Kingfisher

Tuesday we went to Aberystwyth. The beach has dark grey sand and varying size stones. We were kicking the ball for Brody. He chased it everywhere and enjoyed the water, but eventually lost it in the spray of the tide. We watched it being taken away by the rip of the tide, until finally we lost sight of it altogether. Then on to Llanrhystud for ice cream and a walk along the path back to Aberystwyth. The path is far from dog friendly and we had to help Brody over a stile. He completely ignored the sheep in the field.

Wednesday morning was awful weatherwise. It was also the first attempt at getting Brody to run along by my bicycle. He likes to hold the lead as he runs, but that makes the direction he runs in inconsistent - and therefore potentially dangerous. Riding down the hill I was caught in a gust of wind in the rain - just like having a bucket of cold water thrown at you. When he came back he was very tired, so was I. In the afternoon we left Brody in the cottage and headed for RSPB Ynys-hyr. There was a noticeable lack of birds. Nothing at all - not one from the first hide. In the second hide there was very little. Just a flash of blue across the eye line. It landed on a spindly tree and turned around, showing a bright flash of orange. A Kingfisher! I had to check the board in the hide, just to be sure I wasn't imagining it. There it was on the board, and also still on the tree - right at the limit of the binoculars, I watched go from tree to water. in and out, three times. It was too far away to see if it had caught something. What a treat - I've waited fifty odd years to see one. RSPB Ynys-hyr is a disappointment from a sign posting point of view. We could not find the short path back, and had to go back past the hides we'd already visited. In the evening we went into Caersws for Fish and Chips - very nice. We ate it sitting on the seat across the road from the shop and opposite the pub - which just proves the weather isn't that bad really.

Thursday started with another dog cycle, then we went into Newtown for food and petrol. The consumption is high here because you are always slowing down for a lower speed limit or a tight bend - I rarely use the brakes as often or for as long. After shopping we walked along the Severn to the Pwll Penarth Nature reserve, past the disused canal. It's a pleasant walk. Almost level, mostly between fences, quiet and peaceful. It's supposed to be a cycle path but we only saw one cyclist. The round trip distance was 5.34 miles. Then we drove to Llanfair Caereinion to see if the trains were running (they're not, weekends only) and exercise the dog. Then back to the cottage for our £10 meal deal from Tesco - delicious.