Different Castle, same Beach -11th Aug ‘23

Blimin windy all day but no rain! The wind kept it fairly cool though but no complaints!

The normal holiday pattern is prevailing. Everyday we’re away we get 30 mins later leaving the campsite. Today it was gone midday before we said farewell to Brunnehilda. The main reason for this late start was Harry (and me!) sleeping in until 10.30!

We journeyed north today - about 30 miles upto Caenarfon. It was a fairly uneventful journey. I have taught Harry how to work out “how many minutes before we get there?”. He just doubles the number of miles to go shown on the trip. This way he doesn’t keep asking me every 2 minutes how long before we get there and he has a fairly accurate ETA in minutes which he proudly confirms every couple of minutes!

We parked up easily just outside the castle. Noticed today that there were a lot of European plated cars - F,D,B,NL,I&A. Glad to see it. Covid and Brexit had put people off for a couple of years but looks like they are coming back - well to Wales anyway!!

North Waleians can be quite a grumpy lot and the woman who took our money at the castle was clearly slightly miffed about something or somebody. 

Although it’s much bigger, the boys didn’t enjoy it as much as Harlech. Loads and loads of stairs and battlements but no living accommodation just defensive towers etc. it didn’t grab the boys interest as much and Harry soon got fed up with all the steep stairs! We stayed on the ground floor while Finners and Charlie explored without us. I was very aware that their Grandma would not have approved of this scenario but I tried to ignore her voice in my ear and justified the decision based on Charlie’s age and maturity. No one fell off any battlements so …

After the castle we hit the town. The boys have some holiday money to spend and we were getting hungry. As desperate as Harry was to spend his dosh, there was really nothing there. And, as usual, the twins couldn’t agree on food. There was a rather splendid deli and coffee shop that caught my eye but the others weren’t moved. Finners had set his heart on a MacDonakds - he was convinced that a Welsh MacDonalds would be considerably different to an English one! Eventually, after much searching and no consensus agreed, the other 2 came round to a MacDonalds too. I can confirm they are just the same -and the milkshake machine was broken!

Wandering around town my thoughts turned again to Kimbo. We would have had a ball poking in a lot of the wee shops and definitely would have spent a fortune and stayed a while in the deli! She would have also dealt with the boys food and money spending so much better than I did. We left Caernarfon empty handed and the taste of a very average MacDonalds in our mouths.

The Twinnies wanted to get to our beach again so straight home to Brunnehilda and back out to the sea - Charlie stayed in the van this time.

It was extremely windy and quite chilly by now but it didn’t stop us sand castle building and paddling. I was relatively pleased with my castle building efforts but the Twinnies were particular apathetic to my efforts!

We fancied a pizza for dinner but sadly I must report takeaway pizza hasn’t arrived in this part of Wales yet. We ended up back at the chippy we went to on the first night. Although Harry wanted sweet and sour chicken from the Chinese next door. We ate it overlooking the castle - although by now it was pretty cold up there!

I’m definitely on a diet when I get back home!

Tonight I was back to thrashing the kids at cards and flick football. They took it all surprisingly well - must be all those life lessons they are picking up!? Although Charlie didn’t react too well to losing to his little brother!

His 

The wind is even stronger tonight and we are expecting a day of rain tomorrow- a decision on when to go home will be made tomorrow morning!

Shall I land on Shell Island - 10th Aug ‘23

A mixture of cloud and sun for most of the day. It suddenly got a little chilly around tea time and then we were treated to a lovely evening.

Out again at 11.30. Bed strip, breakfast and ablutions is not a quick process so I’m pleased we’re getting out before midday. Today we even had a Twinnie teeth brushing ?!

A bit of a disaster this morning! We headed out to Barmouth. The plan was to combine beach with some typical seaside town attractions. It took us about 30 minutes to get there. 20 minutes driving around looking for a car parking space and then 30 minutes back again! It was very very busy with absolutely no parking in the car parks and along the very long front beach side road. Both the beach and the town were very busy. Charlie thought it looked very Chavvy and the Twinnies asked rather indignantly “why have we come here?” I wrote it off as a bad decision - my first of the day

We headed back for Shell Island. Charlie couldn’t believe it when we had to pay £10 to get in and the chaotic busy entrance - people and cars. I think he thought it was going to be more like Craggy Island?!

Here again, we struggled to park in the beach car park but at least we did eventually. A walk across the dunes bagged us a fairly quiet part of the beach.

