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.

Blaenglanhanog

So, the final holiday of 2011 is underway.  We are staying in perhaps the most luxurious cottage of the year Blaenglanhanog.

From 2011_10 Blaenglanhanog

This cottage sleeps 6 easily.  This is large in the way that Thatched Farm was small.  Wales in October is wet.  Wednesday is the wettest.  We expected rain before we came, and it is not a problem in itself, but being in the hills and well away from settlements - even the village is over a mile away - I was hoping to get to see the Milky Way.  No chance so far.  Tomorrow might be a good chance - we'll see.  What is wonderful about holidaying this time of year is that dawn occurs at the right time to wake up.  We do not set an alarm clock and when we wake up in the night it is dark - properly dark - can't see your hands dark.  So when there is light, it is obviously time to get up.

On Sunday, we visited Grandma's Garden.  It's in the grounds of a hotel.  I walked into reception to get the tickets.
"Hello" said a guy dressed like a head Chef, minus the hat.
"Hello, we've come to visit the garden"
"Brave!" he replied, followed by a long warning about how slippery it is - which we soon found was true.  Slipping and sliding around the grounds with an inquisitive dog was not to be recommended.  The Jo slipped over and dropped her camera through a nettle patch.  I managed to retrieve it, but it had hit the decking on the way down.  The lens was pointing the wrong way.  Despite this, it has to be said that the garden was probably not worth the visit.  It's a nice idea, but it is falling apart.  Perhaps Grandma is getting too old to maintain it properly.
Later, we visited Borth to allow Brody to run on the beach.  There is a lot of work going on, but not on a Sunday evening.  It had a run-down feel.  Brody enjoyed the beach and we enjoyed the walk.

On Monday, we visited Llanbrynmair and walked up to the mobile phone mast on the Glyndwrs way.  I went on a little further, on the way back we watched the sheep being moved to a new field. It took about 2 hours. After lunch, we went into Machynlleth to buy a ball thrower for Brody. Then we played in the grounds of the Plas – he broke the first ball immediately. We had a spare in the car. Jo bought some more.
We moved on to Dolgoch falls and finally on to Tywyn beach.