Welsh Characters

This was a day we drove from the Cotswolds to Wales. This would be an easier thing to do if it were possible to pull over more frequently but UK motorways discourage stopping. Lyn frets whenever she is stuck in a car for long. When we did finally find a services stop at Telford it serendipitously happened to be near the nearby World Heritage site. This features Thomas Telford’s gloriously elegant, arched, iron bridge. It is an icon of the Industrial Revolution. Lyn humoured me by driving out of our way to see it. And what I saw was this. 

Yep, it was completely covered with scaffolding and hoarding. Nowhere did the internet sites or street signs say, “Sorry. We’ve covered it in crap.” What a wasted trip. Or so I thought as I navigated a new route. However, getting back on course took us through rural Shropshire. Sometimes things just work out.

Next stop was Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales. This is another piece of Industrial Revolution architectural genius. The aqueduct carries a canal across the gorge and nowadays canal boats do the trip. Lyn proceeded to befriend the locals although she struggled with their Welsh accents. Walking in the woods we chatted with one fellow who explained that the white flowers all around us were wild garlic and then regaled us with the story of how, as young lads, he and his cousin had accidentally let the water out of the part of the canal over the bridge. (This is actually quite credible.) Another local explained to Lyn that he was looking for a Woodpecker he had seen yesterday. This is what happens when you travel with Lyn. It is a blessing but don’t plan on hurrying.

We walked a little and took a ride in a boat. It was all pretty wonderful.

We finally arrived at seaside Llandudno where I’m writing from the top floor Executive Suite of our beautiful Victorian era hotel and looking out the window.