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2nd part of the Journey Conwy to Bangor.

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With a fair bit of planning, we set off on the 7th  of April which happened to fall 3 days after my 70th, to Conwy by train. Our kind landlady offered to run us to the train, so backpacks stuffed to the brim, off we went on part 2 of our Epic Wales Adventure. It seems to be the norm, or is it us, but once at Shrewsbury the trains were once again in chaos. Eventually boarding we sat beside a lovely lady who told us that she was travelling to Llandudno Junction and as she was nearly blind, could we tell her when to get off? it turned out that she was travelling to meet her son and had been on the train from Plymouth at 5:30 that morning. She had had to change at Birmingham and that it was utter chaos there as it had been for us a while back. I began to have doubts about Transport for Wales. she also said the food trolley had refused her cash and the card machine was broken, so the guy pushing the trolley had dolled out free KitKats which were normally one pound each! It's all this de...
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Going Home

 The day started in an interesting way.  We had to leave earlier than the breakfast, so a 'continental breakfast' was arranged to leave out for us. Carefully making our way down the steep stairs, we found ... no breakfast! Oh well we could buy and live off bananas.  So carefully walking slowly we found the railway station.  Nobody was in it except a Very Odd Guy and a Labrador.  As we approached the seats, he became a bit aggressive, muttering expletives under his breath, so we naturally backed off. Then strange and unusual man took himself and his dog into the gents.  Relieved when people began turning up, an announcement ' The train for Llandudno Junction is 20 minutes late'. Oh well, we were in no hurry.  The train eventually turns up, and we get off at the Junction.  So we waited for our train, the one going to Cardiff.  Another announcement: 'The train going to Cardiff will be 20 minutes late'! Lots of muttering on the by now packed plat...
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Selling up....

When we sold our home and gave up work and bought a barge, our eldest son expressed concern by asking if it was a mid-life crisis. It might well have been, so what would he call our latest venture, to walk the Wales coast as we approach our 70s? We gave up our floating home and rented part of a farmhouse in Shropshire - as far away from water as its possible to get. It is not called The Midlands for nothing. Why walk around Wales? After all, we don't walk at all, and we have health issues. Who doesn't as they approach their 7th decade! So we bought a map, and a book, bought back-packs, waterproofs, flasks, and planned our 70's. Starting small, we are booked into an hotel in Llandudno - one has to have luxuries, and attacking, albeit slowly, The Great Orme. Our plan, which is mightily flexible, is to walk as much as possible, except in wintertime. Our second foray from Conwy to Bangor, always health-depending, in October, and Anglesey in spring for a week. So, train pass at ...
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Another Day, Another Mishap

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 This time we thought we'd go back to The Long Mynd.  So, up early and out quick.  It was the weekend and we like to avoid tourists if we can.  Anti-social, I hear your cry. It's the parking! When we arrived, it was foggy, and fog to  hilly types is not a good thing, so we kept to the path/road. Nothing daunted we set out, in full gear yet again.  I wish I could go up hill without losing my breath, because I sound worse than I actually am. However, the slightest incline and off I go - wheeze! The short trip ended up another nine miler and luckily we had packed a picnic and flask (yes, heavy).                  So half way we stop, take out the flask and have a cuppa.  Seemingly out of NOWHERE, wild ponies turned up.  They can smell food  a mile away, or so we think.  We eventually had to run for a fenced off area and a seat.  Five or Six more horses showed up, but not only showed up, ...
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Going Off-Piste

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 We thought we'd try a different local walk this time, and save petrol. Leaving the house we turned into a farmers property, with the OS map guiding us, we walked into a mud bath. Sheep in various sheds, rotting timber, tyres and other detritus from 100 years of farming lay either side of us; crossing a marked route field, and thinking this would give us a round trip, which is our preferred way. Gates were held together with string as we tried to undo them or climb over.  Following the ancient yellow arrows which told us where the next gate was, we stumbled on. We found ourselves in a gully and found the yellow arrow guide that told us that, yes, were going the right way. I have to say that I had my doubts.  Surely THIS cannot be the way? However, it was! I was only thankful it hadn't rained or the gully would have turned into a mud bath, or stream. Clambering over slippery stiles, that, like us, had seen better days, some broken and some too high for me to climb onto, I ...
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Train to Llandudno: Visiting Another Country

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 Llandudno = The Land That Time Forgot. The train journey passed without incident. Within our carriage you could say all human life was in it.. I had a man sitting behind me, and like a 2 year old, he kicked my seat all the way. We had another man laughing hysterically for 2 hours, and least of all annoyances, a crying baby. Him I COULD understand and forgive! The train took us from Colwyn Bay into Llandudno along stunning coastline with Big Orme and Lil' Orme in between. The sea looked green and the sky was blue and we found our B&B. Compact & Bijoux, but very clean. The bathroom was so small that Chris had trouble getting into the shower and when he dropped his face cloth he couldn't pick it up! The toilet was squashed in so close to a wall and the shower, that we had to keep the shower doors open in order to use it. Then we looked at The Great Orme (it's proper title). Not called 'great' for nothing, it's huge! Llandudno has stunning architectural hot...
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Day 2 Llandudno to Conwy

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 So, home, via the Climb Down, which tbh hurt more than the climb up, but better by far, for my heart. We ate at a quiet restaurant, recommended to us by two ladies we had met on the train. Sitting outside in a secluded courtyard we had the best steak and ale pie and a glass or two of something very nice, then we walked the rather large and long prom. The weather can only be described as Mediterranean. Promenading couples til gone 10pm and No Coats. Warm, balmy, beautiful evening. After a Very Hot night - windows wide open and getting used to travel noise. Then onwards to our second plan, walk to Deganwy and Conwy, hoping for another paddle at the end of it.  So up early and off, with a Full English inside of us. The coastal path led us into sand dunes which are hard to walk on, and the sun came out and grew hotter. We kept having to stop as it was so hot, and wearing thick socks carrying a day backpack and getting sand in our feet. At last we arrived in Conwy. It's small but ...
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