We drove to Wales from Coventry yesterday, stopping on the way to have lunch and catch up with two orienteers we befriended while in Latvia.

Our accommodation is in a comfy B and B, in small village called Tregarth, about 10 minute drive from Bangor, down winding narrow country lanes bordered with stone walls on one side, and tall hedges on the other. Drivers are very courteous and getting through is not a problem. Our host Bryan has the most delightful Welsh accent, I could listen to him all day.

This morning after a fine breakfast we set off to visit Castell Caernarfon, Caernarfon Castle, a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s where Prince Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales was held in 1969. The investiture dais is a disc of solid Welsh slate.

Caenarfon Castle

The Investiture platform.

The castle itself is huge and has 10 towers, each with steep, narrow spiral staircases winding their ways up to viewing platforms at the top. As it was raining, the danger level was elevated further by the steps being wet and slippery as well. We saw one man slip and fall, but fortunately only his pride was hurt! I wasn’t happy to climb up some of them, but mountain goat Pete didn’t have a problem. Unfortunately something went wrong with his camera and most of his photos from the tops of the towers have disappeared into the ether.

Well

Cannons

More castle.

Gate in outer ring wall

We had intended to drive around the Snowdonia National Park which has the tallest mountain in Britain, but rain and low cloud put an end to that.

We had trouble with the sat nav in our hire car. It seized up and was getting hotter by the minute. We decided that the best thing to do was to find the local car hire place to see if anything could be done. The girl behind the counter had it fixed in a couple of minutes and our sat nav lady with the plummy accent will continue to be bossy. We continually misinterpret her directions and go down wrong streets, but so far she hasn’t screamed at us to pay more attention.

We also visited the place with the longest name in Wales. Fifty six letters!!!! I defy you to pronounce it, and I’m not even going to try to type it. The photo will have to do!

Job vacancy for Telephonist

We decided to have a restful afternoon, Pete had a nanna nap and I read my book. Tomorrow we are on the move again, to the Yorkshire Moors, and are looking forward to a couple of orienteering events on the way.

Ilze