On Tuesday morning, for no reason which was obvious to me, I was struck with the thought that I really ought to pay a visit to my 91 year-old aunt in north Wales. Apart from being almost completely blind, her hearing isn't very good and keeping in touch by telephone hasn't been easy. Guilt may have played a part and the fact that it was the first fine day for a very long time might have influenced me - but, for whatever reason, I felt I had to go. So, it didn't take very long to check that there was a room available at a guest house my sister had recommended, throw a few things into a small bag, release Trixie from her lengthy hibernation in the garage, and head off north at around noon.
![Picture](/uploads/4/3/9/3/439336/7059834.jpg?348)
Four or five hours later, after starting off in glorious sunshine, the weather started to deteriorate and, having stripped down to shirt-sleeves for some of the afternoon, I put on my waterproofs. Fortunately, however, although I encountered an occasional light shower after crossing the border into Wales, most of my beloved Snowdonia was shrouded in varying degrees of mist (left). BTW, I use a photo of the lake in the background as a cover photo on my facebook -page - but from a different angle.
During the journey, I stopped a couple of times - to refuel, for example - or to ease the pressure on the base of my spine. Although Trixie has a well-padded seat, I don't; so, rather than being a pain in the backside, I was suffering from one. Something, I hadn't stopped for, however, was food. So, I stopped at Llanberis for a fish and chip supper before continuing on to the B & B and a welcome hot bath and a comfortable bed.
It had rained during the night and when I woke on Wednesday morning, I wished I had used the waterproof cover hidden in Trixie's seat. However, a dry towel did the job and, after breakfast - stopping to buy some custard creams on the way - I rode to the care-home; where my aunt seemed unusually pleased to see me.
Evidently - and this is quite "spooky" (as they say) - at almost exactly the same time as I had felt a strong urge to visit her, my aunt (usually a rather laid-back sort of person) had been feeling particularly 'down' - to the point where she had shed a few tears. Happily, having spent the morning chatting, she had perked-up when the time came for me to leave.
During our chat, my aunt had mentioned that 'our' local village school was celebrating its centenary; so, on an impulse, I called in and was lucky enough to be given a short conducted tour. A photograph album has been put together and, incredibly - bearing in mind I had only been a pupil for a few months during WW2 - I'm in one of them (next-but-one to the right-hand end of the top row - below centre).
(Click on photos to enlarge).
During the journey, I stopped a couple of times - to refuel, for example - or to ease the pressure on the base of my spine. Although Trixie has a well-padded seat, I don't; so, rather than being a pain in the backside, I was suffering from one. Something, I hadn't stopped for, however, was food. So, I stopped at Llanberis for a fish and chip supper before continuing on to the B & B and a welcome hot bath and a comfortable bed.
It had rained during the night and when I woke on Wednesday morning, I wished I had used the waterproof cover hidden in Trixie's seat. However, a dry towel did the job and, after breakfast - stopping to buy some custard creams on the way - I rode to the care-home; where my aunt seemed unusually pleased to see me.
Evidently - and this is quite "spooky" (as they say) - at almost exactly the same time as I had felt a strong urge to visit her, my aunt (usually a rather laid-back sort of person) had been feeling particularly 'down' - to the point where she had shed a few tears. Happily, having spent the morning chatting, she had perked-up when the time came for me to leave.
During our chat, my aunt had mentioned that 'our' local village school was celebrating its centenary; so, on an impulse, I called in and was lucky enough to be given a short conducted tour. A photograph album has been put together and, incredibly - bearing in mind I had only been a pupil for a few months during WW2 - I'm in one of them (next-but-one to the right-hand end of the top row - below centre).
(Click on photos to enlarge).
Although not as nice as it had been when I left the south of England, the weather had improved by the time I left the school. So, I decided to introduce Trixie to the first area my mother and I had moved to after our aforementioned evacuation. It holds a special place in my heart and I feel almost compelled to make a 'pilgrimage' about once a year.
Sadly, I don't think Trixie cared very much for a visit to such a remote location because riding along narrow lanes with grass down the middle (above - top left) was quite tricky. However, improvements to a former ford (above - top right) was appreciated.
From my point of view, however, I enjoyed the experience - not least, riding along the banks of Llyn Geirionydd (above - lower left) which is quite close to the first house I can remember living in (above - lower right) and might explain my fondness for lakes.
Later, after enjoying a Welsh Rarebit in a cafe/guest house in Betws-y-Coed (where I boarded when it was requisitioned as a dormitory for an English school during WW2) I headed homeward - breaking the journey with an overnight stay at a pleasant roadside inn south of Shrewsbury - before continuing home on Thursday.
From my point of view, however, I enjoyed the experience - not least, riding along the banks of Llyn Geirionydd (above - lower left) which is quite close to the first house I can remember living in (above - lower right) and might explain my fondness for lakes.
Later, after enjoying a Welsh Rarebit in a cafe/guest house in Betws-y-Coed (where I boarded when it was requisitioned as a dormitory for an English school during WW2) I headed homeward - breaking the journey with an overnight stay at a pleasant roadside inn south of Shrewsbury - before continuing home on Thursday.