Snowdonia Safari and being a bit brazen

I have recently found myself a bit reluctant to go to new places. I think my really sad discovery last year affected me more than I had allowed myself to admit.

So I thought the best way to get over this was to go to new places, but with someone else! I had come across Snowdonia Safaris on Facebook and they promised a tour around the undiscovered parts of Snowdonia.

So a day was booked with the delightful Bernard as my tour guide who promised to take me to places I had never been before!

First place was the Celtic Burial Ground at Capel Garmon. You have to go across fields and through gates to get to it and if you didn't know it was there, you wouldn't know it was there, if you see what I mean! Apparently it was only discovered quite recently, as it was underneath a hill. It was something to do with the military doing reconnaissance overhead and noticing something unusual.

Good start to the day.

Next onto Beaver Pool, Betws-y-coed. Scene of the demise of the last wild beaver in Wales. Wild? He was furious! ...Sorry.

Onto Cwmpennaman, a 15th C settlement completely in the middle of nowhere. No chance of ever finding that one again!

After a couple more stops, we headed to my favourite place of the day. Cwmorthin Quarry. I do love a bit of derelict industrial and this did not disappoint!

Bernard was an absolute fount of knowledge and really interesting. I had explained that I wanted to take plenty of photos and so there might be a lot of hanging around for him, but that didn't seem to be a problem. One of the major reasons I usually go out on photo trips solo, I hate making people wait while I faff and so I often tend to not bother with a shot if I know it is going to take time to set up.

Point me towards a ruined building, and I am a happy bunny! The more in decline, the better!

Lunch at the Ffestiniog Railway, Tan-y-Bwlch.

Then the final call of the day to the 11thC Eglwys Llanrychwyn, the oldest surviving church in Wales, complete with original beams.

Again, about 5 miles the other side of the Back of Beyond! It is an amazingly tranquil and spiritual place and does make you wonder how many of today's buildings will still be standing in a thousand years!

So a fabulous day was had and I think it got me over my nervousness of new places. I can't recommend Snowdonia Safaris highly enough! Bernard takes up to 4 people for either a half or full day and he makes the trip interesting and fun. Good times!

I do have something else to share with you, but those of a sensitive or prudish disposition should probably stop reading now!

I have recently been feeling my age and, I am ashamed to admit, got a bit frumpy. (Well there is something very comfy about jogging bottoms and baggy fleeces!) But determined not to slip back into old ways, I thought I needed to glam up a bit and just prove to myself that I hadn't lost the plot altogether.

So what better way than to take a couple of selfies. So I applied some slap, dressed in some really delicate girly stuff and played! 

Not my usual mountain top hiking attire admittedly, but did quite enjoy dressing up. Never done anything like this before but it was actually quite liberating. Wasn't going to show anyone originally, but when they came out really well, considering I took them on my phone, I decided to share. On Facebook, on Instagram, on Blip, on Flickr and now on here! (becoming a bit of an exhibitionist!)

And I must admit it did me the world of good. Starting to feel again like the amazing and sexy woman I know myself to be 😉

Lessons Learned: I am probably going to Hell. Was taking the selfies, wearing my little black lace dress, and let's be honest here, very little else, when there was a ring and a knock at the bell. I was expecting a parcel and so couldn't ignore it and you would never have seen such a frantic panicked coverup. Dragged on jogging bottoms and grabbed a zip up top, which wouldn't zip up. So I am rushing downstairs almost tripping over the bottom of my trousers and holding the fleece across me to protect any remaining modicum of modesty.

I open the door and there is an elderly gentleman standing there, clutching a pamphlet, who then proceeds to ask me if I ever feel I am doing too much!! Wait... what?!

Apparently most of us are cramming so much into our lives that we miss out on the world around us. But it was only when he mentioned those immortal words "Jehovah's Witness" that I became less witless, said thank you very much, but I really couldn't talk at that precise time. And he left, smiling!

So I don't know whether that particular Witness actually witnessed more than he was expecting to or he just smiled a lot anyway!

Diet Diary: Going for Voluptuous (no, the diet is not going well!)

The wanderer returns

Hi, yes, I am still here and haven't fallen off the top of a mountain or anything!
I have been having one of those years where things have been confusing, difficult, stressful or just downright exasperating! Kind of lost the explorer mojo for a while. 

However, think it is returning. As I was always told when growing up, time to put on the big girl panties and deal with it!

So this is a bit of a catch up, next few posts will be mainly pics while I wait and plan something interesting to tell you all about! I thank you for your patience.

