I didn’t feel much like getting up early this morning as yesterday I had to left home at the crack of dawn to go to Oxford for work, then rushed back to give a talk about Tudor costume to the local W I, which I am glad to say went well, but I was feeling tired today. Nevertheless, since I had agreed to meet a Jane at 12pm near Abermaw/Barmouth, I had to make the effort. After a dismal summer, the weather was fantastic and the nearly four hour drive through mid-Wales was gorgeous.

I was running late when the phone went in the car. I have had the car for over a year now and have never managed to connect the Bluetooth before, so it was a somewhat of a surprise. It was Jane, concerned that her sat nav had taken her to the middle of nowhere. I parked near the appointed meeting place and tried to call her. Unfortunately the car connecting thing had entirely drained my phone battery. I had to knock on several doors before I found a kind lady who would let me plug the phone in, but even then I had to borrow her phone to actually get through. However we managed to meet eventually, then took my car to Abermaw.

It was a very straightforward walk, a bit too much on the road, but the weather was glorious and we were only doing 5 miles.

Back in Barmouth, we bought ice creams and went down to the water to paddle. Initially freezing, the water soon seemed warm and was delightful on our tired feet. It really is a stunning beach.

The sunset over the Llyn Peninsula was one of the best I’ve ever seen, although the picture does not really do it justice.

We are staying in a very nice little AirBandB in Harlech. There is somewhat of a paucity of eating places open in the evening but we did get an absolutely excellent pizza in just next to the castle. The castle is impressive, despite being the work of that fiend, Edward I. It is hard to believe that the water used to come up nearly to the walls.  The sea is a good mile out now, beyond the golf course.

We are thinking of changing tomorrow’s plan and going to Portmeirion. Jane has never been and it would be a shame for her to miss such a lovely spot. I haven’t been for years – not since my parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary, back in 2001, when we had a big lunch party there.

An easy 5.9 miles and a gold day.