must have been around 12 years old. 4 miles. I’d carry a seven iron or similar and people used to occasionally stop and give me a lift. You don’t see that these days.
There was very little traffic on the road and on a couple of occasions I pulled in to let a car past. 25mph seemed plenty fast to me. No vehicles came in the opposite direction. We noticed an ewe suckling her lamb. There may have been a second lamb around the other side. Then in a field near Bettws Garmon we saw a cow with a calf suckling away. Not sure of the breed but there was a mix of black and brown horned cattle in the field with quite a shaggy coat.
Then as we passed Llyn y Gadair, just after Llyn Cwellyn, I noticed a sign that was at an angle. It didn’t feel as if it would take much for it to topple over. Both THG and I thought it probably read “Danger Deep Water” just like the sign at the lake back home.
The car park at Beddgelert was by no means full. Next weekend it will be rammed. We set off on a lovely little walk along the afon Glasslyn riverbank. Got as far as was sensible. It gets quite rocky and we pulled up just before the “footpath” turned to go up the mountain. There are old mine workings up there that Joe and I passed a few years back when I was training for the Coast to Coast. Copper red colour was evident in the rocks.
Returning to Beddgelert we had one of those nice little life experiences. Caffi Colwyn was a warm and attractive gaff that gave our weatherbeaten faces a rest from the wind. I had hot chocolate with cream and THG had a pot of tea. We shared a bara brith with butter – can’t each much lunch when you are having hotel breakfasts and out to dinner every night. I’ve got to tell you it was the best bara brith I’ve ever had. A nice thick and moist slice. Didn’t last long. I went to pay and complemented the girl at the till. Turns out it was made by her dad. I asked her to let him know I thought it was great but she laughingly said it would make him big headed 🙂 The next moment a man appeared behind the till who turned out to be dad. I gave him the compliment myself and he offered to show me how it was made. We went through into the kitchen and he got a large metal bowl and proceeded to add all the ingredients and explain the process.
Wow. This is seriously good customer service. What a great experience. Caffi Colwyn probably doesn’t need the publicity as it was pretty full though the turnover of people meant that there always seemed to be somewhere free for new people to sit at. This is a well run, high quality caff with nice friendly people and great food. Go there if you are in the area.
Should have taken a pic but I didn’t.
btw the trains were running after all!