Landed

 Back home...no photos today!!

I missed the way on to the Expressway by Llaneurgain (Northop in English!!)

So had a gentle start on old roads that I'd ridden and driven on at the end of the 70s...and topped up the fuel before getting on the big roads. Starting at a bit after  9.30 am was a good idea. The traffic was busy but flowing. 

Not at all stressful and an easy drive right to Tebay for my lunch stop and leg stretch. Also good dry weather all the way....until we approached the border...

Then I found that the screen wash had run out...so leaving the motorway and all the spray was preferable!! And the rain stopped. Thankfully!

A stop in Dumfries where a friend had offered a break...soup roll and a cuppa set me up for the last 55 miles. I think he needed the company ,as he works mainly from home, and his father died not long ago. It gave him a break too. 

Then a quick stop for essentials from the Co-op in Thornhill. From there to home is always an hour! 38 miles through the dusk with a bright pink sky and grey clouds...and arriving at 5.15 as it settled into night.

I think that everything is in from the car...the clothes washing ready, but that won't get done tomorrow as heavy rain is forecast. Cleaning the car out properly will have to wait as well. 

A good thing I came back today!! 

Friends

 A start before 9 today...and the first 70 miles took 2 hours.....with a couple of stops to check the route! Mostly on roads that I knew.... 48 years ago when I started to learn to drive in a Triumph Herald car!!

A morning of mountain passes, twisty roads and good scenery!...you could look at this on Street View!!

Up through Machynlleth...my first time on the new bridge over the river..raising the road above land often flooded...

Nearly to Dolgellau, but cut across by Brithdir to the road to Y Bala ( which means the place where water enters a lake) through the town then left to Fron Goch , and turn for Cerrig y Drudion. Then up and over by two reservoirs to Dinbych (Denbigh) where the high street was closed for the remembrance parade...

A quick trip to a convenient supermarket for provisions, then the road was clear....but having gone through the town, roadworks held me up for ten minutes!!

Finally on the road through Bodfari, turn left at Afonwen, up through Caerwys , over the Expressway, left at Lloc to Trelawnyd...where l headed for the home of friends that I have known since about 1990!!

Plus I had a bowl to deliver...and the nice surprise was that the recipient would be having lunch with them as well!

And this is the bowl...

And the thankyou for delivery..(specs for scale)

Some beautiful local work...

Now I'm settled in the travelodge just down the expressway a little...basic, comfortable, a good bath, a programme about Eric Ravilious on the TV..then other war artists... luxury!!

And Travelodge is 40 years old this year! 

I have stayed in the first one ever to open..a small one on the A38 North near Burton on Trent.. behind it the Trent and Mersey canal, I think...and at breakfast time you hear the gentle " dug dug dug" of a narrow boat engine going past. ...a good pub by a nearby lock, and the Barton Marina the other side.... What's not to like?!

Family trip to Aberystwyth

 Our trip was disrupted.....it is the weekend that prospective university students get to tour the Campus...which includes the Arts Centre.

The exhibition that we wanted to see was supposed to be open today...but because of the occasion won't be open until Monday. A pity, not just because we wanted to see it...but it would have given prospective students a taste of what goes on.

My camera was busy.....

The Artes Mundi exhibition was open...and the "washing line" made some interesting patterns...as did the sun (yay, sunshine!!)

Foiled there, we went into town...and the only parking space was by the old harbour ( daughter can't walk far so is in a self propelled wheelchair..sometimes with teenager power on steep bits!)

A walk around the castle, a short look at the open market, a small gallery...and lunch in the Dragonfly, a brilliant small veggie and vegan café.

Impressive waves, and the coast going further north in the distance 

Public toilets 

I'm not sure what the bottle "hovel" would have been....over a pottery kiln, a grain dryer or what?! Time to investigate!!

Then back for a cuppa...and sort the maps that I brought down for them.

Quite a few will assist in family history research. And it means less on my shelves....

Just checked..it was a Maltings kiln .and you can visit it..one for next time!

Up to the middle

 This morning...

Two out one in!!

Moving on again, starting over the end of the mountain... through cloud...so it took a bit longer than planned...then on lower ground than the clouds...it was raining!!

Called last an old friend for a coffee after 50 miles or so..he moved there in March ...so hasn't made any clay work for a while..and like me is suffering from a workshop stacked with other stuff as he has made an extreme downsize!! Hopefully he will get there before too long.

Then on to Aberystwyth, not too far, for a wander around, lunch, post a letter and head up to the arts centre. I didn't fancy the streets of Aber in the rain!!

The print exhibition wasn't open...yet!! So after a while I carried on another twenty minutes up the road to Daughter and family...and another cat!!

Day out

 Yesterday was a take it easy day...down to Abergwaun/Fishguard in the morning

Pictures going in not quite where planned as the internet signal is weak at this end of their stone built house!

.

There is a small market there on Thursdays so we wandered through that. My camera was busy with murals and buildings...

And windows...

We had a fruitful wander around a charity op shop....I found a small jug and bowl and a pair of good shoes...and two french maps...and my friend bought a kitchen cookbook stand. Then she gave it to me ! 

We celebrated by trying out a new coffee shop...with 1930s type décor..and really good coffee and viennoiserie..

Then called by a friend of hers who runs an eatery over the road to book a meal on Saturday for herself and the 35 year old disabled guy she is fostering. (They have done foster care for about thirty years)

Ffwrn in south Wales means oven...and the white thing is a pizza oven

Then back home for lunch

Then a visit to a local brewery to see if the owner knew a friend of mine in Somerset 

And collect friends' grandsons (who live with them) from school...and opposite the school are a nice pair of gateposts!

Then welcome back by the bosscat, Smudge