July 29 Welsh Land meets Irish Sea

Aberystwyth is the target.

The weather forecasts for the day were not that good.  The BBC threatened showers, some heavy, all day in our area and in Wales where we intended to go.  The weather.com forecast for Aberystwyth, our target town was essentially rain starting about 9:45 and going all day.  Fortunately the beeb was closer to the money. 

We left quite early as it was going to be a fair drive and toddled off towards Newtown in Wales.  We were welcomed to Wales 

and I noticed the moss growing on one of the dragons.  This suggested we were not going to an area which shared humidity levels with the Simpson Desert.

A first indicator that we were out of England was the appearance of 'Araf' painted on the road: in some places this also had 'SLOW' painted underneath it, suggesting they didn't want dead English motorists littering the place.  40 is written in English (or, as Frances suggested, Hindi)

This sign gives a bit more of the language, 

and I noticed these three painted on various things:

• Ambwilans → Ambulance
• Ysbwriel → Litter (I presume - it wason the side of a trash can)
• boblanbl → disabled (beside a vacant, as usual for such spaces, parking spot at Tesco).

The rain was coming down from time to time and we were intrigued to follow this tractor with a trailer load of wool.

I suppose with the number of sheep in the area we shouldn't be surprised to see some fibre being harvested, but I hope for the buyers sake he was paying by volume not weight!. 

When we got to Newtown we saw a number of signs commenting that it had been a new town since 1279!  What we couldn't find initially were signs to Aberystwyth, nor indeed anywhere else on the A489 and as a result headed North on the A483 before hanging a u-turn and reassessing the situation.  Second try was much more successful and we beetled  - the car is a VW after all - off in the right direction.  We stopped in Llangurig to inspect St Curig's Church.

This turned out to be a most interesting place with angels up in the roof

 and a very well done tapestry on the altar (what else do you do with wool?).

A couple of interesting Memorial plaques are on the appropriate page.  Obviously it was open, with a nice little note asking for the door to be kept shut or otherwise birds get in and become trapped.  We looked also at the Ebenezer Capel (sic I think that is Welsh for Chapel, not a typo by the stonemason) but they wouldn't let us in.

The rest of the drive was very scenic and problem free, ending on the Promenade in Aberystwyth. 

I had noticed people parking some distance back so was a tad worried about what we might have to pay for a park.  In the event Frances spotted a place between two campervans and – falling into Pom culture of parking on the 'wrong' side of the road – we got a free spot.  We initially walked South to have a look

and then North to find the Visitor Information Centre.  We were advised on this route by a surf life saver, looking down on a totally empty beach.

(Penguins and Walruses would be the only contenders for swimming today.) They seem to be part of the Lifeboat system (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)  here – quite a sensible merger of interests.

As we proceeded along we noticed a series of alcoves off the road with mosaics on the history of the town.  As this was effectively dug into the foundations of the Castle that rates as a very clever idea.  The VIC provided a map of the town and were able to advise that the local brewery had closed about 5 years ago.  Bugger.  The lady I spoke to had heard of a couple of pubs that brewed their own, but she didn't know which pubs.  Bugger.  We found a nice pie shop which solved the lunch situation and then wandered around the town. 

Many nicely painted houses and historic buildings.  We also investigated St Michaels Church 

which seemed to be very business-like with:

• TV monitors above the pews to show the vicar doing his stuff, to those off to the side who might miss out, and
• a contract to administer parking outside the church (apparently having relocated the gravestones for this purpose); 

The university was adjacent to the church, nicely situated on the Promenade for a quick dip between lectures when the weather is warmer.

The ruins of the Castle were quite interesting (and provided shelter during a squall).  The edifice featuring an angel is the main War memorial. 

We left with little difficulty, noting a group of Hillman Imps on a club run.  According to a sticker on the back bumper of their tail end Charlie they were on a charity drive from Lands End to John O'Groats.  By my reckoning they were at least 100km off the most direct route.  On the way 'home' we visited Devils Bridge

where there are many Waterfalls but different entries on the two sides of the road.  I was a little put off by the look of the operation on the North side so we invested 2 quid in the turnstiles to the South.   The Northern op was apparently bigger so perhaps we should have gone there, but we were tired and where we went was quite impressive anyway.

Some snaps were taken along the road 

WRT to the second image there were 7 campervans in this convoy.  A rather alarming sight but in fact they bowled along very well.

We visited Roundton Nature Reserve which wasn't in our road atlas, but had a 'Brown Sign' on the road.  It turned out to be a hill fort and was bloody steep to get at so we didn't do the whole business.  However there were some nice views.

Tonight's beer was a Double Dragon Ale brewed in Llanelli by the Felinfoel Brewery.  It was as promised a red ale and definitely earned a tick.  It is claimed to be the National beer of Wales, so well done that Principality!

While thinking about alcohol a few words about wine.  The Australian offering – at least in the supermarkets where we buy our beverages - has been a run through the brands we wouldn't usually  drink in Australia!  Fortunately Chile, Argentina and South Africa have plugged the gap.

• Bird of the Day:  Red Kite on the way to Newtown
• Building of the day: Aberystwyth U!
• Garden of the Day: Planters in Aberystwyth.  Definitional issues prevented the nomination of the plants – particularly ferns – at Devils Bridge from getting a walk up the carpet here.
• Bad taste of the Day: I initially said “No nominations” but then remembered the fat person with a purple Mohawk crossing the road to the station in Aberystwyth.
• View of the Day: Looking North from the Castle ruins in Aberystwyth

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