Another Anglesey Adventure

I was lucky enough to be able to organise another mini trip away this week. Thought it ideal to get away while I still can, before this arctic winter they keep promising us arrives!
Timing seemed perfect as it coincided with the Super Moon, so I thought I could position myself perfectly to get a cracking shot. Funny how things never work out how you want them to, but more on that later!
I decided to head to Anglesey again, and explore some bits I had never been to before as well as some favourites too.
I have downloaded the Photographers Ephemeris App which shows you the direction and times of sunrises and sunsets, plus moonrises and moonsets from anywhere in the world so you can be assured of getting a good view. (At least that is the theory.)
I figured that Amlwch would be a good place to set up but had all day to explore before then.

So I headed to Penmon.

I just love the lighthouse here, looking over Puffin Island. Never managed to get there in the right season for the boat trips across, maybe next year.
With this picture, I wanted to get some of the pebble shore to add a bit of depth, hence getting down flat on the ground to get the shot, but don't worry, I am used to the quizzical looks by now!

After then exploring the countryside a bit (OK, I got lost again) I eventually ended up in Amlwch and realised that I had left my tripod at home! Not ideal for night time shots, still, I took it as a test to my creativity. On a recent night photography workshop, at one point I was balancing the camera on a borrowed hat, so I am nothing if not flexible!

It was a very cloudy evening and although I had views across the sea, couldn't actually see the moon. Also, it wasn't a very interesting location so I wasn't confident the pictures would be any good anyway. As the trip wasn't originally about the moon, I decided to explore further and head to South Stack where I was staying.

However, en route, the most amazing sunset swept across the sky, turning everything in it's path either a deep pink or fiery red.

I accidentally stumbled across Cemaes Bay which was just incredible.

Yet again, there wasn't a soul around and I could just wander along the beach and across the cliff edges surrounding it. Just a wonderful experience. Bearing in mind I was tripodless, I was pleased with how the pics came out. High ISO and a wide open aperture meant I could get some fast enough shutter speeds.

I headed to the Potting Shed where I was to stay overnight, stopping off at Morrisons to get tea. Although I am much braver with many things, I still don't feel comfortable going out for an evening meal by myself. So wandered around the shelves and it occurred to me that I could have whatever I wanted, however unconventional and not have to justify its nutritional benefits to anyone. Therefore, the evening found me in my pj's, sitting crosslegged on the bed watching Tom Hanks in Big munching on a peperoni wrap, doritos, a cherry scone and a double decker! Yum!

The next morning, there was exploring to be done and calories to be walked off!

South Stack Lighthouse. An amazing sight and with some fabulous cliff edges to scamper across.

A view down to Holyhead Marina and one of the longest breakwaters in Europe snaking towards Ireland. A closer look is pencilled in for the next trip!

 Overlooking the marina was the burnt out shell of a beautiful hotel. I could get up to the walls, but not really any further safely. Need to be braver if I am going to have a go at Urbex photography!

Then onto the part of the trip I was most looking forward to. Sunset on Llandwyn. I had this urge to take a picture of the Lighthouse silhouetted against a beautiful sky, and nature didn't disappoint!
Firstly, before the sun set, it cast a golden glow across the island. 

Before erupting into a thousand shades of gold across the sky. Just mesmerising.

So a very happy soul then began the weary trek home. I didn't get to see the supermoon, but with 2 glorious sunsets, I couldn't complain.

Until driving through Betws-y-Coed. Turned a corner and there is was in front of me, huge, golden, unobscured and beautiful. I decided against trying to get a photo as was difficult to stop in the right place and I knew there would be 100's of much better offerings on-line anyway. So I just enjoyed seeing it and having the memory.

Lessons Learned: Tattoos hurt. And "how do you know this" I hear you ask. Because I have one!!!

Never had one before, but I have been thinking about it for a while. The swan is significant for many reasons. Partly the whole Ugly Ducking thing as I feel I have transformed myself over the past couple of years, also the flying aspect, feeling I am soaring through life at the moment and have never felt so free. Also it signifies where I live as there are always swans on the Mere and they have provided me with many photo opportunities.

It is on the top of my left arm, about 10cm across and is just beautiful, I am so pleased with it, but it is and will always be the one and only!

Diet Diary: Not going well. One day it will happen, I have faith!

Rambling Record: Going to stop this now having reached the 1000. Still walking a lot, but that's not the most important thing. Will restart it with next year's challenge!

1000 Miles!!

Well, I have finally done it! Today I walked my 1000th mile of 2016!

Decided that I needed to do it somewhere that I loved to make it special, so headed to Criccieth. The idea was to reward myself with cake once it was completed, but by the time I had driven the 2hrs to get there, I was hungry and a girl needs sustenance so I started with cake!

So suitably nourished, I headed off. 

There is something very special about Criccieth. I'm not really sure what it is. Maybe because it feels like time has forgotten it for a while so it feels peaceful. Partly perhaps because there is seldom anyone else there when I go. Maybe because when you walk along the beach, behind you are rocks and fields, no arcades or shops. Whatever it is, I love it and hope it never changes.

So here is the view from the finish line, looking over Black Rock Sands.
I must admit to feeling a bit emotional at this point. It was yet another challenge that I had set myself that I didn't really think I could do, and yet again, I had proved myself wrong and achieved it! It's not always been easy, in fact sometimes has been extremely difficult, but most of the time I have loved all the hiking and to actually have finished 2 months ahead of target is just amazing. I am amazing!

So trumpet blowing aside for a moment, there was more that had to be done today.

I have mentioned before that I am a huge fan of The Plastic Project run by the amazing Tim Nunn. Plastic is an unimaginable threat to our oceans and this affects everyone. Not just those who use our beaches and seas, but also those who ever eat anything from the sea as the amount of plastic in our food chain is frightening. Do please have a look at the information on the website, but a quick summary of what we can all do is:

Reduce your use of plastic: refill your own water bottle, don't put your bananas from Tesco in a bag, they have their own wrapper already! Just for a start!

Recycle: Wherever possible

Pick it up: I am a fan of the 2 minute beach clean and this is what I collected in just a few minutes at Criccieth

I bought a pair of bbq tongs from poundland and use those. Might want to clear it, but certainly don't want to touch it! 

Avoid micro beads in cosmetics: Banned in the US already, but still available here. 

Tell everyone else: We can't do this alone and there are a large proportion of people not even aware this problem exists. Apparently, if nothing is done, by 2020 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish!


Today was really about the hiking, rather than the photography, so not many snaps today. 

So after the hike and the beach clean, I had built up quite an appetite and could murder a bit of cake. But then I thought that I can't go back into Cadwaladers and have more cake. Then I thought, I have just walked 1000 miles, I can do whatever the heck I want! So I did!

Lessons Learned: Anything is possible. Lesson learned from a good friend (thank you Gordon), instead of aiming for something intangible (wanting to walk more), decide on a target (1000 miles) then build yourself a strategy of exactly how you are going to achieve that (20 miles a week, 50 weeks). Simples!

When doing a beach clean and you pick up a full bottle to put in your bag, don't always assume it's full of water because when you go to empty it, sometimes you find that it isn't! I am very ashamed to admit that that bottle got flung across the beach accompanied by a shriek. People can be revolting!

Diet Diary: It's been a really good day, let's not spoil it.

Rambling Record: Did I mention that I have done 1000 miles this year!!!!!!!!!!!!