Beth has finished Uni (she got a first!, we are so proud) so we have had a few days out. First one was as Blists Hill, the Ironbridge Gorge Museum.

This is a fabulous working Victorian Village, complete with dentist, bank, chemist, locksmith and so much more.

Full Ironbridge Details here It is an amazing place to visit, with so much to see, you can easily spend a whole day.

Gorgeous dress shop showing the authentic fashions of the day.

Fabulous place of course is the photographers! You can actually dress up in Victorian costume and have a vintage style photo taken. We declined on this visit!

Favourite place, and a definite must do, is the bakers where they bake fresh bread certain times of the day. Beth and I were lucky enough to be first in line and picked up an old fashioned loaf still warm from the oven. We thought we would just break the ends off to try it, but found ourselves polishing off the whole darn thing! And very good it was too!

This is the printers shop. They use the original hot metal type in their letterpress machines. This takes me back to my early years when I did an apprenticeship at a printers and just caught the end of the moveable type! Nostalgia!

Also having searched high and low and only recently found a printer's tray, I was amazed to see them just casually strewn around the shop! Very covetous!

Talking of Printer's trays, don't think I ever showed you my completed Eccentric Explorers Library Showcase. Took a long time, but am so pleased with it.

This was in the Post Office. On looking through my pictures I am finding I have gone more for detail than an overall view, so I have no photos of shop fronts or streets to show you! But I will be going back again, often, so hopefully you will get to see more.

Fire Buckets. 

Locksmith.

And my personal favourite photograph, oil guages!

So after heading back to the bakery to buy some good old fashioned currant buns, Beth and I called it a day.

Lessons Learned: museums can be fun! 
There is nothing better to cheer the soul than old fashioned bread, still warm from the oven, pulled apart with fingers and eaten while sitting in a garden with someone you love!

Diet Diary: Apart from half a loaf of hot bread, not doing too badly. Been very up and down this year, mostly up if I am honest! Struggled to get the Florida weight off, and yes I know that was a year ago. But then there has been Christmas, birthdays, Easter and every excuse I can come up with! But when I realised I was having to wear very big girl panties, I knew something had to be done. So new diet started. 3 camera bags to lose (3 x 10lb) and 9lb gone in the first already. Go Sharon!!

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!

Yet another mini adventure

Have you ever had one of those days, or let's face it, years where you just can't seem to get your act together! I am having one of those and to quote the old Bing Crosby song "busy doing nothing, working the whole day through, trying to find lots of things not to do" And doing it pretty well it would appear!

So a stern talking to was given to myself and a trip planned. 

First stop Borth. I had been there once before and it appeared to be shut! Although to be honest it had been a very dull day and the tide was in so I couldn't see much beach. In fairness to those friends of mine who sing its praises, I felt I needed to revisit.

I will admit that the beach is gorgeous. Miles of sand and plenty of rock pools to explore, but that is all that can be said for it. The town itself is very shabby and seems to take a very complacent attitude of "we have a fantastic beach, what more do you want".

I am not for a moment suggesting they bring in arcades and Starbucks, but would a bit of a tidy up and a lick of paint hurt?! I am sure many people will disagree with me, but that is how I found it so I am sure others will too!

Although I did find the most gorgeous tea rooms, beautifully decorated with fabulous sofas to lounge on. And the fact that I forgot where I parked the car and spent a not insignificant amount of time wandering the streets looking for it in no way affected my judgement!

It would be ungenerous of me to say that the best way to see Borth is from a distance, so I won't!

On to the main ingredient in this cornucopia of delights that is my trip. Aberystwyth! Do you have places where you feel you belong and so you return to time and time again and each time feel more comfortable there. This is one place, along with Criccieth and Llandwyn. Don't know why or what it is about these places, but there is something there.

I arrived Monday late afternoon to unseasonal temperatures and glorious blue skies.

It was like a glorious summer's day, the sun was shining and the skies were blue and the beaches were full of happy people playing, paddling and later on having picnics. It was quite simply fabulous. 

However, the best part was the evening. A really good friend had told me that Starlings roost in the pier and they can be seen flying around at dusk. So later found me sitting on the prom by the pier, eating chips out of a bag, watching the birds perform their beautiful and natural dance in front of the setting sun, reflected in the calm sea.

It was such a perfect moment and I will admit to getting a little emotional! A mini break doesn't get much better than this! 

The next day dawned dull and a lot chillier, but fine for another explore.

