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.
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.
