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Wednesday 12 August 2009

Blaenau Ffestiniog.....

This was our destination for Tuesday.

The day dawned cloudy, windy and rain! Undettered we went for a walk to a different part of the beach before breakfast to blow away the cobwebs. The beach was deserted apart from the little boats that had been left on it and the only sound was from the seagulls, the sea and the ropes slapping against the masts of the boats.














After a hearty breakfast (of which I had too many and am now on a strict diet) we retrieved the car from the car park and MWM drove the 20miles to Porthmadog to the The Ffestiniog Railway and the trip w(h)e'd been looking forward to since we booked the holiday. This is a narrowguage railway which was built as a gravity and horse drawn line to transport slate from the quarries in the mountains around Blaenau Ffestiniog. We bought our tickets, deciding to travel first class as the carriages are so small and were lucky enough to get a little carriage for 4 all to ourselves. The journey is a round trip of about 3 hours for the 13 1/2 mile journey, with one or two stops on the way where one can get off and explore and wait for the next train to come along. As it was pouring down with rain we decided to stay on the train and just enjoy the views.

Here's a slide show of all the photos we took on the journey.












We really enjoyed the trip on the train then I drove back to Abersoch where we had a late lunch and a couple of drinks in the pub, well we had to shelter from the rain didn't we? Our meal on day two was at the Sandpiper restaurant where we had pub grub consisting of steak and ale pie with chunky chips and peas - another reason I'm dieting now!




Day three coming soon.

33 comments:

quilly said...

What a great adventure. The pictures look fabulous! I wonder if you saved some of that steak & ale pie to share? Sounds tasty!

Elaine Denning said...

Lovely photos. And that Steak pie sounds wonderful. It's about time I got me one of those :)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful photos my friend. And steak and ale pie? Never heard of that. But I'd sure like to give it a try :) Aloha

snowelf said...

It's always so much fun recapping your travels. Are you sure you didn't miss having the grandchildren along though? hehe! ;)

--snow

buffalodick said...

You do a great job promoting the British Isles... when you retire, you'd make a good tour guide for your country!

Dianne said...

pub grub! yummy

a walk on a quiet beach is a delight

Finding Pam said...

You are so blessed to travel to so many beautiful places. Love the photos. Sorry about the rain.

Akelamalu said...

Sorry I ate all the steak and ale pie Quilly. LOL

Thanks Laney, go get a steak and ale pie now. :)

Glad you like the photos Thom, come visit me and I'll make you a steak and ale pie. x

The grandchildren would have loved the train Snow, shame they weren't with us but us old codgers need a little time to ourselves. (wink)

Aw thanks Buff what a nice thing to say. x


We enjoyed walking on the beach every day more than anything Dianne - so peaceful. :)


We are very lucky Pam and the rain didn't bother us much. :)

Daryl said...

Diets are for after all the fun ... holidays are made for indulging!

Julia Phillips Smith said...

*sigh!* Both slide shows are fabulous. I really love the beach shots at the top. I wrote a scene set in Wales on a beach on a very foggy day, and thankfully the beach in my mind looks exactly like the one in your photos.

aims said...

What a wonderful holiday! The beach and the sea going out so far just amaze me. We have nothing like that here - not on the prairies and not on the coast either.

I'd be going on that train too. I'm like that.

Ron said...

Oh boy...in first set of photos, the images of the cloudy beach were wonderful. I'm one of those people who enjoys the beach much more on a gray, cloudy, drizzly day. There's something so calming about it for me.

The photos of the countryside were beautiful. That's the thing I love about European countries - they have such a magical feel to them. Like something out of a storybook. And being a TRAIN lover, I REALLY enjoyed the photos!

Thanks again for sharing your travels with us, m'dear!

You do it so well!

X

CrystalChick said...

Yay! Love seeing more pictures and hearing of your travels.