Whilst the sky was mostly completely flat and uninteresting, it did throw up a couple of images to play with when it covered the sun. I am very into black and white photos at the moment, enjoying the completely different approach to light and texture that you have to use.

However, I still am one for the neglected and derelict image and this is one of my favourites.

Do love a bit of rust!

So final stop of the day, Aberdyfi. Another gorgeous beach to stroll along, but the town is bright and cheerful and a joy to wander through. However, a very stormy sky approached and I knew the time was limited!

OK, so I may have tweaked the clouds just a tad in Lightroom to bring out the drama, but we're all about being creative here, so a bit of artistic licence is allowed!

And talking of tweaking, OK maybe not tweaking, more full blown fartnarkling, but this is one of my favourite images from the day.

I am trying to get a bit more adventurous in my editing. I see so many really creative shots, but have been scared to take that next step.

Bearing in mind that I have taken steps and crossed lines quite a bit recently in my life, it seems daft that I am scared of a little bit of editing. No more! Look out for some wild and extreme photography from some more wild and extreme places!

Lessons Learned: How easy is it to slip back into a safe and unchallenging way of life. Very! But no more. The extreme and adventurous me has just broken out of hibernation. I have got daft things to do and many lines to cross! So watch this space and I will let you know where to send the bail money!

Diet Diary: Hah! No.

Rambling Record: Made a decision not to do the 1000 miles this year. With work, weather and other commitments I haven't been able to get out too much so far this year so my little behind has got an awful lot bigger! So am still going to hike as much as I can, but because I love it and not because I have to clock up some numbers!

Shrewsbury - The Dana Prison

Just for a change from all the mountains, oceans and forests, I decided to visit a prison. In Shrewsbury we have the Dana Prison, first built in 1791 and closed in 2013 and has got to be one of the most interesting and unnerving places I have ever visited.

We had a guided tour first with a retired guard who was incredibly informative and very entertaining and I was then left to my own devices to wander at will.

We followed the path a new prisoner would take, from being "welcomed" to the prison all the way through accommodation, healthcare, exercise, regulations, punishments and finally leaving the prison, whether on foot, or otherwise, or in some cases, not at all!

Going in February, the prison was extremely cold and there is a real damp/mould problem going on, I can't imagine how much it would cost to put all that right. But this does all add to the most extraordinary atmosphere.

At the end of the prison's working life, 2 men were housed in each cell with minimal furniture but there were toilets and handbasins. 

I have no idea what it must have been like but the discussion on crime and punishment is for a whole other time and place!

After the tour, on my solitary wander, I wanted the photos to try to show the stillness and the isolation of the prison now, bearing in mind just a few years ago it would have been full, bustling and noisy. It was easy to pick up the ambience, because as I explored, I didn't come across another soul throughout the whole prison! On the self-tour you are allowed to go everywhere that isn't signed otherwise and there was so much to photograph. Luckily I took a tripod as it was really quite dark in places.

They apparently run zombie escape themed parties or something similar here and I can understand how scary they would be. At one point I was setting up the tripod to take a particularly challenging shot, when one of the huge metal doors swung shut with a clang and I spent the next 2 minutes trying to get my heartbeat back to normal, and the next 2 trying to actually open the door as it had wedged shut!

And lets not even talk about the numerous mannequins they had dotted about in order to scare the unsuspecting visitor half to death! We were regaled with various spectral sightings on the tour which didn't help as I have always been troubled with an over vivid imagination!

And on that note, let me mention the final room in the prison, the execution room. I was expecting to go in and feel chills or a heavy atmosphere, but it wasn't like that at all. It was a sobering thought that people had died in that room, and in the 1800's for some very inconsequential crimes, but it just felt like it was too far removed, maybe because the last hanging there was before I was born. Just. 

I have no idea what they intend to do with the prison, but if there is anyway you can get to it before then, I certainly would.

Lessons Learned: My only New Year's resolution this year was to stay out of jail and this visit, which by the way doesn't count as it was voluntary, has reinforced the determination. So having spent most of my life accepting that everything I secretly enjoy is immoral, illegal or fattening, I guess I am going to have to go with 2 out of 3!

Diet Diary: Damn, 1 out of 3 then!

Rambling Record: That little behind is getting a bit bigger! Need to get my act together or else I will be doing an awful lot of walking in December!

A different Approach

Do you ever do something and think "that's exactly the same as I did it last time" I have been finding myself thinking that way about the photography. My own fault, because I have my very favourite places to visit and when you have already taken 630 photos of Criccieth Castle, it's hard to make No. 631 stand out! I think because of that I have struggled with enthusiasm, hence being over a month since I last posted.

