Monday, 21 May 2007
betty and teedie's tour of Wales 07
Betty and Teedie arrived in Wales on the 19th of May 2007. Jo collected them from Manchester airport and brought them back to Borth-y-Gest in North Wales. They are staying at Jo's cottage in the village. The address is 4 Mersey Street, Borth-y-Gest, Gwynedd, Wales and you can see it on www.snowdoniatourist.com property reference = 1007. They have spent the first part of this trip looking at Plas Dol y Moch where Phil works and the sights of Beddgelert in the Glaslyn valley. The sun is shining and it's warm.
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Betty and Teedie looking for sheep !
"Do you see any pretty ones?" This is close to the site of Gelert's grave
Plas Dol y Moch
This is the outdoor education centre where Phil works. It is a listed building and parts of it date back to 1643. It's owned by Coventry City Council and Phil is employed there as a Deputy Head Teacher.
The Glaslyn valley
...simply gorgeous...
MY NEXT WOOLLY JUMPER !!
The lovely Glaslyn valley
Gelert - the faithful hound
... now a bronze memorial
Beddgelert Church
A few hundred years old and mysterious
The grave of Gelert
How Beddgelert got its name
On the boat to Bardsey Island
Nice life vest ! Here's Betty looking ready for some action. The trip over to the island was certainly an adventure.
Better than Disneyworld
Maxine and Teedie with the skipper. Apparently Teedie knows a lot about skippers !
At the ruins of Bardsey Abbey
Teedie and Jo approach the ruins of the 13th century abbey. The island of Bardsey is a place for religious pilgrimage. Many come for spiritual enlightenment. These two came for a walk.
Picnic on Bardsey
Jo made the lunches and we ate on the cliffs overlooking the Irish Sea.
Teedie in ruins:-)
"This is simply wonderful!" Teedie loves the place so much she is thinking of moving to Wales.
Up against the wall
Teedie Maxine Jo and Betty take a break on Bardsey
Landing craft
The large boat couldn't get close enough to shore so we had to board this dinghy for the last 100 yards
Return to the mainland
Bardsey from the stern of the boat. The crossing took 25 minutes and it's about 4 miles in distance.
Tea and scones in Aberdaron
Finishing our pilgrammage to Bardsey in style, we found a hotel on the beach in the tiny village of Aberdaron for tea and scones. It was from Aberdaron that 20,000 souls are said to have sailed to Bardsey over the years. Bet they didn't have such good scones!
The kitchen stable door
Here's Teedie looking out onto the decking from the kitchen
The main bedroom
This is the larger of the two bedrooms. Both are really cosy and warm.
Tea with Betty in the cottage
The cottage is perfect accommodation for Betty and Teedie. Here's Betty in the lounge next to the fire place with the kitchen behind.
Phil serves up his curry
Phil prepared a delicious curry for us one night, complete with popadoms, relishes, nan bread, and samosas. Delicious
The Branwen Pub
This is where we watched the football match ~ AC Milan 2 Liverpool 1
Martin, Dave and Teedie
None of us could explain the offside rule to our American friends.!!???!!***
Our friendly neighbours
This little fellow accompanied us to breakfast and took food from the hand. Teedie found him almost as fascinating as the sheep.
No tragedy for us
Here we are on the deck at the cottage reading the newspapers and drinking coffee. What a treat ... and warm too.
Tanronnen Arms
We had a splendid lunch at this pub in Beddgelert. The ham sandwiches and ploughman's were particularly good.
Betty and Teedie enjoy Borth y Gest
The two travellers enjoy the magic of the village where Joan and Phil live. There is the sea at the end of the street and beyond there are the mountains. It really is a special place. Fortunately, too, Betty and Teedie have some beautiful weather.
Feeding the ducks
Here's Betty at Llyn Mair near Plas Dol y Moch. We fed the ducks until the soft drizzle drove us back to the car. In Borth y Gest Teedie and Betty relaxed at the cottage whilst Jo worked like a dervish to prepare tonight's meal. We are expecting Don and Barbara Roscoe at around 6 o'clock for some fun, wit, repartee and story telling.
It must be summer in Wales
We've been good so we can have ice cream.
A lovely meal with Jo and Phil
In the garden of Jo and Phil's house
"Now for a well earned Gin and Tonic"
Teedie after the sheep again
"Come here ... I want to take you home."
Reflections so far !!!
The Gals are captured in the fishing floats
Another meal at Faith
The magic oak table extends once again, this time to include Barbara and Don Roscoe who joined us from their home in Anglesey. They had once stayed with Betty and Bob in Pacific Palisades on their world cycle tour.
Barbara and Teedie
We all enjoyed an evening with Barbara and Don Roscoe. AND, still hanging on the cupboard handle behind teedie is the beautiful handbag that she brought for Joan. The handbag is making its return trip to the USA this July when Joan takes it to New York where she'll be working in Manhatten for a week.
