Once again, the countryside looked completely different this morning at Fron Dirion. Because of the clear sky at night, frost had settled in the valleys. It looked crisp and beautiful.
Frosty Valley 2. Gorgeous!
Having checked the weather report in Aberystwyth yesterday, Mum and Dad knew that today was not the day for a long day out. It was very cold and rain was heading their way. They didn't much fancy getting caught out in it. So Dad opened all of the Mystery Day Out envelopes to see what they could do with a morning.
One was a walk to the lake at the bottom of Cadair Idris. Nope, no fun if it rains. One was a long B road drive to Lake Vyrnwy, an RSPB reserve...hmmm, possibly. But what was this? The last one was a 9 mile walk from Dolgellau to Barmouth. The weather wouldn't be dry long enough for the walk, but how about a visit to Barmouth? 'Yes!' thought Mum and Dad, 'And we can scurry to the car and come home when it rains!"
Before they headed out, though, a cooked breakfast was definitely the right thing for a frosty Welsh morning. Dad cooks an awesome breakfast and he used their posh, pretty eggs from Dolgellau.
A rainbow of posh eggs.
Nooooommmmmmm, breakfast!
OK, time to go out.
On the way to Barmouth, they paid 70p to drive over a cool wooden bridge at Penmaenpwll and continued alongside the Maddwch Estuary until they reached the seaside town. The car park was pretty empty so it wasn't long before they were out and exploring the area.
Brrr it was cold down by the harbour but the railway and foot bridge looked awesome!
Lobster pots with colourful markers.
The buildings of Barmouth were set into the rock face. Mum and Dad like towns like this.
The sunshine tried so hard to burn through the cloud, but it just appeared as a white glow. The daffodils were sunnier today!
Mum and Dad wandered into the town, browsing the interesting shop windows and enjoying a nice, quiet mooch. Barmouth is probably a heaving tourist trap in the summer but today it was very peaceful.
Mum and Dad hadn't seen chocolate covered foam bananas in yeeeeeears!
After a slow pootle up the high street and back, they decided to find somewhere for a spot of lunch. There were lots of choices but, in the end, they plumped for Myrddins.
Not many eateries have a 'Sausage of the Day'
Myrddins was interesting on the outside and lovely on the inside. Clean, modern and perfect for lunch.
What a nice place for lunch!
Mum had a jacket potato with cheese. It was divine! She hopes the chef at Y Sospan in Dolgellau is reading this blog. THIS is how you serve a jacket potato!!
Dad had a lamb and mint sandwich on bloomer bread.
Well, between the cooked breakfast, the chocolate foam bananas and the delicious lunch at Myrddins it is safe to say that Mum and Dad were feeling rather.....wait, what's THAT?!
No. Nonono, they really, REALLY shouldn't...
But oh YES, they did! Salted Caramel for her and Ferrer Rocher and Chocolate for him. Nooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!! Naughty Mum and Dad!
Thank you for the delicious ice cream, Knickerbockers of Barmouth!
For the first time in forever, Mum and Dad's ice cream stayed frozen in the cone until it was all gone. No drips, no hurrying and getting brain freeze, no slurping at wrists or increasingly sticky tissues. Lovely. Of course, the reason for this was the icy wind blowing in from the sea, and with it came the first few spots of rain. Uh oh! Time for home!
Back at Fron Dirion the rain started falling very heavily. Dad had a snooze and Mum had a bit of quiet time crocheting a blanket for her not-yet-arrived Granddaughter.
Even though the rain was still falling heavily, it was decided that another meal out would be lovely. Unfortunately, the place they had chosen, The Brigands Inn in Mallwyd, was closed for refurbishment. So Mum and Dad went back to the Cross Foxes. Mum really wishes she hadn't left her camera in the car because she had trout for the first time and it was deeelicious. Dad had a juicy Welsh Black 'Beast' Burger and he enjoyed that too.
They went home in the cold and the dark and the rain and snuggled up to watch The Martian from the mystery item pile. It was brilliant!
No comments:
Post a Comment