Ffynnongroyw to Rhyl 4/27/27

On the Trail Again!

In the late 1800s, this was a coal mining area. A colliery is a coal mine and all of its buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. The last coal was shipped to Ireland in 1959, but the Ayr Colliery did not officially close until 1996.

The headframe and winding wheel you see here used to stand above the Number 2 shaft at Point of Ayr colliery. It was primarily a ventilation shaft with a fan that circulated fresher air and flushed away any pockets of gas, but it could also act as an escape route. When the colliery closed in 1996, this stub head gear was taken to Greenfield Valley Heritage Park for safekeeping. Ffynnongroyw and District Mining and Village Heritage Group have been fundraising with the local community for several years to restore the headgear and return it to the area. In spring 2015, they realized their vision and the restored headgear was relocated beside the main road, where both locals and visitors can see it, a permanent reminder of the long history of coal mining in the local area. Such a heritage of generations of men working in the coal mines, much like Kentucky.

I walked some beautiful trails today.  It was a harder 13.3-mile walk than you might think. I had about a mile and a half of soft sand early on.  It tired my leg muscles, making the rest of the day torturous.

I loved these pretty pale yellow flowers.

Spring has sprung.  Lots of babies.  This mama had a white baby and a black baby. Hmmm. I don’t know about sheep, but cats can have a little by more than one Dad.

Pextended far out under the sea, around 1000ft below sea level.  By 1953, the mine employed 738 men and produced 213,000 tons of coal each year. 35 pit ponies worked underground, pulling two tubs of coal at a time. Young apprentices quickly learned that the ponies only understood Welsh, the language used in the bit. Coal was brought to the surface and then washed and graded before being loaded on to ships bound for Ireland, the Isle of Man, and ports around Britain.

There was an entire fence made out of these clever sections.

The Dee Estuary was an important shipping route from Roman times, and by 1900 thére were almost 2000 vessels at work on the Dee, transporting 160,000 tonnes of cargo a year. Coal from the collieries, copper from Greenfield, lead from Bagillt, chemicals from Flint, and earthenware from Buckley were all transported by sea. In the early days, the boats were small, carrying 10 or 20 tonnes, but later, schooners were built to carry 250 or 500 tonnes. Tugs would guide 2 to 4 ships at a time in and out of the estuary. The steam tug Taliesin, owned by Coppack Brothers of  Connah's Quay, worked Monday to Saturday and then ran passenger trips on Sundays.

A passenger ticket from 1883.

A monument to the men and the ponies who worked in the mines.

I loved the back detail with the coal shuttle.

On a little more modern note, this is the point of Ayr Gas Terminal with all kinds of wrnings around it.

Aye, Mate - A Jolly Roger Flag waving proudly.

OMG - n actual break for a Coca-Cola Zero.  A first on this trail.  I miss Spain with a bar around every corner.

I got the biggest chuckle out of the sign that says, “Our flowers are trying to quit smoking.”

Talacre is a sandy beach located near Prestatyn and houses a lighthouse dating back to 1776. It rises  60 feet out of the sand.  The area around the beach and dunes is a Site of a special Scientific Interest with rare species including a collection of natterjack roads. Point of Ayr Lighthouse is said to be haunted, by the old lighthouse keeper who is said to still lookout over the beach today! He often identified as Raymond, who is seen standing on the balcony or in the lantern room.  He supposedly passed away from either a fever or a broken heart.

One of the more interestin places that I passed by today was the biggest mobile home dealership I have ever seen they are called Caravans here.

I ate lunch on a picnic table outside the building with the welcome sign.  I had good company.  I fed this pair of seagulls the crusts of my leftover pizza.  They would swoop down and catch it before it hit the ground.

There was more than a mile of these caravans, side by side and as far as the eye could see in any direction.

At last, I could see Rhyl.  My feet were ready.

These are the first horses that I have seen. I always take photos of horses for Janet.

I walked right through this golf course.  If you notice, it is a championship course.  

As I was coming into Rhyl, I saw this camera.  I was sure that I was not speeding, but if there was a Crime Against Feet Unit, I would certainly be locked up.