I was rather like Lawrence of Arabia’s camal for this very strenuous journey. I was carrying bag, food, towels, buckets, spade and kids Crocs. The Twinnies were carrying nothing! I suggested Finners may want to carry the spade and Harry the buckets.

When we arrived at the beach there was no spade. Finners had dropped it at the top of the highest dune and decided it was preferable not to carry it than have a spade available at our final destination. It turns out this wasn’t a popular decision with the rest of the party!!

We spent a pleasant hour or so swimming (twice), trying to catch wee fish in a wee lagoon and snacking. The lack of a spade meant sand castles were not on the agenda today!

We retraced our steps through the dunes - after the obligatory “running down the highest dune” races. I didn’t partake in that one! Once cleaned up back at the car we headed for the harbour at the other end of the island. It was absolutely rammed with campers and campervanners - caravans are not allowed!!

The harbour was disappointing so we wandered on a stoney beach for a bit and then set off home - after stopping at the island supermarket for some BBQ meat!

I’m glad we went but I can’t say I would want to rush back - it was just too darn busy. Better than bloody Barmouth though! On the way out, I heard Charlie muttering something  about Chavs (again!) so I don’t think he was a big fan either!?

Home to Brunnehilda for more chillaxing. Ok We fired up the BBQ at 6 and were nicely stuffed by 7! It’s a full time job encouraging the Twinnies to “eat up” - especially Finners. I’m sure Bobby Sands’ H Block gaolers had it easier!?

We decided on an evening walk to our beautiful local Morfa Harlech - 15 minutes down the road. It was a gorgeous evening and much fun was had with “dune running” and finding and commenting on all the sandcastles that had been made and abandoned that afternoon.

There were a lot of couples walking dogs on the beach tonight. I had to take a moment. This type of holiday is much worse than my normal solo holiday. When I’m with Charlie and the Twinnies we are always doing stuff that Kimbo would have loved to have done.

Lots of tidying up and then settled down for an hour or so of games - still no DVD!

I was going to claim that I saw the error of my ways and let the children win tonight but that would be a fib! Charlie bettered me tonight at Sevens and Flick football. Gutted, but a useful life lesson learnt for me tonight!

As I lie in bed, the wind really is getting up. Time to put my trainers on and go out and check the sun canopies guy ropes. Bracing ourselves for some dodgy weather tomorrow!

Staying Close to Camp - 9th Aug ‘23

So the forecast was for grey skies interspersed with a bit of drizzle - nope! A grey and chilly morning but a beautiful hot and sunny afternoon!

The site showers are very pleasant so the ablutions are going to be very pleasurable this week. Charlie had his 40 mins, I had my 20 mins and the Twinnies were threatened with all sorts unless the brushed their teeth. They didn’t! Thank goodness I’m only their grandad - personal grooming for 8 year old boys is definitely above my pay grade!

After a substantial but modest breakfast we headed for Harlech - by car. Castle Hill seemed a bit daunting this morning!

We parked up at an empty long stay car park and by 11.30 we were walking through a lovely wooded area to come out at the centre of the village. 

The Castle has changed since my last visit.  They have a posh new entrance, shop and cafe. Needless to say we had purchased 2 wooden swords before we left. 

The top battlements were closed for maintenance work which was slightly disappointing. Although, given Kim’s dread of Twinnies and heights, I’m sure she would have had a wry smile. And we did get a 10% discount so …

We had a nice poke around. Not as special as Manorbier last year but we had fun. Built by Edward I in 1283, Harlech then fell to Owain Glyndŵr in 1404 and he set up a Welsh Parliament for a few glorious years until the English got it back and Owain disappeared?!

After the castle we wasted an hour driving to Porthmadog in search of a new TV / DVD. No luck - but I did get some new fuses!!

Once back in Harlech we headed back to Brunnehilda and then on to the beach. Harry was a bit upset as he didn’t want to get Sandy! A bit of a pre-requisite when you come on a summer beach holiday!! Eventually he agreed to go with his socks and trainers on but by the time we got to the beach he seemed to have forgotten his sand based anxieties and threw him self into the sand castle building and paddling activities!

We had a very pleasant hour of so - I even managed a very quick swim while the Twinnies frolicked in the surf. Charlie remained fully clothed and on his mobile. To be fair though, there was no teenage angst and he was happy to see his brothers and his grandad enjoy themselves while his mind was on higher (and cooler!) things!

