Criccieth

Yes, I know what you are thinking. Doesn't she know how to get to anywhere else!? Well you may have a point, the blog is called Navigationally Challenged for a reason! However, on this occasion it was because I wanted to take the new kit there for the first time and the weather conditions made it just perfect.

This is taken from the Castle. Me and a solitary blackbird looking down over the beach. I am finding the new kit brings so much more life to my photos and I am loving that.

The crazy thing was that although it was the hottest day of the year so far, gloriously sunny with only a balmy breeze, there was still hardly anyone around. I am making the most of that because we all know how much I dislike crowds on my hikes!
The chap above was having a great time skimming stones and he was actually quite good at it too.

I joined Cadw last year so i get to go in an assortment of Welsh Heritage sites as often as I want and I have been into the Castle a couple of times. There isn't actually a lot left of it, just a few walls, but it is worth it for the views.

This side of the town tends to get a bit neglected, but the beach is fabulous and you can walk for miles along the coastal path, but I do love the parade of beautifully colourful houses.

Now I do know that there are regular readers who only want to know about one thing on my trips to Criccieth. Nice views? Whatever. Sandy beaches? Yada yada yada. Important Welsh Heritage? Yawn! Cadwaladers? Finally, now we're getting somewhere!

Of course I had to stop for breakfast and because I haven't been for ages, a simple toasted tea cake wasn't going to cut it. So Breakfast waffle with fresh fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup. Not too bad and got to be at least 2 of my 5 a day! And by heck it was lovely, and sitting in Cadwaladers looking out over the sea with the sun streaming in and warming my face, it was simply idyllic. 

Only criticism of Cadwaladers is that they have stopped doing the rhubarb and cherry cake and I do really miss that!

So, suitably refreshed, on with the walk.

There were quite a few people with dogs playing on the beach. I believe dogs are not permitted after the 1st of May so they were all probably making the most of the time they had left, and there is little else that is as joyful to watch as a dog playing in the sea, chasing a stick.

Its a fair trek to the end of the beach, and being mostly stone is a good work out for the legs, but you are rewarded with a beautifully sweeping view and if you are brave and clamber up the rocks you have just walked to, you are rewarded with a peek at somewhere very special. Black rock sands. Seen this view many times and it still takes my breath away.

Something else that takes my breath away, but for completely different reasons is this...

And this..

Marine debris is still a terrible problem at Criccieth and although groups like The Plastic Project and "2 minute beach clean" are doing a fabulous job of raising awareness, there is still an awful long way to go.

And this gentleman, standing at the end of the jetty, watching the mist rising over the sea is certainly giving this matter some thought!

Lessons Learned: If I seriously want to get back on track with my diet, don't go anywhere near a Cadwaladers!

Diet Diary: See above!

Stern talking to

Right. Come on Sharon. Bum in gear. Let's stop faffing around making excuses and get out there!

Oh, but everywhere is crowded. It's too hot. It's raining. I have housework to do. OK that last one never happened, but you get the gist.

It was when I found myself digging out the comfy jogging bottoms and cardis that I realised that something had to be done. And soon.

So first opportunity after the holidays, out I went. Ease myself in gradually I think, so back to Criccieth.

Going back for the first time in ages was like reconnecting with an old friend. Since my last visit I had joined Cadw, the Welsh Heritage Association, so decided to visit the Castle.

As you know I have been to Criccieth about 427 times, and so the challenge as always is to find a fresh approach. 

So this is the view from the top, looking down onto the town and all the beautifully coloured houses. The sun was hovering, the clouds made an interesting sky and the rain kept off. But by heavens it was blowy at the top.

This is the view on the other side of the Castle, looking down onto the jetty with a couple of people precariously close to the end and the waves, admiring the view one assumes! Lovely to see the water that colour.

Regular readers will know that my hair has been a variety of colours over the last couple of years and is currently shades of purple. (went a bit overboard with Plum and it completely covered Flamingo!) I love it and what I hope it says about me, but at the top of the Castle, it was so windy and my hair kept going in my eyes. So I decided to put on my hat and it was awful. It was almost like wearing a mask, covering up an important part of what I am. It was the strangest feeling, almost an anonymity, so the hat came off! I have never been one to seek the limelight, but I like the feeling of being a bit different that the unicorn hair gives me!

Not sure what I am going to do when it gets really cold! Do they make see through hats?! I'll Google it.