If you think you need a diet now, just wait until you go cruising next year. We have been on two and ate and ate and ate. The first one I remember there was a pizza party going on when we should have been in bed... midnight or later. Of course we had to attend. ;)

Spiky Zora Jones said...

i love that you share your trips with us. I see the wonerful pics and I sigh...how wonderful it must have been being there.

I felt a bit of what you felt...it was your words that brought that feeling to me. When the rain poured and you two decided to stay and enjoy the view.

i loved it. :) and I an smiling because of you...right now.

later sweetie. xxx

Cloudia said...

I love accompanying you on your fun holidays!
Trains and food and views - what could be better?
Port Mad Dog, eh? ;-]

Glad that our hurricane demoted itself, and gently raind accompanies the lines slapping on the masts of Waikiki.
Aloha my friend-

Comfort Spiral

Cloudia said...

I love accompanying you on your fun holidays!
Trains and food and views - what could be better?
Port Mad Dog, eh? ;-]

Glad that our hurricane demoted itself, and gently raind accompanies the lines slapping on the masts of Waikiki.
Aloha my friend-

Comfort Spiral

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

what a lovely trip, i am so glad you shared it with us!!!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Maggie May said...

Oh..... Abersoch! I had a lovely childhood holiday there. I remember the sand was white.
Southport (last post), I know that from my youth too! Oh don't start me off!

Glennis said...

Nice slide show of pictures, and music, very enjoyable.

Dr.John said...

Now I really envy you. I just love riding old trains. Thanks ever so much for the pictures.

secret agent woman said...

Cool. I always eat heartily when I travel, too.

G-Man said...

What an awesome slide show Ake!!!

You are quite High Tech!!!

Maude Lynn said...

This sounds like so much fun!

Akelamalu said...

I so agree Daryl! :)

Well you have a great imagination Julia! If you want one of the photos to illustrate your story just let me know. x

Southport beach is well known for how far the tide goes out aims. I'm sure you'd love the train. x

I'm so pleased you enjoyed all the photos Ron. When (and you must) come to England we'll take you on the East Lancs Railway - you will love it!

I have to lose another 28lb before the cruise Crystalchick, just so I can eat what I want for that 2 weeks! LOL

Ah you would love the places I write about Spiky I just know it. x

Yes almost all our holidays recently have involved trains and good food Cloudia. I'm glad that hurricane scaled down. x

I'm glad you enjoyed it Bee x

Oh you will know exactly what I was describing then Maggie - wonderful places aren't they? :)

Welcome Glennis, I'm pleased you enjoyed them. :)

You're very welcome Dr. John, glad you enjoyed them.

Well of course it's the thing to do isn't it SAW! LOL

Oh my, it's not difficult G-man or I wouldn't be able to do it! Glad you liked them m'dear. x

It was Mama Zen :)

Cheffie-Mom said...

What a wonderful experience! Thanks for taking us along!

Sandi McBride said...

You have the grandest adventures! I'd love to tag along...love the slide show!
Sandi

Akelamalu said...

Glad you enjoyed it CheffieMom :)

I'd love you to tag along Sandi, when you coming? :)

Thanks Trav :)

cheshire wife said...

The scenery looks stunning inspite of the miserable weather!

Akelamalu said...

It was, you should go being so near, you'd love it. :)

Around My Kitchen Table said...

Holidays in Britain are, I have found, always what you make them. Personally, I don't mind a bit the persistent summer rain, the mist, the wind - our country is still beautiful with so much to see, do and eat - as you always convey with such enthusiasm. I'm going to make a steak and ale pie soon; it sounds wonderful!

Mimi Lenox said...

Knock knock from the suitcase. I'm hungry. I want to go swimming on that beach. Let me out!

Mimi Lenox said...

Baby Boy would be in Hog's Heaven with that train ride. He would never want to get off the train.
I love your excursions.
Thank you soooo much for sharing them with us.
We love it!

Akelamalu said...

I can imagine your steak and ale pie will be just heavenly AMKT! You're right, our country is beautiful. :)

Our grandchildren enjoy train rides too Mimi. Glad you enjoyed the trip m'dear. x