Dinner was a bit aggravating, but those annoying experiences sometimes turn out to be a blessing.  This morning's taxi driver told me about a little hole-in-the-wall Indian restaurant that he swore by. I looked them up, chose what I wanted, and realized they delivered. The Taxi driver told me it had no atmosphere. Woohoo - I never order delivery, but I thought I could work on the blog and relax.  I went downstairs at the appointed time and waited for 45 minutes - no Indian food.  I was SOOO disappointed, I didn’t want to risk another 45 minutes. The hotel manager told me about an Italian restaurant she loved that was only two blocks away. I didn’t really want Italian, but there didn’t seem to be any other good idea nearby.  The outside of the restaurant didn’t exactly inspire me when I was all set on Indian food.

The inside was charming.

Nothing on the menu jumped out at me.  Kind of same ol’ same ol’ Italian that every U. S Italian Restaurant has on its menu.  I ordered the Lasagne al Forno, which was described on the menu as "layers of pasta baked in the oven with meat, white sauce, and cheese.” Nothing too exciting about that description. Boy, was I in for a surprise. This was the best lasagne x10 I have ever tasted. Move over Italy - the Welsh have won the prize. The lasagne was sitting in a bowl of the best, richest, creamy tomato sauce imaginable. And the lasagne with al dente noodles was layered with a seasoned mixture of beef, veal, and pork. It was served with a little salad.  I wish I had words to describe.

Now my hardest decision is which one of these do I want for dessert?  I wish I could swear that I am only going to eat part of one, but I will probably polish off the whole thing. The other one I will save for tomorrow.

After such a glorious meal - 

Good Night and God Bless.

Flint to Ffynnonggroyw 4/26/26

 Good morning!

"King Richard II had a faithful Greyhound called Mathe, who followed his master everywhere. It is said that Mathe would go to no one but the king, and that he would greet his master by jumping up and placing his front paws upon Richard's shoulders. Then, a fateful day arrived. Richard’s cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, came to Flint to capture the King and take the crown. As Henry came into the castle, Mathe turned from his master for the first time and instead, warmly greeted the newcomer. When Henry asked what this meant, the King told his cousin: "The greyhound maketh you cheer this day as king of England, to which dignity you will be raised; and I shall be deposed. The greyhound possesses this knowledge naturally; therefore, take him with you. King Richard knew what Mathe’s actions meant. It seems the dog's loyalty was to the crown, rather than to the man who wore it." 

(from the sign)

A painting of King Richard.

Today’s hike turned out to be just over 13 miles, but at least it was varied between trails and pavement.

The sailor’s belt buckle said, "Lest we Forget 1914-1918". In case you have forgotten your history, these years were “The Great War,” or World War I.

Courtaulds was at the heart of Flint for over 70 years, providing work for hundreds of families over several generations. Aber Works opened in 1917, producing rayon.  yarn, an artificial silk made from wood pulp. Soon, the company needed to expand to meet the ever-increasing demand for rayon. The old 'Alkali Works' by Flint Castle was ideal, as it had abundant water supplies, locally mined coal, good transport, and a proven local workforce. It was hard work in the noisy factory where everyone had to learn to lip-read, but there was a tremendous camaraderie. People went straight from school at 14 or 15, and for many, it was a job for life, with a long-service award after 30 years.

The factories have closed, but the area has been sanitized and made into a green space.

I saw many of these gates along the walk, each unique to the area.

Although you cannot see Ireland, the locals call this the Irish Sea.

More scenic trail.

Shades of Outlander, it is a stone circle.  I walked over and stood inside, but I didn’t hear any buzzing, nor did I land in a different century. And I definitely didn’t see Jamie.

A Boat Grave Yard.

The tide was out, so this listing boat must be waiting for high tide. I couldn’t imagine it was part of the graveyard.  It didn’t look decrepit or rusted.

I first thought this was a scallop shell, like the ones on all the Caminos in Spain, but it actually represents Cockles. Cockles have been harvested from the Dee for centuries using a technique that has changed little. The cockle season lasts from July to December and is back-breaking work. The fishermen use a wooden board called a tamp to dislodge the cockles from the beds. They are then scooped up in a riddle with a one-inch mesh so that the small ones drop through.

(from the sign)

Blacksmith's Old Tavern.  You rarely see one with this type of roof anymore.

