Cemaes Day Off

 Good Morning!

This is really a teeny-tiny little village/port.  The blog will be short.

If you read yesterday’s blog, there were some ruins that I couldn’t find anything about.  I solved it today. The photo had nothing to do with the copper mines. It was the ruins of the 19th-century china clay works at Porth Llanlleiana. 

Yesterday, I passed by an old stone church and cemetery in Llanbadrig.  I did not go in, because I was in a hurry to reach Cermaes. My feet hurt, and I was tired.  Just a minor pity party. BooHoo. The name Llanbadrig means Church of St. Patrick. Local legend states that in the 5th Century the young Patrick was shipwrecked on Ynys Badrig (Middle Mouse Island). He was washed ashore and, having been spared, he founded the church in thanks to God.

Elections are tomorrow.  This building had polling place signs taped at the entrance.

A mysterious secret garden door for Mary P.

I had dinner tonight at the same place as last night.  Turns out it is the only place in Cemaes for dinner. I already told you that is a teeny-tiny village.  Luckily this restaurant is a very good place to eat.  I wasn’t starving, so I ordered the sweet corn fritter with giant cous cous salad and sweet chili.  Although it was an appetizer, it was just the right size. It was delicious with both the sweet and the spicy in just the right balance. Sweet chili sauce is a magic word as far as I am concerned. My new friends, Tom and Kim, from Colorado, came in and joined me. They are really a fun couple and I enjoyed having their company. Once again, we are staying in the same place.  

Thank you again for all your replies.  I so appreciate them.  I do’t have much time to reply with the arduous days and the blog, but thank you.

Well, that is all the news I have so I bid you.

Good Night and God Bless!

Port Eilian to Cemaes 5/6/26

 HiYa!

What a glorious day with breathtaking views of the vast expanse of cerulean ocean, stretching endlessly toward the horizon. High atop craggy cliff tops, I felt like I could see forever. Heart-stopping magnificent!

The trail wound in and out and up and down like nature couldn’t decide.

I got a glimpse of a seal bobbing up and down, but it was so quick that I couldn't get a photo.

Someday, there will be affordable 3D cameras, and then I can show you the staggering height of these cliffs.

As I reached the Port of Amlwch, I saw this memorial to those who had lost their lives at sea. This historic harbor was once the bustling transport hub for tall sailing ships carrying copper across the globe when the world clamored for it. It was especially important to the British navy because copper-bottomed boats kept it afloat. Their names were immortalized on the wall above.

The harbor at Amlwch Port features historic "copper bins" or storage bunkers. These were used to store ore before shipping. 

There was a little restaurant in Port Amlwch, so I stopped and had a Diet Coke.  Yay!  I saw this sign.  I never thought of the word "customer" as related to “custom". I have never heard anyone use the word “custom" in this manner.

If you look closely, there is another hiker in the upper left to give you some perspective.

There is a boat in the middle of the photo, just above the rocks.

I am in the Parys Mountain range, which was once home to the world's largest copper mine.  It is now closed, and the area is being regenerated and rewilded.

Trails are always welcome over pavement.

This is a happy sign - TOILET!

Another kissing gate.

More evidence of the defunct Parys Copper Mine.

When it goes down, you know it will go back up. Pant-Pant Gasp-Gasp.

Look at this magnificent estate nestled in the mountains.

Much of today had trails right on the cliff edge, looking straight down. I did not walk to the edge to take a photo and look down; this was where the trail was.  As I was walking, I jumped practically out of my skin, but luckily, not over the edge.  If you have ever spent time in the country, you will never forget the sound of a rattlesnake. Your feet move before your brain has time to react. Well, there are no rattlesnakes here.  My online map had rebooted itself, and at the beginning of each day, there is the sound of the ocean. It does sound like a rattlesnake if the noise catches you totally off guard and you are not expecting sound. Gave me a bit of a scare. There is one poisonous snake in Anglesey. The Adders are native, venomous snakes abundant (Dang, I wish I had not looked this up) across Anglesey, particularly in coastal dunes, heathlands, and grassy areas. Active from spring (like now), they bask in sunny spots. While shy, they can bite if threatened.  Adders are described as small, with a distinctive dark zig-zag stripe down their back. Yikes!