A Porthmerion cat called Alison
"Cats don't have owners ... they have staff. Phil and Jo live with me and I let them pet me and feed me."
Beautiful Borth y Gest
Joan and Phil both searched quite a bit of the world before finding just the place that they wanted to live. And now, after living there for over 22 years, there is still nowhere that they love more.
Afternoon glow on the deck of Boatman's Cottage
Besides enjoying the opportunity to spend time with Betty and Teedie, it was also a treat for Phil and Joan to spend time relaxing at Boatman's Cottage instead of rennovation it! The sunny afternoons on the patio were an ideal way to end the day, and to enjoy a drink before dinner.
Views from the Harlech Bed and Breakfast
While Joan prepared the cottage for the next guests, Betty and Teedie continued their tour of Wales with two nights in Harlech. The Bed and Breakfast http://www.creigmorbandb.co.uk certainly had a fantastic view of the castle and the sea. They chose an array of activities from dinner in the local pub to a church service in the morning, tea rooms, the castle and shops. It was a good thing that Molly wasn't there as the sign in one of the garden tea rooms said, 'Well behaved dogs only!'
Lunch in Llandridrod Wells
Good thing that you don't have to be able to pronounce these Welsh towns in order to be allowed to eat lunch. As Joan drove Betty and Teedie through mid Wales, they found a sunny, lovely hotel for a welcome lunch stop.
The Metropole Hotel, Llandridrod Wells
Hay on Wye at Last!!!!
Arriving at our next place of Pilgrimage, we parked smack in the middle of all of the action on the busiest day of Hay's famous Book Festival. The Morris Dancers were performing only metres from our car and we were immediatly swept into all of the action and joy of Hay on Wye.
Morris Dancers
It is a closely held secret that Phil once toured Eastern Europe as a Morris Dancer. His clogs, ribbons and bells are still in the attic of Faith!!
The second hand book capital of the world
The charming, picturesque streets of the tiny town of Hay on Wye each year hosts an internationally renown literary festival with an impressive list of speakers. The town turned out to be the perfect destination in Betty and Teedie's tour of Wales. For more information about the literary festival, have a look at www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/hay/index.shtml
Hay on Wye is all about book shops!
Some were very small, and some claimed to be the largest in the world, but what they all had in common is that they sold second hand books. Two of us could have spent a lifetime in these bookshops!
Bed and Breakfast near Hay on Wye
Arriving at the Tal Y Bryn bed and breakfast in Bwylth near Hay, it was a pleasant surprise to find a magnificant home (complete with it's own fascinating history and ghost) set in the beautiful, rolling countryside of mid Wales. The rooms were large and the hosts friendly. Those British showers still don't work though! B&B website is www.talybrynhouse.com
Room with a view
It was a perfect time of year to enjoy lambs and calves frollicking in the fields, and there was a plentiful view of such activities from the rooms of the bed and breakfast. The weather in mid Wales that week was.....damp, but oh how green the countryside was because of ithe rain
Bed and Breakfast in Hay-on-Wye
Teedie, filling in the B&B's guest book while sat in one of the home's front rooms.
Yet another evening in a pub!
It took a while to find a place to eat near the B&B, but at last The New Inn was found and it was quite charming, cozy and the food good. A local couple sat adjacent to Betty and Teedie and their company further enhanced the evening. They were very nice people with lots of information about the area, its people, and their customs.
Replete at the New Inn
Breakfast at the Bed and Breakfast
It would be difficult to find a nicer Breakfast room than the one found at Tal Y Bryn House. It was a warm and sunny room, still containing all of the original woodwork, fireplace, and slate floor. Even a cat on the window ledge. The breakfasts were good too, and most importnatly, the coffee was excellent!
Gardens in Hay-on-Wye
Tintern Abbey- pilgimmage number Three
The drive to Tintern from Hay on Wye was particularly beautiful down the Wye Valley. Suddenly, Tintern Abbey is seen, mamoth in size perched in a particularly petite valley. Teedie had long wanted to see the Abbey, and all were impressed with its beauty and fascinating history. More found on www.castlewales.com/tintern.html
Tintern Abbey
Tintern Views
The Castle in Hay on Wye
Arriving back in Hay on Wye, the prefect parking place was found once again, and, just in view was the site of the perfect lunch spot. Racing off to claim the table, Betty, Teedie and Joan enjoyed lunch in the warming sun against walls of an ancient castle and with views not available in most reataurants!
Views from the best table in Hay on Wye!
The beautiful country side in Bwlch as viewed from the B&B.
Rain in Builth Wells!
Enjoying a leisurely drive from the Hay on Wye area to Aberyswyth, a stop was enjoyed in Builth Wells. Fortunately, the rain was very light and didn't deter from a pleasant jaunt through this pretty market town which sits on the River Wye.
