Retracing Steps in Blaenau Ffestiniog

Once upon a time, in 2003, Mum and Dad went wild camping with some of their friends from the internet.  They had a fantastic time and felt that today was a great day to share their old camping ground with The Boy.  Mum had visited with the girls later in 2003 so this post will have a mixture of pictures since today's trip would bring back many happy memories.

They set off early to enjoy the quiet Sunday roads and parked up at the start of the trail in Blaenau Ffestiniog.  Mum asked The Boy whether he had his walking legs with him and when he said no, she exclaimed, 'Oh dear, because you're going to need them!'

Right from the off, the going was hard.  A very steep but straight path rose from the village up the side of a hill, and they were going to have to climb it.  They made a very good start, but soon they were all a bit puffed out and stopped for a break.  The clouds got thicker but Mum was grateful that it wasn't sunny as she'd have probably overheated!

They reached the top of the path and took a proper bit of time to rest and catch their breaths.  The Boy thought that maybe that was it, but no... there was more to come.

2016 The long steep path leading back down to the village.  It felt lot steeper and longer than it looks here!

2016 At the top of the path, The Family looked out over the town.  Mum does not consider Blaenau Ffestiniog to be very pretty with all of the slate deposits, but she does appreciate that slate mining was a hugely important industry for Wales.

Yam on the same path in June 2003.

Around the corner The Family went, their legs already feeling heavy.  But, one more long, steep path was to be conquered before they reached their first destination.  They set off, chatting as they went.  Their poor legs, the puffs and pants...Mum and Dad realised they weren't quite as sprightly as they had been in 2003!  The Boy faired a little worse and lagged behind towards the end.  Mum and Dad cheered him on and finally they were all at the top. Pheeeeewwwww!  Mum was roasting and had to remove some layers...that doesn't happen very often.

2016 Looking up the second part of the trail.  It was much steeper, honestly!

2016 The Boy with tired legs.  Mum told him there was something cool at the top, so he got a wriggle on.

At the top, The Family arrived at a big pond.  A big pond surrounded by shards of slate.  This could only mean one thing.  Skimming!

2016 The slate made excellent skimming stones.

Mum has other memories of this pond.  The girls had fun here for other reasons in 2003.  In the shallows of the water was a fish.  The girls stared and stared at it as Mum and Family friend Alf looked on.  Then Yam, being completely cooky and as mad as she always has been and always will be, peeled off her shoes and socks and waded right in to get it!  The fish was barely alive when she brought it to shore and Mum suggested that she should throw it back in as the shock might bring it back to life.  Yam followed the advice, chucked in the fish but threw it rather too high and it smacked back onto the water and slowly sank.  That is why this particular day in history is known as Day of the Dead Fish.

2003 Yam in the water and not caring one jot.

2003 H at the Skimming Pool.

Back to today.  After a good rest, The Family moved on.  It was just a short walk around the grassy inclines to Llyn Manod.

2016 Llyn Manod with Manod Bach on the right and Manod Mawr rising out of the frame to the left.  Mum has climbed both.

They made their way down to the small pebbled beach where many other happy memories were brought to Mum and Dad's mind.

2016 'Excuse us, Sheep.  We're just going down to the beach.'

2016 Down at the beach, The Boy sat on the big rock in the water.

Mum sat on that rock in 2003.

Dad remembered that he had stood on the rocks too but he couldn't remember how he got there.

Well here's the answer.  He took his socks and shoes off!

But he left them on today.

Back in 2003, Mum and Dad's friend, Alf, made pretty beach art.

So Mum made some more in 2016.

Dad and The Boy walked to the other side of the lake.  Mum wanted to, but her instincts told her to stay where she was.  So she did.

2016 Mum was visited by two Canada Geese whilst Dad and The Boy were off exploring.

There they are.  Cooooooooeeeeeeeee!

Once they got back, they told Mum about how they had wet, smelly, boggy feet from walking up to their ankles in deep bits of marsh along the shore.  Mum now knew why her instincts were telling her not to go.  She likes having dry feet.

And then came the familiar conversation that is included on almost any trip out.  It starts with something along the lines of, 'Hmm, I think I'm feeling a bit peckish', followed by a chorus of, 'Ooh yes, me too!' and ends with The Family pulling sandwiches and crisps out of their rucksacks.  Or in this case, walking back down the two steep paths to find a shop to buy sandwiches and crisps.

They ate them in the car and all three members of The Family felt completely wiped out.  'But it was totally worth it!' thought Mum, as she enjoyed the ride home drinking her raspberry jelly through a straw from the glove compartment.  There was no spoon!