   I couldn’t find anything about this site, but I guess it was part of the mining operation.

This is what my day looked like.  Up to go down to immediately go up and then down - severe up and then severe down and on and on and on. Move over, Thighmaster, these steep mountain sides are 10 times the exercise.

Finally, the Castellor Boutique B & B.  My hotel is lovely.  It looks plain on the outside, but it is quite posh on the inside. Constellor Boutique is located in Cemaes, which is the most northerly village in Wales.

For dinner, I walked about 1/2 mile to The Bay View Restaurant & Bar

If you are in England, you have to have Fish and Chips.  So many people in the U. S. think we do everything better.  We do a bunch of things better, but the Brits own Fish and Chips.  The fish is usually cod, and the batter on it is so light and crisp. And I have described chunky fries ad-nauseum. I was able to order a mini fish and chips because I had sneaked a peak at the dessert menu.

I chose the Chocolate Fondant with caramel popcorn and salted caramel ice cream.    The fondant would be more accurately described as a chocolate lava cake.  I forked into it, and the most scrumptious chocolate pouted out. As the old Southern county people say, "it uz sa good my tongue wanted to lick my face off.” The rich ice cream was divine, with sweet caramel and a hint of sea salt. The property is also a dairy farm, so that would explain the creaminess of the ice cream.

I have never seen a machine that dispenses fresh pasteurized milk and milkshakes. Literally, straight from the farm.

Beside it was another machine with clean bottles.  You had to buy the bottle, but when you returned, you could reuse the one you originally purchased. Clever!

So I waddled back to my hotel. Happy as a Clam!

I bid you

Good Night and God Bless!

Moelfire to Porth Eilian 5/5/26

Hiya! I love the whole island of Anglesey. Moelfre is known for the Royal Charter Disaster: In 1859, the Royal Charter steam clipper was destroyed by a hurricane on the rocks below Moelfre, resulting in over 450 deaths and the loss of a massive cargo of Australian gold.

Cocksman Richard Matthew Evans was a Welsh lifeboatman. He was born in the village of Moelfre.  During his 50 years of service as a lifeboatman, he was involved in 179 launches and the saving of 281 lives, and is one of only five men to be awarded the RNLI gold medal twice, the highest accolade awarded by the institution and the equivalent of the Victoria Cross for bravery at sea. He lived to be 96 years old and died in 2001.

Anglesey has one of the most stunning coastlines anywhere I have ever traveled.  For the most part, the coastline has remained pristine and natural.  There is something mysterious, exciting, and the stuff of great stories about cliffs overlooking the ocean.

Photos do not begin to tell the full story.  It is impossible to capture the scale of the cliffs or the ocean's beautiful turquoise hue.

That little sand area is actually an estuary.  It was a shortcut because the tide was out. I walked across it right at the water's edge. An hour later, it was underwater.

The coastal rock formations are dramatic and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The rocks are estimated to be between three and four million years old. 

I walked through countless sheep fields today, dodging little sheep patties. I liked this view with the small lake (for Floridians) or pond (for Southerners) with the mountains in the background.

There were all kinds of trails, such as walking through a windy moor.  

Such a cute she-shed, flower shop.

Today was tough.  There were lots of ups and downs. In fact, every time I went down, I knew I was immediately going to climb another severe up. Most tiring.

This little lighthouse could be seen all day. 

I had a nice pit stop and a chance for a Diet Coke about midway.

Looking down on the coast.  I was fairly high up at this point.  And I knew it not only by sight but because I had made every step. Pant-pant Gasp-Gasp.

In the sheep fields, it was extremely difficult to find the trail or the next trail marker, so I wandered around and backtracked a lot.  Finally, the trail became more obvious.

More views of the coast.

I am staying at a beautiful old hotel, called the Castellor Boutique Bed and Breakfast. It is right on the water and has its own special views.

Dinner was good.  I had chicken stuffed with leeks over new potatoes. A little too much sauce, but that didn't take away from the flavor.  I love leeks, and the sauce had thick slices of leeks along with lots of fresh dill. Lip-smacking good

So after a tough 14 miles, I am ready to relax and then get ready for tomorrow.

Good night and God Bless!