Oldies On Tour

Tuesday 21st October 2025

We’re heading to Conway today to meet up with our good friends Dave and Leisha, but not until midday, so no immediate rush.   Apart from a wake-up call around 0700hrs from Tom-Tom, a good night was had by all giving us an opportunity for a lie in.   

The dogs became restless soon after 0800hrs so Christine knew it was “walkie” time, after which we breakfasted.   We had arranged to meet at the “Erskine Arms” in Conway at 12 o’clock, a dog friendly hostelry within the old town, but knowing it would be a “Protracted” affair, we needed to exercise the dogs just before we sat down!!!   We decided a beach walk would do the job, so stopped at the “Conway Morfa Beach” just before we arrived in Conway.   We were quite surprised at the number of cars in the car park on this windy, cloudy morning, most walking their dogs as well!   There are sand dunes between the car park and the beach, the tide was in and by the time we’d got over the dunes to the beach, the dogs were already in the water; oh well they’re happy, rather them than us!

After chasing about in and out of the sea, we threw a ball in the car park to “try” and shake some of the water and sand off them before heading to the Erskine.

The Erskine Arms is a 19th Century Georgian coaching inn inside the town walls believed to be built between 1830/40’s and as expected, minimal car parking.  Fortunately there was a large car park by the nearby station and as a bonus, free; well free today as they were replacing the pay machine!!!!!

As we had the dogs we couldn’t enter the restaurant but stayed in the bar, this was no issue, we were very happy, we had a good sized table in the corner, the service was very good and the food was excellent.  The only Criticism was their rule:- “you have to pay as you order, no tabs in this bar”; unbelievable!!

Our extended lunch eventually came to an end and we said our good-byes before heading back to our respective homes; fortunately Christine had volunteered to drive back before we sat down to lunch.

Back in our holiday-home, we relaxed and other than taking the dogs out for a walk had a “TV night”; we certainly didn’t need to eat anything!!!!

Monday 20th October 2025

We’re away on holiday but unfortunately Tom-Tom hadn’t read th script, he decided he wanted to go out at 5.30am much to Christine’s disgust, I didn’t hear him!!  Anyway after his “quick” visit to the garden he was back and we all settled down again, though Christine struggled to really get back.

Looking out of the window at first light the day looked promising, and the forecast suggested rain around 4.00pm, so after breakfast and a chat with the owners, we headed out.   Our destination was “Red Wharf Bay” on Anglesey, where there was a dog friendly beach.

Our drive took us over the Menai straits over the more modern Bridge built in 1958.  The original which can be seen from the North Wales  Expressway Bridge (A55); the Menai Suspension Bridge (Pont y Borth or Pont Grog y Borth in Welsh) is a suspension bridge spanning the Menai Straits between the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales Designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826, it was the world’s first major suspension bridge.  The bridge still carries road traffic and is a Grade I listed structure.

As we drove there the weather improved, a glimmer of blue sky started to appear and when we arrived at this “dog friendly” beach, it was non existent, the “blurb” we read didn’t add —- “only at low tide”. — the tide was right in!!!   Anyway we stopped for a cuppa and home made cake before heading to Beaumaris; the glimmer of sun had now grown to a large patch of sun, and by the time we reached Beaumaris, clear blue sky, well over Anglesey.  Looking back over the Menai Straits towards Snowdonia, or Eryri National Park as it’s now known (locally), we couldn’t see the tops, everything was covered with very dark and ominous clouds, probably coming our way!

Parking in the town was limited and only for a short time so we were forced to use the big car park on the sea front; flat fee, £7.50!!!!, still the tide had receded and there was some beach, albeit it was stoney but the dogs didn’t care, they went straight into the sea.  By now the sun was shining brightly and was warm as well as we now headed into the Main Street.

Beaumaris is a pretty little place at the head of the Menai straits that boasts a famous castle, well the greatest castle never built. It was the last of the royal strongholds created by Edward I in Wales – and perhaps his masterpiece.   We looked from the outside but decided not to visit it today, maybe on the next visit.

We wandered the length of the Main Street but apart from a visit to a chemist, a pie and a pint, we headed back to the beach and with the tide out, the dogs had more space to run about.

Christine took the wheel and drove the car for the first time and took to it like a duck to water.

Back at our cottage and after a cuppa, we donned our boots and headed out with the dogs.  What a good choice this place is, perfect for dogs, comfortable and quite central for visiting this part of Wales.   Tomorrow we head to Conway to meet up with Dave and Leisha for lunch.

Sunday 19th October 2025

The day started with a hearty breakfast at the Sidcot Arms Hotel with Martin and Julie, they stayed there last night.  With all that’s going on at home; no bathroom etc, all we could offer was dinner!!!

Today we are off to Snowdonia where we have rented “something” deep in the countryside, part of an old mill; hopefully we won’t be disappointed!!!

Friday afternoon I changed my car and today is the first time I’ve had to get acquainted with it, normally this would not take long but I’ve gone “green” well partially, I’ve gone for a hybrid and every single control is via a “screen”; my goodness how on earth am I going to manage to remember what to press or when to scroll etc., and that’s besides getting to grips with electric and when the engine kicks in.   Yesterday I also had a shock when I tried my cruise control, the car drove itself, took over the steering, What????   I headed back to the dealership to see if I could stop this function, they laughed but switched it off; thank goodness, I like driving!!!!  The other strange feeling was filling up with petrol, I have been driving diesel cars for the past 30-years.

I digress.   After saying our “good-byes” we headed off and hit the M5 and the first thing once we got up to speed was switch on the cruise control only to find that whatever speed I set it on, it would always bring the speed down to the speed limit, unbelievable, and as it came up on a slower car it reduced automatically and though I knew it had this particular feature, this was the first time I’d experienced it.  When I pulled out it went back up to 70MPH.

The weather today was miserable, one of those days, dull due to very low clouds and continuous drizzle, typical, after weeks of good weather we chose the first week of real autumn to have a break. We were looking forward to our drive up through the centre of Wales through stunning countryside but alas we saw nothing other than rain and and leaves on the road.  The only good things today were that only essential journeys were being taken, the roads were reasonably empty and the change in the weather highlighted the autumn colours.   

We weren’t looking forward to unpacking the car in this weather as no doubt at our “out-of-the-way hideout” we wouldn’t be able to get the car to the front door!!  As we left the main road and headed down the side road, miraculously the rain stopped and there was a break in the cloud then as we left the side road and headed along a rather long farm track, the sun came out, wow someone was looking after us!!!!!   

At the end of the track we came across this big old renovated watermill, our home for the next five nights, and as expected the car parking area was at the bottom of the hill.  The instructions told us to walk back up the hill, in through a small gate then back down the steps, our “cottage” turns out to be an “apartment”; half of the ground floor but right opposite the garden, very handy for the dogs.   Thank goodness the sun was out during this time.

Once installed we headed out to give the dogs the exercise they needed after four hours cooped up in the car, though they do have more room now than the last car.   

Up the steps, then back down the hill to the other side of the mill, naturally besides running water where there is a wooden bridge leading through to some woods and into a field, perfect for the dogs and us.    They did their “business” and a lot of “running about” chasing the ball  before we headed back for something to eat and a quiet evening watching the US Grand Prix, followed by an early night.   Naturally we were tired after the four-hour drive, but also due to last night; Martin and Julie joined use for dinner and the wine flowed; say no more!!!!!