Jim's Holidays: August 2022

Bruce has recced the west Wales campsite earlier in the year and so he and Christine are already there, Ramsay and Jo are struggling in through heavy traffic and I'm playing musical train chairs at Machynlleth as we swap carriages and then trains. Despite this the train is worth taking the strain rather than driving although the Welsh one from Birmingham International is rather warm as we're in a heatwave. OK so I feel like I'm melting. Lovely views as we travel down the Dyfi (Dovey) estuary and turn north along the coast. I can see Bruce's tent just before I get to Llwyngwril (request stop only) where Bruce and Christine are waiting for me. We go for a swim in unbelievably warm water (more med than Irish Sea and then await the Yorkshire invasion with my tent, booze, food but not sleeping mat. No Jo, I wouldn't let it lie. In fact I wish I had it to let it lie. A pleasant evening catching up, munching on barbequed vegan burgers with a few beers to wash down watching a fantastic sunset out to sea.

Saturday morning I go for an early morning, well 9 am, dip before the others are up to make me breakfast. We watch gannets dive time and again into the water fishing and then see a couple of dolphins swim past rising above the surface every so often in their magnificently effortless way. The morning passed Bruce kindly drives us all to Fairbourne where all this getting together holiday malarkey started at his grans house. The beach is hot and the umbrella is a fantastic investment. We pass a pleasant afternoon dipping in and out of the sea, laughing at me falling off the paddle board and teaching Christine the fine art of spin bowling. Eventually we make a move to Tywyn where Ramsay, Jo and I enjoy a pint in the sun whilst Bruce and Christine shop. Not a bad division of duties hey. Back at the campsite Christine cooks up a lovely stir fry and we chat about nothing in particular which watching the sunset through the clouds in the west and see the moon rise behind the Welsh hills behind us due east.

Sunday morning I go for an early..... To be honest it's a very similar day if you swap Fairbourne for Aberdyfi (aka Aberdovey) and me cooking pasta and tomato based sauce for stir fry. Also lovely if I say so myself.

Rains in the night but not a big deal and camp chairs dry by the time we rise. As Ramsay and Jo are leaving today and the forecast isn't great and I'm missing my bed and home I decide to leave too after a leisurely breakfast. Journey back fairly smooth. Flag down train at Llwyngwril and train changing shenanigans at Shrewsbury but back in good time. Great weekend. Must do again next year possibly with a van to entice Debbie back onto a camp site.