I love this view from the Castle, through the arrow slits (apparently that is the official name because Google said so, although it doesn't sound grand enough). You can imagine that that is exactly the same view the archers would have had when the Castle was built. Keeping away those marauding English, nothing but trouble them!

After the Castle, I followed the railway tracks for a while. Not taken up train spotting yet, but I hadn't done it before, so I thought I would see what I found. And I found this by the crossing.

These gorgeous little pyramid stones with a sprig desperately trying to grow through the rubble. I am sure there is a metaphor for life there somewhere!

This is probably another metaphor, something along the lines that everything will end up in rust and decay anyway, so make the most of everything before that happens! But I do love a bit of rust!

So exploration started, new adventure beginning, cobwebs blown away and comfy trousers relegated to the back of the wardrobe!

Lessons Learned: Life is full of adventure and exploration. You never know what or who is around the corner, so take off the comfy clothes, grab your boots and discover what you are capable of! You won't be disappointed.

Diet Diary: You had to spoil an uplifting moment and ask didn't you! Well, don't. Not yet. We'll get there. Eventually. Still going with voluptuous, and after the selfies, quite frankly, ravishing!

A full day

Do you ever find that sometimes life gets in the way of the fun stuff! Been doing a lot of extra shifts at work recently, and with some rather dismal weather just haven't been able to get out. So first available opportunity, I am there!

Big day planned! Well, not exactly planned, had a starting direction and I decided to just go where the whim took me. 

So I scurried on down to Trefor to photograph a bit of decay.

I have never been able to shoot it from this angle before, as the tide this time was way, way out. How it is still standing is a mystery as it looks like one strong gust of wind would topple it, but it is magnificent in its dereliction.

Normally the sea is a lot further in and I would be up to my waist where I was standing for these pictures, so it was fabulous to be able to wander among the boats.

Not done with my day out, I fancied revisiting Caenarfon which as it turns out, was not perhaps my wisest move bearing in mind the unpredictable weather and an encounter with the surliest lady in Morrison's cafe. It takes a lot to get me angry, but with not being in the best frame of mind anyway, I am ashamed to say I may have scowled!

Wandered along the harbour and loved this line of boats just standing there like a chorus line with pointed toes waiting for the tide to come in.

And of course you can't go to Caenarfon without taking a photo of the castle! Although I have taken many, it was interesting to have a view with such a low tide.

Shortly after taking this photo, that gorgeous bit of blue in the sky disappeared to be replaced by dark and ominous grey. This heralded the arrival of the worst hailstorm I have ever had the misfortune to be caught out in! It felt like being surrounded by 100 angry warriors firing darts at me through 100 blowpipes. And me wearing my only coat without a hood! Walking along in near darkness, wearing sunglasses so that I don't get blinded and holding my poor weatherbeaten hands over my head so i don't get concussion! Not my finest hour!

Of course once I get to the car, it stops and the sun comes out. Typical! So I head homeward, but not before stopping at Llyn Padarn, Llanberis and taking a shot of the most photographed tree in Wales!

Lessons Learned: Always wear a coat with a hood!

Sometimes a long and tiring day out with plenty of thinking room is the best way to get to grips with life, make all those decisions that you've been putting off and grab back control of your life. Which neatly brings me on to...

Diet Diary: I am ashamed to say that I have really let things slide. The mindset just hasn't been there recently and my "little behind" (see earlier posts for those thinking "wait, what?") is just getting bigger and bigger and is in danger of getting stuck in doorways! 
However, control of life grabbed, stern talking to given to self, summer clothes tried on amidst horrified shrieks and new determination has resurfaced! So onwards and inwards!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aberystwyth revisited

I can't believe its been a month since I posted. Seems that there has been such a lot going on that I have lost track of time a bit. 

So to catch up, had a couple of quite interesting outings recently. First one started off in Criccieth, as most of these excursions do! And I thought, "wouldn't it be a good idea to follow the Welsh Coastal Path and walk to Pwllheli!"

The right answer is "no it wouldn't". The path starts off fabulous, following the cliff edge along the shore. Then it takes you off through fields to join up with the main road and you are walking pavements with traffic whizzing past. Eventually get back closer to the sea only to find myself walking on the outskirts of the Hafan y Mor caravan park. Somewhere I am quite familiar with, and knowing they have a Starbucks, I am not one to miss out on the opportunity for a quick iced capuccino and a comfort stop!

