14th August Exploring Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia.

Breakfast thus far has typically included bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes, toast, baked beans, black pudding! and porridge. We have tried black pudding - no thank you. It must be an acquired taste… just like vegemite. The Welsh also include ‘Welsh cakes’ for breakfast.  They are like a compressed sultana scone.  Quite nice!



After breakfast we set off to Ginger's house high on a hill near Betwsy-y-Coed.  Ginger is a friend of Barry’s.  Barry had met him some years ago through the Army.  Ginger’s house is a stone duplex that was built some 150, or so, years ago.  He shares the house with his three pets: Frank, Fritz and Herman (a Labrador, and two Dachshunds).

The weather was pretty ordinary: cool, overcast and patches of heavy rain.  Ginger was our host for the day and he drove us around the Mount Snowdon area.  It was great to get a local’s perspective on the area and its history.  He took us off the beaten track and showed us some beautiful locations.  Later in the evening we went to the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue facility.  Here we met Jed, another former military man (Royal Marines), who gave us a very informative overview of the work that the team does and the equipment they use.  The team is made of volunteers.  It is an impressive capability and service that the volunteers provide.

Peter presented Jed with a plaque from the Queensland SES.

Jed accepting his plaque. Top bloke.

The view from Ginger's front door

Dogs wanting for me to take them for a walk to the top paddock.

Me, Ginger and Peter on a timber bench that Ginger the now local tree man makes.