Llyn Rhos Ddu to Menai Bridge 5/14/26

HiYa!

Look - a baby!

I had to cross this stone bridge.  The stones were huge.  Each stone took me two or three steps and the spaces were almost bigger than I could manage.  I did because I really did not want to fall into that cold water.

Once again, the scenery was awesome.

I liked this cottage with the stone and the end of it.

This area is pretty pricey.  I have seen a number of mansions either facing the water or backing up to it.  I got a good look at this one.  Just as I got to the gate, it started to rain a little.  I took cover under a tree, but it passed quickly. I had my umbella out and that seemed perfect.

Right after this gate, as I was approaching a farm or B&B, it started to hail!  That is a new one for me.  I have walked while it was snowing, but never in hail.  I raced, looking around for some cover.  There were a bunch of outbuildings, but none had a porch or awning.  Finally, I spotted the open door of a shed and in I went.  Lucky for me, it didn’t look spidery. I got out my full rain gear and, deciding it was set in, I started walking.  Unfortunately, the temperature dropped about 25 degrees. Brrrrr.  Just to make it worse, as I was racing for cover, I dropped my gloves.  I found them, but they were soaking wet. I sure could have used them as my hands were freezing.

After walking about a half hour to forty-five minutes, I saw a mirage or an oasis - a building with a cover.  I got closer and closer and WHOHOO -  a little coffee bar. God is good, and God is merciful. Truthfully, he has been very good to me.  This is the first day since I have been on this trek (over three weeks) that I have had rain.  Almost a miracle in an area known for its constant rain.

Hot Chocolate.  Maybe the best hot chocolate I have had in a very long time. I had stopped at

Halen Mon, which makes sea salt products. I left with a huge jar of salt scrub, and it weighed four pounds.  Just what I needed to carry in my already heavy backpack.

What a pretty field. The eye-catching crop is ‘Phacelia,' which farmers are increasingly growing as a soil improvement crop. The bees love it, and it helps both the health of the local ecosystem and crop pollination. I felt like Dorothy in the poppy field.

This church, on the property of Plas Llanidan, has a date stone from 1631. It was home to Rev. Henry Rowlands for many years. He wrote Mona Antiqua Restaurate and served as the parish vicar. Another famous resident was Thomas Williams Twm Chwarae Teg' (Fair Play Tom) (1737-1802), who made his fortune in the copper mines of Anglesey and was Member of Parliament for Great Marlow from 1790 to 1802.

I arrived at a little cafe, my taxi pick-up point, about 1:00 pm.  I ordered a Succulent Prawn Burger garnished with lettuce and sweet chilli sauce, served on a toasted

sourdough bap.  It was solid, whole shrimp bound with something very light and pan-fried. I love sweet chili sauce, so it was a winner in my book.

This is the old train station, named LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROBWLLLTYSILIOGOGOGOCH

Translated, it means 

THE CHURCH OF MARY IN THE HOLLOW OF THE WHITE HAZEL NEAR THE FIERCE WHIRLPOOL AND THE CHURCH OF TYSILIO BY RED CAVE. 

It is a big draw for tourists and is believed to be the longest name in the world.

I am staying at the Anglesey Arms.  I have an exquisite, spacious room with a BATHTUB!  

I ate dinner at the hotel, and it was very good.  I ordered their legendary cheese-and-onion pie with Cheddar and Chive Sauce.  It didn’t hold a candle to the one I had a few days ago, but I would have given this one an A. And of course, more chunky fries. It did have the best green peas I have ever had.  They were firm and well seasoned.

So that is all for today.

Good night and God Bless!

 

Abberffraw to Llyn Rhos Ddu 5/13/26

Top of the morning to you! There was no blog post yesterday because I couldn’t get online.  So this one is a day late, and you might get a second one either today or tomorrow/.

This sign says, "The doggy doo-doo fairies are off today, so please clean up after your dogs.”  I love Welsh and British humor.