This church sat up on a hill, and I thought it was so picturesque

I love British humor, or in this case, Welsh humor.  The question is “What happens if you leave your dog poo or "stick and flick"? "Are we too delicate as Americans to stick and flick dog poo?

The sign goes on to say: "Rangers and Volunteers trim and cut along footpaths for you and your 

4-legged friends to enjoy. Please remove your dog's mess so we don't end up covered in it!

THANK YOU!"

Pretty straight to the point.

Today’s destination.  I am sure that it is common pronunciation. Woohoo!  My feet were killing me.

I was feeling a bit snobby about the hotel’s menu. I have already had so many good meals. It was 6:00, and the restaurant was empty.  Not usually a good sign. The male receptionist was also bartending and taking food orders. I thought that a pizza sounded safe. And it was surprisingly excellent, with a thin, crisp crust.  I ordered a pepperoni and jalapeño with a drizzle of honey sriracha.  The sriracha was fire-extinguisher hot, but I couldn’t quit dipping into additional sauce. Practically addictive.

Tomorrow I head for Rhyl, which is where tht I am staying tonight.  My taxi will take me back to Ffynnonggroyw, and I will walk back here. Nice not to have to pack.

So as they say, that is all the news that is fit to print.

Goodnight and God Bless.

Chester to Flint 4/25/26 Addition

 Jeez.  I cannot believe all of the dialogue disappeared. So I am re-doing it.  I started this morning saying Yippee.  About the 11-mile marker, I lost my yippee.  My total for the day was 14.2 - all pavement.  My feet still hurt.

I walked along the Dee River for most of the day.

My first trail marker for the Wales Coast Trail.

A foot marker.  I can just tell that having to redo all the dialogue is not going to be as good.

"At the bottom, it says. Discover 870 miles of spectacular scenery from soaring cliffs to golden sands and traditional coastal towns and villages."

I could see this bridge from miles away.  I didn’t think I was ever going to get there. But I did.

When it was opened in 1887, Hawarden Bridge boasted the largest opening span of any swing bridge in the country. The massive wheels and cogs on the turning gear can still be seen.

If you look closely at the bridge, you will see a bunch of people.  They all had on shirts in support of children with cancer.  What a great cause, but I have one minor issue with the men of this group. If you are a man and you are a little chubby or just plain fat, I don’t want to see your butt crack.  In fact, if you are skinny as a rail.  I don’t want to see your arse.  Pull up your pants.  That air you feel in the back means that your pants have hit the indecent stage. I saw no female butt cracks.

One of the major trail markers for each mini-section of the trail.

I could see this bridge from 10 miles away. No exaggeration.  

This stunning tree looked like it had a thousand carnations on it.

A closer photo of the bridge.

The end of an era: Salmon have been fished from the Deefrom at least Roman times, if not earlier. This photo was taken around 1975, when there were 30 draft licenses and 4 trammel licenses for salmon fishing on the Dee. Draft and trammel are both types of nets, with the boats named after them. The boats in the foreground are draft boats, built locally at Taylor's Boatyard in Chester. Today, there is no commercial salmon fishing in the Dee, although anglers are allowed to catch them upstream as long as they use a rod and reel.

 I first saw the pretty brick house, and then I noticed the car.  It is an old Mercedes.  I have no idea what year it is, but I am sure that is not a factory color.

The end of today’s walk was at Flint Castle. Flint is one of the most historic towns in North Wales, dating back to 1277 when King Edward I commissioned the building of Flint Castle and the adjoining town. Edward chose Flint as the site for the first of his formidable chain of castles along the Welsh coast. It was a day’s march from Chester (I can attest to that day’s march) and could be easily supplied by sea. A natural plinth of rock, jutting out into the River Dee, provided the ideal base. 

A Medalian-style historic marker that says 1271. I met my taxi driver here.  My hotel is miles off the trail, so he drove me to the hotel and will transport me back to the same place in the morning.

My hotel is also a spa.  I was too tired to take advantage of the amenities.

I ordered a tuna and red onion ciabatta melt with "mature cheddar cheese, and sweet dill pickles.” It is all about the bread, and this bread made my stomach sing the hallajuah chorus. I splurged and paid two extra British pounds (about 2.50) for the chunky fries. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.  YUM

So after re-doing the blog, I am REALLY beat.  Until tomorrow -

Goodnight and God Bless!