I had appointments in Dolgellau on Friday and Monday last so we hired a car for a long weekend
Our journey on Monday took us through the market town of Whitchurch ...
Passing the north end of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) ...
... and the prettier part of the lake with views to the mountains beyond.
Rose Cottage, Friog where we used to live ...
... and down to the beach where Molly enjoyed the sand even in the typically Wet-Wales weather!
Saturday saw us journeying to visit my brother and his family ... through Woore where the beautiful St Leonard's Church stands ...
... and past one of our old (very) haunts, the Wheatsheaf at Onneley
Me and my brother Garry and with wife Sue and youngest boys Ryan and Kye; they emigrate to Australia in early March so we shall take every opportunity we can to meet up before they fly off to their new life.
On Sunday we took Ann and Geoff into Stafford for a spot of retail therapy and to stock up the cupboards. When we returned to Audlem the three boats dropped down the lock and moored up outside the Shroppie Fly where we all met up later for dinner and drinks with Dot and Al who have recently purchased a narrowboat and are waiting patiently to start their new life. Good Luck with the op Al! A good picture of the festivities here - by Geoff.
Early Monday morning we're off to Dolgellau again ...
... and looks like being a lovely day too ...
... with the sun shining like gold on the winter vegetation.
A bit grey though when we stop at Froncysyllte ...
... and walk down to the basin ...
... at Trevor ...
... and the famous Pontcysyllte aqueduct...
which is where we are heading for on our winter cruise
Looking down the steps to the river Dee ...
... and the huge stanchions of the aqueduct.
Back on Fairbourne beach; looking past the railway bridge down the Mawddach Estuary ...
... and over towards Barmouth
Molly playing 'fetch' on the beach ...
... but will never give up the prize!
Dyffryn Ardudwy a little further up the coast from ...
Barmouth ...
... and looking across Cardigan Bay towards Pwllheli and Criccieth
... and Molly's still playing ...
The swing bridge section of Barmouth Bridge
An Oystercatcher on the water's edge ...
... on the headland of Fairbourne beach looking over the Cambrian Railway bridge
Cadiar Idris is covered in cloud today ...
... beautiful!
The tide was out today as I looked down the estuary and spied these walkers crossing the bridge
We visited our neighbours Bill and Margaret and the local heron who sits hopefully by his fishpond most days ...
... until Pip (Molly's half sister) chases him off!
Heading home to Rock n roll whizzing past Pontcysyllte ...
... and stopping for one last picture as the light fades.
Hiring the car was obviously useful and also enjoyable but we were glad to return it to Enterprise Hire Cars in Crewe on Tuesday morning and get back to our normal routine of 2.5-3 miles per hour.