So, I am trying something a bit different. I am having a go at being a bit more abstract. Thinking more about colours, shapes and textures. Not sure if I have got it yet, but I have had guidance and inspiration from someone who is amazing at this type of image (see photographers to inspire) so I have absolutely no excuse!

I like the shapes and colours here and the way the light falls. I have wanted to keep some of it out of focus to take attention to the back of the photo. Maybe it's not "art" but I kind of like it.

These were taken on a recent trip to Aberystwyth. It is a fabulous place to look for texture as the sea has played havoc with the front. The rust and dereliction is strangely beautiful and the colours in it just glorious.

I found myself looking at so much detail and I think that this will really help when I look at landscapes too, seeing everything in front of me and not just the focal point.

This is one of my favourites. Love the bubbly textures on this van together with the rich golden colours, but I really love the hook! Tell me that doesn't look like the wisest old owl! No, just me then!

This is a broken window on one of the shelters along the prom and I loved the patterns in it. Had to put it on manual focus as the camera couldn't seem to settle on one part to focus on, but it came out ok I think.

Did have to get one seascape in, plus a couple of castles!

So I have really enjoyed the different approach and will definitely do more. But I do think I still at the moment prefer the more scenic shots. I look at the scaffolding poles and think "yes, I really like it, but do I want it hanging on my wall?" Probably not!

Lessons Learned: I think the key to much in life is to find someone or something that inspires you, and be brave in trying something new. They say you should do one thing everyday that scares you! I am doing my darndest to live by this rule. It can be scary at times but it can also be interesting, intriguing and a whole lot of fun!

Diet Diary: Nope, nothing. Just can not get my head around it at the moment! Might have to admit defeat and go back to club! (At the precise moment of writing, Carl has just brought me in a chocolate biscuit! I ask you, what chance do I have!!!)

Rambling Record: Slightly better news! Completed over 100 miles so far. A little behind on my target, but not too far (and I think that is the only time the phrase "a little behind" will ever refer to me (see diet diary)).

New Year, New Challenges

Apologies for leaving such a gap since my last post, but I do hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and New Year, and that at least one of you has some adventures planned within your New Year's Resolutions. 

I just have the one made, as suggested by a work colleague. That is to endeavour to stay out of jail in 2017! No promises, but will give it a go.

One fabulous thing that happened is that I got another photo printed in the Observer New Review. 

The subject was "memories" and this was a picture of my late Father's treasure tins! Tobacco, plasters, mints, all sorts of tins filled with all sorts of odds and ends which were bound to come in handy one day!

So onto 2017. I think it is more of the same. I had a fantastic 2016 and did some incredible things, so this year I intend to carry on with that, but to really make an effort to explore new places as well as revisit my favourites. 

To this end, on my first solo trip of the year, I headed to Anglesey but on a new walk.

I found a circular walk in one of my many Anglesey Walk books that started in Aberffraw and took in part of the Anglesey Coastal Walk.

As with many of these walks, they start you off with a possibly false sense of confidence. The first few instructions are spot on and you begin to relax until you come to the gate that isn't mentioned, or the right hand turn that isn't actually there! Then when you navigate those, you end up in the field that is actually a swamp. Been there, done that often!

So the walk I followed probably wasn't the official one, but it was still pretty fabulous.

This church is St Cwyfan's and it is completely cut off by the high tide. 

This fabulous winch mechanism was situated on the top of a cliff edge. There was something very life affirming about standing there in very strong winds, near freezing temperatures, being completely alone and doing something I love. 

Much of the walk back was actually on the shore and with the tide being very high, this involved quite a lot of rock scrambling, which although was enjoyable in a perverse kind of way, it also caused a few injuries to joints and muscles that I didn't find out about until trying to get out of bed this morning! 

The coastline around Anglesey is incredibly dramatic, which is probably why I love it there so much. Definitely the go to place for the zen top up!

Lessons Learned: Treat the guidebooks as "suggestions" and an opportunity to improvise. Life is nothing without creativity and I've not managed to get myself irretrievably lost. Yet!

Diet Diary: OMG, what has happened? Where did it all come from? Surely I didn't eat that much! 
To which the answers are: I ate too much. Cake and chocolate. And yes I did!

Rambling Record: I am having another go at the 1000 miles challenge, but doing it a bit differently this year. Instead of counting all my walking which included work and shopping, I am just counting designated proper hikes. Going to be a bit more difficult but I reckon I can do this.