A good B & B breakfast and away by 930. Still raining. We decided to drive out on the A5025. Stoned walled green fields, much like England. Much use of slate everywhere again. Small bungalow type houses made of stone some painted white. Sheep fat and woolly the size of small calves with the odd black sheep here and there. Just above Camaes a wind farm extended right across the distant ridge. The harbour here was quaint with a sandy beach. Probably packed on a summer’s day! The town was ablaze with colour, every house having window boxes and planters outside the shops, pink, red, yellow, just great even in the rain. Past the ancient copper mining area of Parys Mountain, dating back to the roman times. In fact 3500 years of mining here! Too windy and cold to do the copper walking trail. Perhaps another day…
The A5025 would take us on around the north of the island and back on to the mainland via the Menai Bridge. Through Bangor, tourist bureau still closed, out on the A55 dual carriageway, which has recently been made into a dual carriageway. The other side of the road having been carved through the rock face with long tunnels, on through Conwy and Colwyn Bay and off at junction 23a heading for Rhyl. This is where the beaches are and the great holiday B & B’s, campsites, caravan parks etc.
Raining hard the holidaymakers looked a glum lot. Most just aimlessly walking about hiding under umbrellas and hooded raincoats. Caravans everywhere. Many for sale, probably having been abandoned by holiday makers who have given up and gone to Las Palmas or where ever the sun might be shinning. On past the deserted funfair crossing the river Dee on a most spectacular bridge being a smaller version of our ANZAC bridge in Sydney. Huge road works at Connah’s Quay carving through the countryside, building bridges, tunnels probably extending the M56 by a good few miles.
Crossed over into England, no goodbye Wales or welcome to England signs, just a line on the map which we noticed and of course not seeing all the signs in English and Welsh.
Over in the distance we can see Ellesmere Port; power stations belching white steam and smoke adding to the cloudy skies. Flattish countryside and low wooded hills.
Passed all the signs, Wigan, St Helens, Warrington all the places where are RL footballers come to play the last few years of their playing careers.
Stopped of at Charnock Richards services for a break and a stretch of our legs. Accosted at the front door to sign up for a credit card by a buxom blonde. Found out her 20-year-old son, Jonathon Platts plays for the Cowboys in Australia. Previously having been with the Warriors. Says he is very happy and is being well looked after by the QRL, however he is transferring to a Sydney club next year.
Surprise the sun came out with blue sky as we approached Preston. On up past through Lancaster on the M6 until we saw the signs for the Lakes.
Racing along now heading for Windermere on the A591.This part of Cumbria is a land of low stone walls (dry) brick walls with fields dotted creating a crazy paving design.
Into Windermere, traffic snarled up, sun still shinning as we made our way slowly into town. Stopping of at the tourist bureau we selected Veronicas a B & B, further on down the road in Bowness just up from Windermere Lake. A large rabbit warren of rooms with creaking hallways, latch doors and small rooms. We loved it and were surprised to find we had a spa bath in our en-suite.
Dumped our bags and set out to walk around town. All sorts of Lake trips available, however it was quite windy and the lake choppy. We would wait until tomorrow so we continued to walk through the town.
Hungry by now so we had a meal at Gibby’s in town and back to our room, tired and ready to plan our next day.
So to bed.
The A5025 would take us on around the north of the island and back on to the mainland via the Menai Bridge. Through Bangor, tourist bureau still closed, out on the A55 dual carriageway, which has recently been made into a dual carriageway. The other side of the road having been carved through the rock face with long tunnels, on through Conwy and Colwyn Bay and off at junction 23a heading for Rhyl. This is where the beaches are and the great holiday B & B’s, campsites, caravan parks etc.
Raining hard the holidaymakers looked a glum lot. Most just aimlessly walking about hiding under umbrellas and hooded raincoats. Caravans everywhere. Many for sale, probably having been abandoned by holiday makers who have given up and gone to Las Palmas or where ever the sun might be shinning. On past the deserted funfair crossing the river Dee on a most spectacular bridge being a smaller version of our ANZAC bridge in Sydney. Huge road works at Connah’s Quay carving through the countryside, building bridges, tunnels probably extending the M56 by a good few miles.
Crossed over into England, no goodbye Wales or welcome to England signs, just a line on the map which we noticed and of course not seeing all the signs in English and Welsh.
Over in the distance we can see Ellesmere Port; power stations belching white steam and smoke adding to the cloudy skies. Flattish countryside and low wooded hills.
Passed all the signs, Wigan, St Helens, Warrington all the places where are RL footballers come to play the last few years of their playing careers.
Stopped of at Charnock Richards services for a break and a stretch of our legs. Accosted at the front door to sign up for a credit card by a buxom blonde. Found out her 20-year-old son, Jonathon Platts plays for the Cowboys in Australia. Previously having been with the Warriors. Says he is very happy and is being well looked after by the QRL, however he is transferring to a Sydney club next year.
Surprise the sun came out with blue sky as we approached Preston. On up past through Lancaster on the M6 until we saw the signs for the Lakes.
Racing along now heading for Windermere on the A591.This part of Cumbria is a land of low stone walls (dry) brick walls with fields dotted creating a crazy paving design.
Into Windermere, traffic snarled up, sun still shinning as we made our way slowly into town. Stopping of at the tourist bureau we selected Veronicas a B & B, further on down the road in Bowness just up from Windermere Lake. A large rabbit warren of rooms with creaking hallways, latch doors and small rooms. We loved it and were surprised to find we had a spa bath in our en-suite.
Dumped our bags and set out to walk around town. All sorts of Lake trips available, however it was quite windy and the lake choppy. We would wait until tomorrow so we continued to walk through the town.
Hungry by now so we had a meal at Gibby’s in town and back to our room, tired and ready to plan our next day.
So to bed.
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