Along the coastal path, you do get to see some beautiful beaches, many completely deserted, but too much of this part of the path is along main roads.
I found a sign showing Pwllheli 2miles, so the plan was to get there and catch a bus back to Criccieth and the car. After walking for about 30mins, and reaching a sign which also said Pwllheli 2 miles, I decided enough was enough and caught a bus at the first stop I found! However, 15 miles added to the total that day. Not bad at all!

Most recent excursion was a revisit to Aberystwyth. Glorious weather and the Graduation Day at the University, so the town and prom was filled with girls in beautiful summer dresses and the boys in suits. It was really charming and so lovely to see.

Walked the length of the front and climbed up to the cable car again to get the most fabulous view.

Decided to have a go at following the coastal path again and this time it was amazing. Followed about 3 miles and the whole thing was along the cliff edge so the scenery was stunning. It undulated somewhat, so very little was flat, which made for a challenging walk, but I'm a hiker now, I can do challenging! It may be accompanied by a certain amount of wheezing and a dangerously puce face, but I get there!
Apparently you can walk the whole of the Wales Coastline on the path, so maybe that it a challenge for next year.

Talking of Challenges, realised I hadn't done anything daft since the kayaking, so Beth and I had a go at archery!

At Lea Marston Events just outside Sutton Coldfield, and it was amazing! Both of us seemed to have a knack for it and no innocent passers by were injured, which has got to be a bonus.

I have postponed further antics until after our hols, because the last thing I want to do is injure myself before we go away, and we all know the likelihood of that is quite high! But on the list are abseiling, rock climbing and one of those high ropes courses. Going to be fun.

Lessons Learned: There's a bit of a parallel universe thing going on between Criccieth and Pwllheli, otherwise how on earth can you walk for half an hour and still be as far from your destination as when you started!
I now remember why I don't like buses. The one I caught was expensive and about 20mins late!

Diet Diary: Seem to have stuck a bit. Trying really hard but its not shifting. Still lower than I have been in years, but just getting a bit frustrated. Only 4 weeks to the hols, so got to keep at it.

Rambling Record: Currently 660 miles. About 100 miles ahead of schedule and feeling really good!

New Year, New Challenges

Last year was all about discovering a new and exciting me. About pushing all the boundaries and seeing what sort of person I became. Had a few wobbly moments, but on the whole am very happy with how it all turned out.
Now all I have got to do is decide what to do with the new me!
So I have started off with a few new challenges. First one is another photography challenge. This is through Flickr and is called 52 in 2016. Basically a theme is assigned for every week and you enter a photo fitting that theme. This week has been "reflections" and this is what I entered.

Taken by the canal in Ellesmere and just tweaked a tad in Lightroom.

Next week is "minimalist" and I haven't got a clue at the moment. I think this one is going to be a real voyage of discovery.

2nd challenge is the 1000 miles in 2016 which I mentioned before. I have worked out that I need to walk roughly 20 miles a week to achieve it and at the end of the first week I have walked 26, so a good start. Much of it at Criccieth.

I really want to discover some new places, but before I do, just had to revisit my favourites. Although at Criccieth I was very daring and parked the other side of the Castle! 

It was a beautiful evening just as the sun was setting and it cast gorgeous colours over the water, but I just couldn't get a good photo. If I picked up the colour there was no focal point to the photo and it just looked flat, the main interest was on the other side with the light behind me. This is all still very much trial and error with me, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't although I think the working bits are starting to outweigh the non working ones!

Had a walk to Hell's Mouth too which was as fabulous as usual, and to make it even better, not only was the tide out so far that I could explore previously uncharted territory, but also a couple of surfers came out to play!

3rd Challenge is the resolution to do something daft, outrageous or dangerous every month. I think I have January's covered by signing up for the 1000 miles. Can't get much more daft than that! I have a few ideas for future events, some I need to get a bit of weight off for tho. But suggestions always very welcome.

4th Challenge is the diet. Just got to do it this time, and currently feeling very positive, but we all know how long that usually lasts!

Today's hike took me to Llangollen. The day started off very misty and was quite ethereal and beautiful.

I walked from the weir into town, around town, had coffee and walked back again. I have never seen the river so high and wild. All the areas that you could walk on in the Summer were completely covered with raging water, it was actually quite a scary sight.