Eggs and Pasteries
Two important purchases were made in Builth Wells. One was eggs at this local butcher's shop and the other was for pastries at the bakery just across the road. These bakeries can get quite a bit of jam and cream into just one doughnut!
Lunch at the Rhayader Workhouse!
Although this substantial historic building is now an elegant hotel and restaruant, it was once a workhouse. The food is much improved since then (!) and Betty and Teedie enjoyed wonderful homemade soup and some of the best Welsh cakes in all of Wales, and just out of the oven!
Workhouse Inmate Number Two
Fortunately, it was arranged that Betty and Teedie meal was paid for instead of having their having to break up rocks back in one of the cells that still exist behind this dining room.
Views towards Aberystwyth
From Nant Yr Arian Betty and Teedie had their first look down towards the coast once and towards their next adventure in Aberystwyth. This area of mid Wales would be very beautiful and peaceful if it wasn't for all of the bleeting lambs running across the fields and the hundreds of Red Kites cyrcling overhead!
Nant Yr Arian Red Kite Reserve
While hundreds of the once- endangered Red Kite birds cycle behind them, awaiting their 3pm feed, Teedie and Betty get playful with the wooden carving of a Red Kite in the nature reserve.
Betty remembering Student Accommodation
The arrival at the Bodalwyn Guest House must have reminded Betty and Teedie back of their studend days in college dormirtories! The 'family' room was OK really, and no doubt both have experienced worse in the coarse of all of their travels, but it was not grand, and the first inpressions of a very waterloged, crowded Aberystwyth were not much better. They put on a brave face nonetheless. Joan left them with some trepidation as she returned to the comfort of her own home in Borth y Gest. Betty and Teedie were to continue thier Welsh adventure for two days more, returning successfully by train to Porthmadog...or so was hoped!!!! As always, they were left with the warning to avoid trouble with police and hospitals....The shower, of course continued to ba a problem!
Teedie Relaxes at Aberystwyth Bed and Breakfast
Despite the 'luxury Accommodation' failing to appear at Bodalwyn Guest House (www.Bodalwyn.co.uk), Teedie looks very at home and enjoying being in yet another new place. The two intrepid travellers later enjoyed a picnic in thier room complete with a bottle of good white wine that night.
Aberystwyth from the funicular railway
This is the view from the top of the funicular railway. Betty and Teedie took the short train journey and got this magnificent view of the town and the Irish Sea.
Aberystwyth
This is the "capital" city of mid-Wales and a university town too.The municipal buildings are seen next to the harbour that developed greatly in the Victorian era when the local lead mining industry was at its height. The two travellers stayed here for 2 nights. Jo drove home alone. At the end of their stay here Betty and Teedie took the very scenic train ride up the coast to Porthmadog and met Jo again there. Meanwhile Phil was working across the sea on the west coast of Ireland teaching sea kayaking to a group of 5 adults.
Village views
This is the bay at Borth-y-Gest with the tide in. Jo and Phil live to the left of this photo. Porthmadog is off to the right.
Back in Borth-y-Gest
This is the view from Bronafon Bed and Breakfast (www.bronafon.co.uk) where Teedie and Betty stayed on their return to Borth-y-Gest.
Teedie looks at home in Borth y Gest
Teedie's genetic roots may be with the Highland Chiefs of Scotland, and her spiritual home may be in Italy, and no doubt loves the mountains of Montana, but she sure looks home here in Borth y Gest too!
The Bed and Breakfast in Borth-y-Gest
Teedie and Betty stayed here for 3 nights before flying home on June 4th.
Our last day and a visit to Criccieth
Cobbled pavements, charming cottages, a magnificant castle, sunny skies and a busy day on the water as the life boat comes back from an exercise. Many tempting tea rooms to stop in, but we were all looking forward to getting home to see Phil as he returns from sea kayaking in Ireland. You can see what Phil was doing in Ireland on www.dingle07.blogspot.com
The Moorings Restaurant
This is a wonderful place to eat and it's right on the front at Borth-y-Gest. From our table you can look out on to the water. The food is exquisite and the two owners, Steve and Nadia, are the perfect hosts.
Guinness is good for you
Here's Betty having a "Guinness" - it's really rubber and foam and Betty's dog, Molly, will no doubt shred it !
Sitting by the kitchen stove at Faith
Most of our meals and cups of tea at Faith were eaten in front of the fire in the kitchen of the 132 year old 'Faith'. The house was named by Captain Hughes, the previous owner of the house. It was the local custom for captains of the slate schooners to name their houses the same name as their ship.
Fond Farewells
I would like to add that Betty and Teedie, my mother and my cousin, are in inspiration to me. I not only hope that I can look so well when I am their age, but also that I will still be having adventures such as theirs. I want to thank them both for passing their herritage on to me, for inspiring me with their interests, spirit and abilities, in addition to the support they have given me throughout my life. -Joan