A landscape shaped by the wind - Aberffraw's dunes are renowned for their wind-formed landscape. In front of the dunes are some of the local grasses used to weave baskets.

A bona fide log cabin.

Aber Malltraeth Estuary

Currently, there are fewer than one thousand registered breeding mares left in Wales. The ponies have a long association with Wales. They are short and sturdy, well-suited to a life amongst the rocks and crags of the Welsh mountains. Combined with an even but spirited temperament, they have found service as riding and work horses over centuries. While no longer needed as pit or draft ponies, they are needed once again for a job they are most suited to doing. They simply need to be kept out on the open hills, where they can wander in herds and graze the upland habitats. Tougher and less fussy eaters than sheep, the Welsh ponies are perfect for keeping the uplands in good condition and can graze all year round, being hardy enough to winter out on the hills.  (Bannau Brycheiniog)

The welcome gates to Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest

It is not always a bad thing to get off-trail.  I was trekking parallel to the trail, and I came across this beautiful area that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I did eventually run across the correct trail.

These rounded rocks are called pillow lavas and were formed when red-hot lava hit ice-cold water. The reaction was violent enough to form these blob-shaped rocks.

OMG - here I come, Diet Coke.  That is my treat on the picnic table.

The scenery was stunning and I kept think of oil paintings I have seen in famous museums.

From the sign: "Flying pigs: We have counted up to 2,000 ravens living here at nighttime, when they return from feeding out on the mountains, fields, and beaches to 'go to bed’ in the trees where they are safe. They are very intelligent and can share information, like where to find the best food. They are also superb flyers and like to play around on the warm air as it rises from the sand dunes. They are very acrobatic in flight and can even play catch - flying up high with stones and dropping them for a mate to swoop down and catch. Listen out for them as they make their strange 'oinking' sound, a bit like a pig.” I have been trying for days to get a photo of a Raven. And finally, success.  They are much larger than blackbirds.

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

            Shall be lifted—nevermore!

I had dinner at the White Lion.  It was kind of a cool place with all of the guitars and gold records, all from heavy metal bands like Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, and Kiss. I ordered a chicken burger, which in Great Britain is a fried chicken sandwich.  They definitely served Pub Grub, but not very good Pub Grub.  It was a pressed chicken patty and frozen fries, but I was really hungry, and it worked.  Kinda like when you go to KFC or McDonald’s, and it actually tastes good.

It rained while I was having dinner, and when I came out, there was the most beautiful double rainbow.  I have never seen one so clear, and I could see that both ends looked like they were touching the earth.  I was sure that there was a pot of gold at each end.

Four Mile Bridge to Aberffraw 5/12/26

Greetings from very chilly Wales.  When I left this morning, it was 9 degrees Celsius or 48 degrees Fahrenheit.  That doesn’t sound so cold, but it was very windy and damp.

I started here at the Four Mile Bridge.  This is very close to the 3-mile bridge, which  I described a few days ago as the Four Mile Bridge.  This is the original historic Four Mile Bridge, a 394-foot-long low stone bridge that, for centuries, was the only land crossing between Holy Island and the main island of Anglesey. Named for its location roughly 4 miles from Holyhead, it was a vital, often treacherous route for passengers and mail coaches before the Stanley Embankment opened in 1823.

So Many beautiful photo ops.  In the background is the Snodonia Mountain Range. It contains all 15 mountains in Wales over 3,000 feet high, including the country's highest, Snowdon, at 3,560 feet. These peaks are all part of the Snowdon, Glyderau, and Carneddau ranges in the north of the region. The only mountain in Great Britain higher than Snowden is Ben Nevis in Scotland.  Dennis and I hiked Ben Nevis a few years back. Snowden could be my next hike?

Fabulous!

This footbridge is needed when the tide is in.  

Conservationists working on the swampy-looking area left when the tide is out.

Grassy Trails are welcome.  Especially wide ones without stinging nettles.