So wild, and with the mist still hanging, so beautiful.

Lessons Learned: I am actually enjoying the walking. I have been lucky with the weather and visited some wonderful places, so I think there is a good chance I will keep on with this.

Still can't get used to the idea of not having cake with my coffee. It's just not right!

Diet Diary: The walking does appear to be helping and I have lost 5lb in my first week which I am completely chuffed about. So only another 2 1/2 camera bags to go!

Rambling Record: I am going to keep an account of how far I get each week in case anyone wants to follow my progress. 

So week 1, 25.92 miles - 974.08 to go!

Wild, wet and very windy

So the forecast said gale force winds and heavy rain, so I do what every photographer does and head to the beach. No? Just me then!

To be fair I had been promised 11ft waves but I must have read the forecast wrong as they weren't that. The water at Hell's Mouth was wild certainly but not to that height. And there were no surfers to photograph either.

I have recently bought a rain covering for the camera. It is designed to fit on one that has a much longer lens and also a flash gun, so there was a lot more plastic than I needed, but it seemed that it would work.

So undeterred I got to the beach, attached my new rain mac for the camera and headed for a walk. The rain wasn't heavy but it was being whipped by the wind and felt like needles on my face. There was a lot of spray coming from the sea and before long I was completely soaked. My waterproof boots aren't and neither are my waterproof trousers!

It was so wild and really dramatic but absolutely none of the photos came out which is really disappointing. The one above is of Criccieth a bit later on. The spray made it really misty and it was so windy it was impossible to keep the camera still, so I put it away and just revelled in the experience of being the sole person on a very wild beach in the middle of a storm!

Then I thought that I was already soaked I might as well do my 2 minute beach clean as I couldn't get any wetter! I now always carry a couple of plastic bags and some bbq tongs with me so I can do a clean wherever I am. Its amazing how much you can pick up in a short amount of time. I know my little effort isn't going to make a huge difference but it is so important that we all start to think about taking care of our wonderful coastline.

So I get back to the car park and start to disrobe. The wind is so strong the car is rocking and I am sitting there in little more than a t-shirt and towel and the bag I carefully packed full of spare clothes is sitting on the sofa at home. The car is like a sauna as I am trying so hard to dry my clothes. It doesn't work. There is little worse than putting wet feet into wet boots through wet trousers! I just hoped that no-one would come by as if they see a rocking car, all steamed up with a scantily clad passenger I think that they might jump to erroneous conclusions!

 

On the way back I briefly stopped at Llanbedrog. I had been here over the summer and it is a beautifully sheltered beach. I found that they have moved all the beach huts to the carpark for the winter, and I thought that this would make a nice colourful photograph. I have done very little to the colour here, the surrounding areas were as grey and dismal as they look!

But I didn't want to go home, still had a couple of hours of daylight left! So my final stop a squelch along the front at Criccieth, 

Had a very welcome and warming coffee at Cadwaladers so things seemed to be looking up, but when I went for a walk on the beach and the sea went over my wellies and I found I didn't have a square inch of dry cloth to wipe my camera lens with I decided enough was enough and time to go home for a long hot bath!


Lessons Learned: I have since been taught how to read the forecasts properly. Apparently the wind was too strong and in the wrong direction for high waves, but hopefully I will know better next time.
Take the darned bag with me next time!

Ellesmere Canal

Reunited and it feels so good (anyone under the age of 30 isn't going to get the musical reference, so ask your parents!). Bob is back. He has had to undergo minor surgery to have a lens removed and fix a broken focus panel apparently, but he is recuperating well and had his first outing today.

However, before I start on today's trip, I must tell you about my outing last week. I was still using my little black point and click so decided to go somewhere where I didn't need to take photos. I decided to revisit my favourite way to spend a day. Criccieth for a walk on the beach, 2 minute beach clean and cake at Cadwaladers, then on to Hells Mouth to watch the waves (and if there are surfers, that is a bonus). 

Got to Criccieth and had the obligatory cherry and rhubarb cake then walked along the beach. The tide was out so I was able to walk around the bit of headland jutting out. I actually paddled barefoot and the water was really quite warm. The sun was shining and it was so beautiful there. Got completely lost in my own thoughts. On heading back, I was a bit perturbed to find that the tide had come in and by the time I got to the headland, perturbed had turned to quite alarmed. The water was bum deep and there was no way around it, only through it! So through it I went, holding camera and shoes aloft, hoping that I wouldn't trip and end up completely submerged. Made it through to the other side but was completely drenched, as you would expect after walking through 3ft of water.

