As a Green an unnatural period of heat, and sun, is a concern. As a traveller how extraordinary to be in Wales and have non stop sunshine in April. It was bliss.
That being said a few things did not quite work, but in the end, it does not really matter. One I slipped in the bath (again) whacked my face, and shock myself up, but luckily no long lasting effects. (I was having the bath to ease out my very painful back, so one pain, helped cancel out another!) Two and this I have taken longer to get over, despite the brilliant weather, I did not get on the boat to Ramsey Island which was what I was really trying to do on the holiday. It was very frustrating in many ways as to have non stop sun is almost unheard of in Wales but it still wasn't the right weather for my trip, so it got cancelled. A later trip would have happened, but there were not enough people signed up to do it, and frustratingly, with another company, they too did not have enough people to go out. So several people had made the effort to get to St. David's and spent money too, to get there, but their trip did not happen, partly because the boat companies have not found a way to work together for everyone's benefit! And there is quite a bit of hanging around before all this is worked through, which when the sun and sea beckon is frustrating.
All of that could have potentially spoilt the trip, but when the sun shines that part of Wales is so lovely it is not such a problem. I started in Havefordwest and at one time it must have been a handsome place, but arriving late in the afternoon it was almost all shut. However, I could explore the remains of an old abbey and look up at the broken walls of what must at one time have been an awe inspiring castle, so that felt like a mini adventure. There was so little there, I was able to catch an earlier bus next morning onwards to St. David's. Too early to sign in to the hotel, I headed downhill, with case, to the Cathedral. It is the most wonderful sight. Pictures do not do it justice and inside it has a lovely energy. But I was also there for brunch with welshcakes. However, if I could have I would have been tempted just to sit and sit in the peace of the nave. When my boat trip did not happen the following day, I returned and spent more time there. Apparently if you do two trips to St. David's that is the equivalent of a pilgramage to Rome, but not sure if two brunches count.
The other enticing thing about St David's is that you can see the sea from this tiny city, and it was so inviting I found myself walking across a field down towards St Nons but instead arrived in Port Clais just in time for the bus. I was so careful with my footing trying to hurry to catch the bus but not fall, it is ironic that it was a bath than felled me. The following day, I returned to the area to explore a bit more, going up the hill, sitting and just watching the sea and the sky, and then going back down the hill in time for the bus again, but this time onto the beach for the afternoon.
A long time ago, my brother was sun burned so badly on a Welsh beach he had to go to A and E, so dozing on the beach I was mindful, but it was lovely to bask in the heat and just watch the dogs and a couple of kids love running up and down on the largely empty beach. I was tempted to stay long, but figured that despite the apparent regularity of the buses, it would be good to get back to St. Davids in time for tea and cake. However, at that moment the buses failed me, and by the time I got back the cafes were shut, so intead I had very nice fish, with so many chips I could not finish it all. Rather than throwing them away something inspired me to take them with me and as it felt too early to go back to the hotel, I explored futher and found myself on the cliffs overlooking Caefai beach. Here the birds were wheeling and keen eyed, but the wind stopped them landing on the harvest I had saved. But as I left, I scatted the chips and the birds ensured no litter remained. A lovely ending to the time there.
Breakfast next day was a bus ride away in Fishguard, lunch in Aberglasny Gardens, with aforementioned brother, and wife, where it was so hot, we had to seek out the shade of the wild flower meadow and the evening meal was in Brecon with more of the family and live music. Happy Days. Saturday I spent almost the whole day in the garden, apart from doing my second Brecon park walk, but Sunday, and this was the event which sparked the whole trip we went to Builth Wells for the Wonder Wool event. I bumped into someone who had been at the trip I did in January, and loved seeing all the beautiful wools but it was the weaving that really captured me.
With my bus pass, I can't get free travel in Wales, but it is still good value to use the different routes, apparently the direct bus to Cardiff has stopped, so I have missed a trick there, but the route through to Hereford still operates, so that was where I headed next, on route to see a friend in Worcester. And there the weather finally turned and there was a very cold wind, but the Commandery is a great place to stop and learn more about this area and a part of British history which is absolulutely seminal but not always covered in depth in school.
These days trips abroad are more complicated, so it was wonderful to discover part of a previously unknown bit of Wales and to revisit places, but to see them from a new perspective. I am already hoping I will get to return as there is still so much more to see and experience and who knows, perhaps I will one day see the birds flying over Skomer.
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