I think this is  RAF Valley, a primary fast-jet training base.  For the past two days, there have been really fast, break-the-sound-barrier planes flying overhead.  As I was approaching Rhosneigr, I saw a class of trainees standing out on the dunes watching the jets.

I was trying to capture a photo of the windsurfers.  Rhosneigr is the number one spot in Europe for windsurfing. The latest craze in windsurfing is Foiling. Windsurf foiling replaces a traditional fin with a hydrofoil to lift the board, allowing for flight. These surfers were flying for short periods of time, about 20 feet above the water.

My last gate.  I had to wade through some ankle-deep water and climb up a big, soft sand hill to reach the road to my B&B.

A  very unusual house overlooking the ocean. 

Another unusual Tudor.  I have never seen this roof color on a Tudor.

This clock tower is the center of town, and the landmark locals use to give directions.  It is a World War II monument.

I ate dinner at the Lobster Catcher, even though I had to walk about a mile each way.

I really have to quit poking fun at British food.  I have had the best food of any trip I have been on, especially the hikes. I ordered the Thai red curry, which contained king prawns, monkfish, jasmine rice, and shrimp crackers. The shrimp crackers reminded me of pig skins, but better. This was fiery hot, somewhere between jalapeño and habanero hot. But it wasn’t just hot for hot's sake. The flavor of the curry was wonderful.  I started with my down jacket on, and after about two bites, I took it off.  Before I finished, I was down to my t-shirt and mopping my brow. The sauce clearly had cream, ghee (Indian butter), and herbs, plus the flavors of the fish and shrimp.  Best curry I have ever had.  Once again, I waddled back to my room.  I will need to go to a fat farm when I get home. I will be described as fat, dumb, and happy.  Today’s total mileage, counting dinner, was 15.3

Good night and God Bless.

Trearddur to Four-Mile Bridge 5/11/26

 

Good morning. It has turned colder, and the wind has maintained its gusto.

\

There was a chance that it would drizzle most of the day.  Luckily, it did not.

Here is another house for you, Mary R, and it overlooks the ocean.

There are lots of mountains looming in the background.

And lots of little inlets.

There are many beautiful houses along here.

WARNING

The cliffs, overhangs, and steep slopes are dangerous, particularly to children. Please exercise caution and great care at all times. VISITORS USE THE HEADLAND ENTIRELY AT THEIR OWN RISK. The owners disclaim all responsibility for any injury, loss, or damage which may arise from any circumstances whatsoever. BEWARE OF SNAKES - Keep to the path

I cannot imagine a prettier bench to sit on and just admire the views. I took a little break here.  It was too beautiful not to stop and give thanks.

One of my favorite views.

There was plenty of up and down.

National Coast Watch

A lighthouse

I think this was some type of pheasant?  He was beautiful, and ahead of him was a little brown female. 

Boaters

Someday, this crack will be much wider, drop by drop.

At the end, I veered away from the ocean and into the woods. Once I got to the bridge, I had to wait about an hour for my taxi, and I thought I was going to freeze to death, not really, but I had stayed warm while I was hiking.  When I stopped - Brrrrr.

I had another incredible dinner, this time at the Sandy Mount House.  I ordered the Wild mushroom & blue cheese raviolis, which were sautéed wild mushrooms, truffle pecorino, spinach, and clearly made by a talented chef.  It was amazing.  It was rich without being gloppy and seasoned with a deft touch. OMG!

My dessert was Lemon & fig - charred meringue, lemon curd, fig, almond crumble,

lemon curd ice cream. It was worth every calorie and then some.  It had that bright, refreshing lemon taste of a really good lemon meringue pie.  I almost didn’t order it because I am not a fan of figs, but these were fresh figs. totally different from those dried, gritty sugar bombs. I will dream about this dessert for months to come. I have been most surprised by the food on this trip, definitely more than just pub grub.

Today’s total miles - 15.3, counting walking to dinner.

Good night and God Bless!