However, I was wearing my quick drying shower proof Mountain Warehouse trousers and by heavens, they are good. By the time I had got to the other end of the beach, I was completely dry. Couldn't believe it. So off to Hell's Mouth for a recuperative loiter in the sand dunes watching the abundance of surfers who were there!

Back to today. Its Monday so it must be singing lesson. So a good 45mins to occupy while Maisie sings her heart out!

It has been a dull and overcast evening with occasional showers, but I thought a walk along the canal would be fine. We are so lucky in Ellesmere. We have the beautiful Mere and woodland, plus a fabulous and busy canal with all sorts of interesting things happening around it.

I have done a bit of editing on these photos to add some definition and boost the colours and clarity. 

However, I think the subject matter works well with the more muted colours too.

Many of the canal boats were bright colours and I think I will have to revisit when the sun is out and the light will be better, but for tonight I have gone for "moody" rather than bright.

Only took the camera, no spare lenses or tripod, as with only a limited amount of time, I didn't want to spend it putting up, repositioning and taking down the tripod. Had the ISO at around 400 which gave me an acceptable shutter speed.

After my workshop last weekend, I am trying to look out for the detail in a scene and get in a bit closer. Don't think I am there yet, but possibly heading in the right direction.

I will always welcome comments on my posts or pictures, and I know sometimes it can be impossible to get a comment posted. If that is happening to you, please feel free to e-mail.

I have lived in this area for over 20 years and there are still places that I haven't been to. Today was the first time I had visited the marina and it is a very interesting place with all the canal boats moored, in varying degrees of repair

I've never been on a canal boat either, so maybe that's another thing to add to my bucket list. Not got a lot on there yet, so suggestions welcome.

Lessons Learned:  I really am not safe to be allowed to go out by myself and yet people still let me! 

I will always love the oceans and mountains for a day out, but I really must explore the area around my home a lot more, before they frack it, build on it and generally destroy the charm of Ellesmere.

Criccieth, Morfa Nefyn and Llyn Ogwen

So now that I have a willing, if occasional, companion on my walks, I decide to share with Carl some of my favourite places. 

So we headed off to start our day. Morfa Nefyn. Carl had played golf at the club there way, way in the past and could remember there being a pub on the beach. Funny what sticks in the memory!

The day was beautifully bright and sunny so I took a chance and left the tripod in the car. I can't actually believe how glorious the weather was. The sky was pure blue and the sea a proper mediterranean sea colour.

You can follow the beach for a long way and most of it was reasonably empty, bearing in mind that it was sunny and in the holidays. All except for the tiny bit of beach around the pub which was packed. Funny that! Think of the pictures of the beach that usually accompany The Sun's "Its a Scorcher" headlines and you'd be heading in the right direction.

However, we still managed to find some pretty beautiful tranquility a bit further around. We followed the path which climbed up the cliffs to the golf course. However, there were people playing so we thought it prudent not to be in the line of fire! Although after watching a couple of people play, the safest place on the course was probably by the pin! Tho I shouldn't mock as it was never anything I was any good at, but with this new found determination, maybe I should have another go!

After Nefyn we decided to head for the mountains. Tryfan to be specific and to see the waterfall near Cwm Idwal. Quite a lot of people around again. I really do think I am going to struggle through the summer when everyone else is out and about too. 

I love this waterfall. If any of you remember my icicle picture, that was taken of the tree sticking out the middle during the winter.

I have been here many times now but never managed to get all the way around the lake. Didn't on this trip either, but got further than I had before, all the way to Devil's Kitchen. Quite impressive. Then the sun dropped below one of the peaks and lit the sides in the most beautiful way.

It was starting to get a bit darker in the shade and I didn't have my tripod, so I upped the ISO a bit but I have realised that although it may be a bit cumbersome, I really should have the tripod with me at all times. I would have liked to have a long exposure attempt on the water, maybe next time when I do finally get all the way round!

So home via Llangollen for a gorgeous curry at The Simla. Its been a long, eventful and completely fabulous day!

Lessons Learned: I must try not to get territorial as just because I have been the only person in many of these places at times, it doesn't make them mine!