Wales - Day 2 (3 May)

Great sleep last night - our beds are super comfy and cosy. Actually got a bit hot and had to stick my foot out a couple of times. 

Good news, my runny nose seems to have mostly disappeared and am now blowing it only a couple of times a day. I will keep taking the Lemsip tablets (yes they are tablets, not satchels) for another day or two just to make sure.

This morning we head off to a local park called Wepre Park which has a lovely walk to a waterfall and then if one continues for another 10 - 15 mins we will see Ewloe Castle ruins - so that's the plan before driving about 70 mins to Caernarfon Castle.

We experienced some light rain as we arrive at the Park, but by the time we've walked about 200m it's stopped. Here's some shots of the waterfall and the slightly longer walk to the Ewloe Castle ruins:






After passing the above bridge we walk a bit further and discover Ewloe Castle. It just appears in the wood and its highest tower barely pokes above the landscape. Furthermore, an enemy could easily lob missiles into the castle from the high ground behind it. So why is it here?

Well, that's a mystery. The only reference available states that in 1257 Llywelyn ap Gruffudd built 'a castle in the corner of the woods.' And that's it!!

It was a lovely way to start our day. We also ran into several people walking their dogs - given the water in the creek, I can guarantee the dogs were having way more fun than their owners 🐶🐕.

Back to the car we trotted - Sue's in the drivers seat today. One problem we hadn't yet solved was how to move the car seat back from the steering wheel. We can move it forward, but not back!!! Should be the simplest thing to do, but nup. We've youtubed it, googled it, but no luck - YET!!! So frustrating.

We put in the co-ordinates for Caernarfon Castle and to our surprise it was only 35 mins away, not 70 mins. Bit odd we thought, and headed off. 35 mins later we arrived at the Caernarfon Castle Pub - yep it was Windsor Castle all over again!!! HILARIOUS.

Address was almost identical except the pub was in the suburb of ##$$% and we needed to be in the suburb of Castle Ditch. To make matters worse, we'd driven 35 mins in the totally wrong direction, so had to back track all the way and it made a 70 min trip a 130 min trip 👀👎💩💩💩💩💩💩💩.

Finally arrived about 2.30pm (traffic was terrible as it's a public holiday on Monday and everyone was taking an extra long weekend) and promptly found a pub to have lunch. We arrived at the Castle at 3.30pm, giving us 90 mins to explore, which we were duly informed was the perfect amount of time needed (although you could spend all day!!). It is an interesting Castle, and in the 20th century scholars began to believe there may be symbolic meaning as well as military planning at Caernarfon Castle.

Edward I loved the stories of King Arthur and other heroes who originated in Wales. One legend in particular called 'The Dream of Macsen Wledig' was important to Caernarfon. Did Edward I attempt to use the castle's architecture and the importance of its location to make a symbolic statement, with the mythological beginnings of Welsh royal power at its heart? Edward may have manipulated the stories of King Arthur and Macsen Wledig; using Caernarfon's legendary past to promote his own future. 

Here's some photos:







The above photo is where the late Queen and then Prince Charles stood in 1969 to wave to the Welsh crowd after his investiture was completed to become the Prince of Wales.

After our fun day, the timing at the Castle was perfect. We were having a final chat to the guy who sold us our ticket, when another staff member walked out and rang the bell, signalling everyone to head to the exit gate. 

Final bit of good news, I found a video that may fix out seat issue. Tried pushing a button on the seat from the end (not up and down) and 'viola' problem fixed. Thank goodness!!!

Sue was happy to drive us back, now she had more leg room and it was an extremely easy and fast trip of 65 mins (the cars were chockers on the other side of the road). Here's some shots from our return trip:






There was one hairy section about 2 miles from our destination when Sue had to navigate about 1 mile of road that barely fit two cars - especially when all the cars heading off for their long weekend were taking up two thirds of the road!!

Chinese for dinner with a bit of cake and a cuppa!!

Tomorrow we head to York with a few side trips - all planned - and hopefully no double back tracking!!

Toodle pips for now.



 




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