Each winter bus pass holders get free train travel on some (not all unfortunately) local train lines including the line that goes from Mach along the coast to Pwllheli. This stops at the end of March and for the three years we have known about this weather and our numerous commitments meant we didn't take advantage of the offer. We would have gone last week but the line was closed for maintenance and we didn't think we could go this Wednesday, our only free day as Peter had organised the rowing club's AGM for this evening. But when I saw the sun this morning and double checked the train times I saw that we would be back in Mach by 4.00. This was at a quarter to eight and by half past we were in the car on our way to Mach. Minus breakfast but as we left I grabbed a couple of sliced of Bara Brith and a banana.
From then on all the timings went perfectly. We parked in the Co-Op car park in Mach, had a brisk 10 minute walk to the station in plenty of time for the train. It was a very interesting two and a half hours along the coast to Pwllheli across estuaries and through tunnels, where we had 20 minutes to stretch our legs and find the station toilets before getting back on the same train back to Barmouth. There we had two hours to have a quick stroll along the main street (me) and buy some fish and chips (Peter) which we ate by the beach. We had a walk on the beach and over sand dunes before catching the next train which got us back to Mach for 4.00. That gave Peter enough time to get home and print off some papers before going out to set up the AGM while I washed my hair, sorted the photos and made a start on the blog before going off to choir.
One feature of the landscape was the many stone walls something we don't see in this less rocky area. And sheep with lambs everywhere though we have sheep here too.
Apologies for the reflections from the train windows. We sat on the landward side on the way out and gave ourselves sea views on the way back though some times I took photos through the windows on the other side of the train.
The train was quite busy and I reckon a lot of people like us were taking advantage of the free travel offer. Also notable were the numbers of dogs on the train. All well behaved thankfully.
This is the seafront at Barmouth, a small seaside town with plenty of summer attractions; amusement arcades, a funfair, trampolines and donkey rides on the beach. We saw many holiday parks and camp sites all along the coast and I can imagine it gets very busy in the summer.
We found ourselves some quiet sand dunes to march over.
Looking back along the coast towards Tywyn, Aberdyfi and Mach. This was definitely the most scenic part of the journey with rocky hills on one side and the sea on the other. For part of the time we could just make out our side of Cardigan Bay.
Part of Barmouth with Snowdonia behind. I'll post more photos tomorrow.
Update on the scavenging seagulls- following the mess (recycling strewn across the road) caused by the seagulls last week I noticed that this week a number of the households in our road had put their recycling and black rubbish bags in a variety of lidded containers ranging from a clear tub (us and the chap across the road) to dustbins and even a wheelie bin. A bit more bother for the bin men having to remove the bags rather than just pick them up from the pavement but at least the seagulls can't get to the bags.
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