Last night was a bit noisy, first by Christmas revellers singing carols and then the wind was blowing Priscilla around quite a bit. I was warm enough though and slept. Today was the shortest day so I was up early and started walking at 8 am to make the most of the light.
According to the weather forecast, the wind is going to be pretty constant 28 miles an hour today with gusts up to 50 mph!
I said goodbye the Caernarfon. The weather was pretty horrific with strong winds blowing straight into my face and it was pouring with rain again. A good test for the waterproofs. The rain was horizontal due to the wind and was like needles on my face. This was a case of really connecting with elements!
I was walking on a single track lane for the first hour which was a pretty remote area. Then twice cars came past me from behind. I didn’t hear them because of the wind. They came pretty close to me on both occasions. I could quite easily stepped out in front of them as they gave me no warning that they were there.
I decided to shave off a small part of today’s walk that was alongside a very exposed piece of coast and around the sewage works.
I didn’t manage to take many photographs today because it’s been far too wet. The full extent of the wind in some places was literally blowing me backwards and at one point I was having to walk sideways into the wind.
I had terrible problems with my phone today. It wasn’t letting me play any music from Apple Music. The signal was poor and I couldn’t get the radio either.
At one point I had a moment of absolute panic as the screen said ‘iPhone unavailable’. This went on for about five minutes before it finally came back on. I don’t know what that was about. I suspect that it was water ingress. However, at least it started working again. Note to self I need an alternative form of communication with me.
I just left the country lane following my slight detour and made it onto the main road when I saw the familiar gates of Glynllifon and the Black Cat café. For years this was one of our stopping off points on our way to Wales for our summer holidays. We spent many a happy time here with the kids playing in the stone circle and dungeon beneath it.
The lady who runs the café it’s called Wendy and she is absolutely fantastic. She donated money and she wouldn’t let me pay for my breakfast. She wanted more cards so she can hand them out to people. She’s going to get a donation box and put a poster up. What an amazing woman. I’m so glad that I did that diversion today and it brought me out here that must’ve been fate.
While I was there tabby cat jumped up onto the table and it had the most gorgeous green eyes just like Angela. It jumped on my knee and was so insistent on being cuddled and stroked.
As I came out of Glynllifon I walked alongside the wall that appears to go on forever. I wondered how long it must’ve taken and how many people to build it. I was distracted by a bird of prey flying silently and skilfully on the thermals even in this horrific weather.
The route diverted to a small village with n enormous church and graveyard for such a small place. I also came across St Bruno’s well which I declined from taking a dip into. The waters didn’t look very ‘curing’.
I’d just dried out and then the rain started again. The final push to Trefor was painful on the shin but had to be done. I dug deep and pushed on. I was on a race against time to catch the bus which only ran every hour!
Phew I made it with 10 minutes to spare. Fortunately for me the bus stop had a seat so I could rest my legs. The bus number 12 was on time and pretty full of people mainly women dressed in sparkling sequined clothes and Santa hats carrying plastic pint glasses! obviously this was the party bus.
Back to Costa for a cuppa and a Brie and cranberry toastie and a cuppa before retiring to Priscilla.
I was thinking about the day before when I had a fall. I realise that at times I could be quite vulnerable as I was quite a long way from any forms of habitation and don’t often see anyone for quite a long time. So I wasn’t lonely, but I was alone. It’s quite a big difference in those two things. I’ve been thinking quite a bit about that.
Best bits: meeting Wendy in the Black Cat cafe
Worst bits: sore shin
Distance: 17.1 miles
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