Day Forty two and forty three (16-17 Sept) Walk Day 18
Day 42 Day of rest
Very leisurely start to the day and then a five minute walk in the rain to attend St Peter’s Aberdovey for 11:15 for what turned out to be a communion service (almost entirely in English). There was a priest with a worship leader taking the service, which was good to see. The sermon was based on Mark 8:27-38, and the preacher quoted Bishop Robert Paterson (who I have met) about the way of suffering, God working in power through weakness and the importance of mission. The quote was something like – Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ is for everyone, and ministry is always the servant of mission! He ended with a proverb! – Don’t be afraid of growing slowly, simply be afraid of not growing at all…
Whatever I had clearly shown my true colours and at the door the priest had already worked out I was ordained!!!
After getting a paper, a very gentle day unfolded, the beautifully acted ‘Remains of the day’ and the owls are now sitting on a snowy branch!
Day 43 Morfa Mawdach to Llwyngwril
Phone stats: 20783 steps, 8.8 miles, walking time 3hr 23 minutes
Highest point 912ft!
Up early to drive to the station to catch the train from Llwyngwril back to Morfa Mawdach. Found a convenient car park and a toilet – and encountered lots of interesting knitting on the station! More of that when I walked back into the village later. A ten minute train ride, and then touching point touched and off I went. The first two miles, were out on a dyke to the beach at Fairbourne, and then back into the village.
After another convenient toilet stop, I headed into Friog and the beginning of the long uphill section began. I have been to Friog before (the first of the May half term Wales holidays when I was a child). Again like Criccieth – it didn’t instantly strike a chord of recognition. There was a lot of slate spoil, and I certainly remember a blue lake in the quarry above the village (which I saw signs too). I carried on ascending at times very steeply! I met a couple en route I had met on the train a few days ago, and we discussed our relative progress!
After about an hour of climbing, I had a coffee break, but the climb continued eventually coming out near a very isolated half derelict farm house where there was me, evidence of forestry, 2 deserted yellow diggers and lots of lots of sheep…. I was in the cloud level and heavy rain persisted for about half an hour! The highest point was 912 feet up! The route across the top was easy going under foot on a tarmac track following the undulating contours. Eventually I came down from the heights, passed a farm with a spectacular view, and the tarmac track gave way to a grassy path. This reminded me of the fabulous paths near Heddon’s gate in North Devon, and Noss Mayo – and the sort Poldark rides his horse on. I eventually found a relatively sheltered rock to sit on for lunch, as by this stage the wind had got up.
Turning the next corner – Llwyngril came into sight, complete with the 2 inevitable static caravan parks. There was a gentle descent down paths with stone wall boundaries – I went a bit wrong about a mile out, and descended a track to give me a longer stretch on the main road through the village. This enabled me to enjoy more of the yarn bombing (they were raising money for their community centre). I was most entertained by this, just up my street, reminding me of the heady days of the knitted house community project in Hilmarton (I contributed a knitted window box for that enterprise). I particularly liked the badger in a red jeep, the monster from Cader Idris, and the bridge troll. I crossed the bridge by the village shop and then used a knitted cow as the touching post for the day. I will finish off the yarn bombing trail when I resume walking tomorrow!
I drove back to base camp, and as I was walking back from where I have to park the car to the cottage – I noticed the name of one of the local cafes in Aberdovey! Christ Church has a fantastic sunflower cafe every wednesday morning, and it has just celebrated it’s third birthday.
The Adventures of Alison 