After a cold drink back at Brunnehilda we headed out for an evening ride. I wanted to rekindle some childhood memories and drive the back road between Llanfair and Cwm  Bychan. We had planned to stop by the river for a paddle but it didn’t happen - “we” were getting restless and hungry!

We boys seemed to enjoy the very wild, steep, narrow and windy road though. Fabulous views! Charlie obligingly opened the 7 or 8 gates en route!

We ended up at the Vic at Llanbedr for a very pleasant evening meal in the beer garden. Although, as usual, Finners didn’t really eat much of his.

Back home to Brunnehilda for 3 games of Sevens (modesty permits me to say who won 2 of them) and a game of flick football - here again, the same modesty gets in the way of a full report. Please don’t judge this 64 year old on thrashing his 3 grandchildren at bedtime games - I’m imparting valuable life lessons!?

Blogging and drifting off to sleep with the regular vibrating of a sleeping Charlie’s phone receiving SnapChat notifications - I counted, there was about one every 2 seconds!! Strangely soothing but not quite as romantic as distant train whistles or crickets “cricketing” (?, sorry don’t know the correct verb?).

The weather is due to be good tomorrow so we’re expecting rain!!

“Men” of Harlech - 8th Aug ‘23

Annual Brunnehilda trip with Charlie and the Twinnies. Last year was South Wales, this year its Nortb Wales. The weather forecast is poor to average so here we go ,.,,

As usual, I was dreading going! Although it’s nice to have company - and Charlie is actual a help - taking the boys on holiday in the van was really Kim’s thing. Not only did she love it but she was also brilliant at the planning, coordination and execution of a fun time! Me, not so much!

We got organised in good time this morning. Left the house by 10. Left Welton Lodge by 10.30 and arrived at Min Y Don caravan park in Harlech 5 hours later at 3.30pm. One quick stop at Telford Services - the boys were perfectly behaved the whole way.

The journey weather was mostly dull and drizzle. The clouds parted and the blue sky and sun greeted us just as we were pulling into Harlech!

The site is great. Turn right for a 10/15 minute walk to the beach. Turn left for a 10/15 minute walk to the castle / town. Very swish facilities and nice fully serviced plots. Being a dirty foreigner though, Brunnehilda was asked to go into the pitch head first! Thank goodness for the motor mover. Actually it worked out quite well as I had an excuse for not messing up backing on to the pitch so my manhood escaped a good kicking.

I got set up while the boys explored. It didn’t take long - especially as it the pitch was fully serviced so no water lugging!

The sun was shining and the forecast suggested that was going to be at s premium over the next 5 days, so we set out on a walk and turned right toward the beach. After going past the rather impressive Royal St David’s golf course and other the equally impressive sand dunes we arrived at the beach.

It was as gorgeous as I remember. We spent a fun hour or so paddling, playing football, running down sand dunes and eating copious amount of bags of cheesy wotsits and fun size curly wurleys - it was fab!

Back home to Brunnehilda the. Straight in the car (we were tired and hungry) to drive up the Beth steep Castle Hill to the town centre. Not much was open but we did find a chippy.

By this time the sun was really warm and the sky totally blue. We ate our chips at a place I remembered well from my childhood visits. A spot with a beautiful view of the sea, town snd Castle. The fish and chips were little above average but given the view they tasted superb.

Home to Brunnehilda. I put up the sun canopy while the boys chillaxed. We had a few hands if Sevens. The boys said that they had never played cards before! I could hardly believe it given the Pitts’ fondness of the game but this awful wrong was soon righted. Although Charlie won both games so clearly not a good outcome.

We put the bed up - no easy feat in a small van with 4 bodies of various sizes. The boys settled down to watch a DVD and then disaster struck - the bloody thing wouldn’t turn on. I think it’s a fuse but after checking them they all seemed ok. The boys accepted the situation with good grace and settled down to sleep at 9.30!!

I tried to sort things out but no luck. I looked at everything I could find in the van and online - bloody nothing! I found a couple of caravan places nearby so maybe that’s the job for tomorrow. Certainly the forthcoming rain combined with slightly patchy WiFi and a knackered DVD is a bit of a perfect storm!

Sharing a bed with Harry tonight - well to be more accurate - Harry, a scratty pillow and about 10 cuddly toys!