Snowdon

 So here we are again. At the beginning of the Pyg track, ready and able to take on the accent once more

 Mum is looking as fit as ever, sporting jeans and a berghaus waterproof with a puffa underneath it must be said as she has not got a beer belly.

Underneath Crib Goch she stands proud that we have walked the ridge! but we will not take it on today as it's rather cold and windy and we're out for a stroll not an endurance test!

 Spot the difference if you can?

Here we both pose with the summit in view. It's an awesome sight. We are taking our time and enjoying every minute of this familiar walk. Happily remembering all the times we've spent here with you and Jon.

The Pyg track climbs steadily upwards, leading us to our goal although we are not in a hurry as we have plenty of time and good head torches with us!

Close to the top we come accross a money tree!!! Which we assume is for good luck as we've not seen it before and must be a recent idea as we were here only 1 years ago. Maybe we were so tired then that we didn't notice it!

So we find a free spot and place lots of good wishes and luck to you which will blow in the wind like Tibetan prayer flags

The money tree in all it's glory overlooking Llyn Glaslyn and beyond. What a view!

 And at last we reach as good as the summit, the finger rock at the top of the Pyg Track. As you can see, mum is overjoyed to be here and runs to cuddle the stone.

And not to be left out, I too have to have a cuddle. Spot the difference?

I'm the one with more hair!

And as for the view that awaits us, don't blink cos in a matter of seconds this view was obliterated by an intense hail stone shower, with visibility going down to next to nothing ! And as for the wind, a howling north wester blowing extremely cold, brrr, felt like Everest. Honest.

At the top, elated and windblown. We've made it. Now we mustn't get blown off cos wow its windy and straight down on all sides.

There's a mountain to climb every day and we Beynon's know how to reach the top !!!

And as we come down, we have to mellow to the moment and be happy we are alive and doing well

Taking in the surroundings, we are blessed with little marvels that are easily missed.

and with Snowdon in sillouette with the sun going down, we still don't need the £45 head torches we bought as a gift for ourselves from Y Warws. Lovely torches mind, but not needed as we have got down well before sundown.


So we wish you a good nights rest and send all our love, hope you have a good week.
A happy birthday to you Storm, hope you enjoy the book
Speak to you tomorrow
Dad n Mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Caffi Gwynant

~So here we sit, your mum and me, at Caffi Gwynant. The Caffi you know so well. It's pouring with rain out side and we are very happy to be here typing a blog to you. I'm going to put some photos from Jon's birthday and Snowdon on this blog, to keep you up to date and amused.

Jon's Birthday for us was spent as usual somewhere you would expect to find us, Rhossili and Worm's head of course.We talked to you from the car park, which made our day. The food was as to be expected, ghastly! but we wouldn't want it any other way. The weather was also perfect as you can see from photo above. 

We've never walked this path before, out to the rocky headland at Fall Bay, where we once picked you and Higgs up in the boat. Mum looks like she's walking off into the heavens to see Jon! She found a mushy instead in the guise of a seal!

At the point her hopes were dashed by a rockfall, fortunately, no one was underneath! It felt like we could be anywhere in the world.
Happy Birthday Jon, we all miss you.

And on to our Snowdon trip, which is only on day 4 and already it seems like we've been here for ages, well over the years we have and it's such a familiar place to us.

So a good place to start as always is on the river bank, which is where mum here is standing with Gallt yr Wenallt in the background. an unusual view taken from the far corner of the campsite, past the bridge.

We're parked up nearly in the same spot as last year, about 10 yards away! It's even got a windbreak of trees where the bike is parked. good spot.

Yesterday we walked a walk we've promised to do for years, up the wall on Wenallt as if to go to the top. Gerry had told us that it was a good way to stand on the top of the scary hill but we were not up to it as it got very steep and we were out for a walk not an endurance test. so we turned back down, not quite half way up. and found ourseloves on familiar ground on the path to Nant Gwynant for a cup of coffee and a cake!

 You have walked this path with us on several occasions and it's more our style than wilderness exploring.
Mum wants it to be know that she is wearing a puffa jacket under her coat and she is much slimmer than this photo might suggest!!!

Beautiful Rowan tree by bridge, mum thinks we three took photos of it last year. I bet she's right.

As to this strange addition to the Snowdon wildlife, a Lama no less and doesn't he look just like a huge sheep with a long kneck. What a sweetheart. what a suprise!

And here we are, safe and full up with cake ! in a woodland I know you'll remember from last year as we had you in fits of giggles over something or other and you will have taken shots here too. Right above the place we lost Storm when he was off playing with water falls and we were in the canoe, shouting Storm! where are you! Remember? Good times even if you were down with dysentry ! We Beynon's make the most of what we have, when we have it! Yep !

Back at the campsite, it looks like Beautiful Days! There is a scout gathering this weekend and we've never seen it so packed with laughing, shouting kids and scout leaders who should get a grip and chill out a bit! Big Kids they are.

 And here is the last photo of this blog and we can't decide whether to use the B&W or the colour? So we'll send you both and see what you think?

They are both lovely and the shot is taken off the top of elephant rock, a place which will always be close to our hearts. As you are.
All our love and a happy bithday to Storm
xxxx from Caffi Gwynant

Birthday outing

 So here I am, still as handsome as ever at the age of 57. And it's my birthday outing to Whiteford Burrows. Mum has made a huge effort for me today and given me gifts and sweets and lots of love, making today a special day. Speaking to you in the morning was a fine birthday treat, I normally see you for 2nd Sept.

so with new T shirt on ( or off ! ), we set out in the rain for our day out. Quickly the weather cheered up and the long walk out was full of interest as usual. Although it did take it out of me and as mum clicked away at the dancing swallows, I took a nap.

  We had already eaten our gorgeous salmon and goats cheese bagels and with the sound of birds wings flapping and dragon flies buzzing, I snoozed to the click click of mum's camera as she shot hundreds of times trying to capture the awesome swallows. Quite a task as the birds whiz around frantically feeding with mum shooting with a telephoto lens!

Time to wake up and time to give that shutter a chance to cool down!

And what a place to take a nap. As my eyes become accustomed to this dreamy place, I am confronted with skies of delight.

And looks of delight

Time to wake up old man and get on with our day. 'Am I the maiden of your dreams? ' Mum asks?
Of course
So on with the walk and we step into the Hebridean landscape not quite believing our eyes.

On turning around, a horse poses for us, as if he's waiting to be paid!

And on we go, rounding the point and starting our long walk back towards Cwm Ivy.

What a beautiful place we live in, we are so lucky. With the lighthouse in the distance, I remember as a lad that these dunes in the foreground did not exist! The have formed in my lifetime. As the main dunes erode in the wind and tides, the sand is brought by the currents and deposited here. With time the Marram Grass takes hold and a new landscape is born, only to be eroded as time passes. Life is ever changing.

As we are, yet your Mum remains as beautiful as ever ( as long as she's in a good mood !!! )

Here is a shadow in time of your Mum with her birthday boys!

Hand in hand we walk this life together, through thick and thin, up's and down's and we're still here, daft as ever, loving you forever.

We're picking blueberries in the dunes as the sun gets lower, finding enough to make 3 full jars of jam, one of which I shall keep for you. I love berry picking and making the yummy jam. In the dunes here are lots of fruit without any spikes, unlike blackberries which you have to pay for with your blood1

And as the sun starts to set, your mother is found gaily wandering off into the woods with one of her boys

Only to be caught canoodling up against a tree!

And this brings to an end a lovely birthday. I'm 57, healthy and I'm going to be around for many years to come. At least, that's my intention.

Happy Birthday to Me!

LOVE XXX YOU