Ann Boland

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Day 9, September 29, 2016 – Conwy to Fishguard

Pentower B&B from the lawn.  The tower was in our room.  More photos below the post

We retrace our path through the Vale of Conwy and Snowdonia, as beautiful as ever.  Today, it’s sunny, so we see higher peaks and broader vistas.  We are heading south on the A470 till it meets the A487 and we begin our swing west, towards the Irish Sea.  We stop for lunch at Aberyswyth. (pronounced abe-res-weth, I think.  The beginning A is short, accent on the second syllable.)  Nothing exceptional we could find about the town, though there is a National Portrait Museum that we should visit another time.  It seems to be a university town as well.  

We are continually boggled about directions.  Stopped at a petrol station, coming off a two lane road.  When we went to leave, we could not remember which way we were going and had to meekly go back to the cashier and ask for the direction to Fishgard.  Ed does a great job driving, but, as we all would, reverts to the U.S. driving reflex of pulling to the right rather than the left when confronted with a potential driving crisis.  Norah survives by riding in the back seat with her eyes closed.  I try not to nag…

One of the highlights was passing The Man with a Cross.  http://daibach-welldigger.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-man-with-cross.html
We found him complete with entourage of piccolo player, Scottie dog and pilgrim-looking fellow.  A welcome break from the green vistas and sheep.

Our first glimpse of the Irish Sea is beautiful, and we track it most of the way south, arriving early evening at Pentower, our B&B in Fishguard.  Beautiful place.  We have been so fortunate with our accommodation thus far.  I trust Trip Advisor and try to go with their top picks.  Pentower was the highest recommended and with good reason.  Beautiful location overlooking the port, lovely rooms and Tony and Mary are gracious hosts.  Our first dinner was sandwiches we packed from Conwy, relaxing in the sitting area overlooking the Sea.  Perfect!

Typical roadside beauty in Snowdonia

The only graffiti we have seen in our entire trip.  On the side of an abandoned caravan.  Roads are in remarkable condition.  Rarely do you see litter and even rarer is a roadside ad or billboard.

Man walking across Wales with the Cross

Lord Beechings Pub in Aberysryth

Norah at Lord Beechings Pub

No, I'm not likely to trespass on the utility substation.

The Irish Sea

Our bedroom at Pentower

Norah's fireplace with a peek into her loo

Dining room and sitting area overlooking the port at Pentower