Best laid plans ....

The weather has changed for the worse and takers for a ten mile walk along the coast in heavy rain and gusty wind are non-existent. I have a lie in, and a pub lunch for 17 at the Ship Inn down on the beach front at Tresaith seems to be today's preferred option all round.

By late afternoon the weather has cleared up and we descend onto the beach for paddling, crabbing, rock-climbing and photo-shoots. The waterfall that cascades down onto the beach was impressive with this morning's rainfall - if somewhat muddy looking

I think the week has been a great success - mostly good weather, beautiful walks, excellent company, good in-house catering (  have put on 4lbs in spite of the exercise ) all washed down with 47 bottles of wine ( we didn't count the beer, cider and spirits ). Hope to return to carry on with the coast path south of Cardigan into Pembrokeshire. Thanks everyone.

Cheers!

Thursday - Mrs Overall & St Dogmael

Didn't really plan on a proper walk today as I thought Geoff and I could just reconnoitre some beaches and coves along tomorrow's proposed route between Cardigan and Newport - but we started the day, excitingly enough,  in the nearby Army surplus store in Sarnau. Geoff is here modelling my new workshop overalls bought for the princely sum of £5. I now seem to be an employee of  S&F Motors Ltd and my name is Chris Emery according to my labels. Shame you didn't leave me a crab sandwich, or some loose change in the pockets Chris.

We drove on past Cardigan along some really narrow lanes to the coast at Moylgrove

Just a short walk around the headland were huge cliffs, a sea stack and caves and the path wending its way along the cliff tops towards Newport looked a really good prospect for tomorrow' walk.

On the way back to Tresaith we called in at St Dogmael's just outside Cardigan and spent a couple of hours in the village there looking around the ruined abbey, the churchyard and the visitor's centre

I'm still seeking inspiration for my Potfest competition piece for " Shrines, altars and markers" this year at the shows and the old graveyard there threw up some interesting ideas.

We finished the day doing some rock-climbing on the beach at Tresaith with Ben

Wednesday - Best walk of the week - 9.5 miles

Today's plan was an early start - Geoff would drive us and drop us off in Newquay - and hopefully we would walk back along the coastal path to Llangrannog, where as many of us as possible would meet up for a late lunch. It was another beautiful sunny day, and I was joined by Jan and Sammi from California and Peter, my London cousin's husband. Geoff is hobbling around with a swollen knee, and is now only good for chauffeur and ice-cream buying duties.

We left Newquay, climbing the hill up above the fish factory - fast - to get away from the fishy odour much beloved by the thousands of seagulls who were milling around there hopefully - further along the coast out in the bay we spotted four dolphins, dutifully ticked off in my Chief I-Spy book of things Christine needs to see on her holidays - which just leaves me missing the hardest thing to spot this week - fresh crab sandwiches.

Dropping down to Cwmtydu cove about 4 miles into the walk I saw our car in the car park - Geoff had been sculpting in the car while he waited to see us pass by. I don't really know of anyone else who takes 2 rolls of chicken wire and wire snips on holiday with them.

The cliff top scenery was superb on this stretch

and the path had been specially constructed  impressively  half way down the cliffs.

Llangrannog and lunch were just around the next headland

On Llangrannog beach cousin Cathy was waving - it's quite hard to spot her amongst the holidaymakers - and if I hadn't had to change out of my walking boots into my comfier trainers eight miles into the walk we would have made it in time for lunch at 1-30.

As it was we were 5 minutes late and they'd started on the fish and chips without us - family - huh!

Running, skiving and bouncing

There wasn't much enthusiasm for a whole day's walk today - too many tired legs after yesterday's exertions - with the exception of Marathon Man of course. Mike ran to Newquay, twelve miles up the coast, and we drove there to pick him up at 11am to meet up for coffee with some of the others in Aberaeron six miles further on.

Low tide at Newquay

Mike looked remarkably fresh as he ran down to the harbour to meet us, but was mortified to see he'd taken 2 minutes longer than on Sunday - nothing to do with all the food and booze consumed of course. Next stop was Aberaeron for coffee and a wander round the very pretty town with its many coloured Georgian houses.

Drove home for a late lunch followed by a short stroll along the coastal path to Aberporth

and back to the house just in time for the afternoon trampolining session

Not tempted to join in !

Bryn Berwyn and the Ceredigion coastal path

If it's May this must be my Welsh walking week. I'm not half way through the year yet and I'm suffering from walk lag - staggering around not altogether sure where I am - a bit like jet-lag but without the volcanic ash. In truth this week was booked as an extended family holiday with my cousins from around the globe as a repeat of one we did two years ago, staying in the same house on the mid Wales coast at Tresaith, just north of Cardigan. This year there are 3 cousins, assorted spouses, children and grand-children - 17 of us in all - so lots of walking companions for the week.

Our home for the week - Bryn Berwyn

The beach at Tresaith.

Sunday : A walk from the house to Llangrannog  further up the coast  and back ( approx 8 miles )

A lovely sunny day - with only the Californian contingent feeling the cold!

Impressive coastal scenery on the way there and quiet country lanes on the way back

The first of the week's many ice-creams as we valiantly try and work our way through all the flavours

Monday : A 20 minute drive to our nearest town of Cardigan to do a bit of shopping, search out some internet connections, then a walk back along the coast to Tresaith ( 11 miles)

Favourite shop of the week - Yum Yum sweetie shop. Jars and Jars and Jars to die for. Sweetie heaven

Sunny again, but with a cold wind. The walk followed the estuary and Poppit sands out of Cardigan but then took us inland for a long way before rejoining the coast at Mwnt Bay

Johnny gained a friend who walked with us as far as Mwnt.

Cousin Mike from Palo Alto, California - this was just a stroll in the park for him - he's an ultra-marathon man and is in training for his next 100 mile run in a few weeks time.

This will probably be our only sighting of marine life this week - one more than was spotted on the whole coastline of the Isle of Man. We were due to meet up with some of the others in Aberporth mid afternoon, but the cold wind had put paid to paddling and sand-castles and by the time we got there the beach was deserted and even more tragically - the pub was shut. Geoff was spotted on a bench like a solitary Dylan Thomas figure and together we walked back the last mile and a half to the house.

Earl Thomas and the Kings of Rhythm

I have just had the most wonderful evening out -  at the unlikely venue of Penrith's  Leisure centre, one-time scene of my dismal attempts at badminton, bowling, swimming and aerobics - but tonight transformed into a pumping music venue featuring the San Diego genius of Earl Thomas and the Kings of Rhythm.

For tonight only we had our own Otis and Ike - blues, rock, soul and funk - a world class act in Penrith, sandwiched between gigs at The Sage, the BBC,  one of  only 8 venues in the UK, and I was lucky enough to be there. Many thanks boys - you made an old lady very happy - and congratulations to Eden Arts - how are you going to top that one!

More info @ http://www.earlthomasmusic.com/