We studied weather apps, we mapped out places to go, and weighed up pros and cons of each place, and settled on Barmouth!! To the beach it is…

So alarm clock set, we are off on a road trip. Packed enough stuff for breakfast, dinner and hope to eat tea out, you have to eat fish and chips at the beach!!

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I had #Wytchwood beer, a new beach shelter and a lovely book to keep me occupied while Mr Moon went paddle boarding.

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We managed to get fish and chips for us both, and sneak back to the beach to watch the sun go down and leave us with a dramatic colourful sky. It felt so glorious to bask, and relax in the sunshine, to watch people, dogs and children all enjoy the simplest pleasures in life. Shattered we find a place to sleep, and I fell asleep so quickly. More adventures for another day to come.

Beach Day

How is it, the Beach and Sea feeds your soul? Does it for you too? It really does for us, so I’m surprised we don’t live nearer to one.

No matter, a day trip is always a good idea, so off we go, plans are afoot for a quick day out at Barmouth.

Strangely the journey is immensely tiring on the body though, so once we’ve gathered out things, and set up. It’s time for lunch, well prepared as we are seasoned campers, it’s pot noodles with a view!!

Never have pot noodles tasted so good. Warm bellies thank goodness as the weather took a turn, and a chill arrived. But no matter it’s still a delight to be here.

The waves gently crashing, the sounds of children playing, kites flying high. This is what we came for. The last throes of summer. It’s feeling a touch autumnal but I’m trying to eek out the last summer’s day.

Warmed ourselves up with a nice hot coffee after the beers made us feel cold.

Then off for fish and chips which is a seaside tradition.

Spotted a wee tiny sun dog, as well as thunderous black clouds lol

One side sunny, one side black heavy clouds, thankfully never got any rain though.

After tea, with a weak sun shinning we had to paddle and watch the sun go down

And it was time to say goodbye. We had a totally relaxing, lazy Sunday. Gazed longingly at the mountains that surround Barmouth, Smiled wistfully at the Sun, and told the Sea our secrets. We are lucky we can connect to nature in such a simple way. Makes you feel whole again.

All elements are balanced at the Seaside, Earth = Sand, Water = Sea, Fire = Sunshine, Air = The Sea Breeze.

First Beach Visit 2020

As the whole lockdown from March has prevented unnecessary travel, and Wales hadn’t opened it’s borders to the English, we’ve not visited any beaches this year until now.

At long last there is enough relaxation in restrictions so we can pop to the nearest beach, which is Barmouth.

After parking the car (car park had plenty of spaces) we were pleased to find the public loos open. We decided the beach wasn’t really an option, as it was windy, a bit chilly.

We opted to explore, and found new things to discover instead. We’ve done some small walks before, but we had an eye on a bench to find, knowing it would give stunning views.

And what views we were blessed with.

The day was glorious, hot while walking, as you soon get a sweat on!! The blue skies and dramatic coastline was heavenly.

Really saw a different side to Barmouth this year, it was peaceful and visually amazing, the mountains and the sea, they are spoilt here.

Obviously we got the obligatory fish and chips, the queue was tiny. And even an ice cream (you can’t visit a beach without buying them) ate them too fast for photos though!

Enjoyed the beach as a walk rather than sunbathing on, wished the paddle board had got out, but the wind was too iffy.

Plenty of peace to be found, the gentle lapping waves, and sun setting, it’s as good as being aboard.

Was sad to see Old Man Barmouth all on his face though 😭

Bad back and hippie woes!

This week I launched my Tragically hip tees on https://www.bonfire.com/to-all-those-tragically-hip/ and you too can own one, raise awareness for all us hippies, click Here

It has 10 days until campagin ends and then they ship out 15th August. So that was my Monday, feeling marginally better back wise, ice really being my friend for pain relief.

Tuesday I managed to go down to one crutch, feeling a lot less broken and I’ve started to actually move a bit more, I’m scared of it becoming too stiff.

Wednesday I did some gentle stretches, I found ones for back pain, I did the minimum as it was all about movement, not actually exercise.

Simple and gentle was all I was after, and now I’m finally back onto my walking stick, huge improvement since Sunday. Last of the nice days tomorrow so we decided on an impromptu beach visit. I obviously felt better in my head.

Thursday we popped to Barmouth, a journey I don’t usually mind, though this time it certainly was harder and more painful indeed. But sun was glorious, water was heavenly and to swim was a good giggle. Only time my back didn’t hurt was in the sea!! My head wanted to do loads, but in truth just a quick swim and stroll to the ice cream shop did me in. Had to keep sitting down, not that the seats are comfy.

I practically slept all the way home, the day really took it out of me, way more than I imagined too. But I’m glad we did it, a sunny day at the beach is always worth it.

Phew then Friday it was my birthday, a lunar eclipse, blood moon and mercury in retrograde. I was bodily broken, still feeling the effects from the beach visit. But we’ve had a gentle day, with my parents, then a movie #spidermanhomecoming as I’m a Spidey fan. And pink gin, what could be better??

Sadly too cloudy for us, Thor God of thunder came to visit so we had no view of this spectacular celestial event, once in a century event. Gutted.

Weekend away with family

Day 9, 10, 11, 12 post #intra-articular steroid hip injection, and day 2,3,4,5 for post steroid hand injection. Both have been tested greatly in our weekend adventures.

Sunny Barmouth has been glorious this holiday!! We loved swimming in the sea, I got to have my nephew’s swimming with me, and such giggles we had all round.

The cottage was amazing, it was 300yrs old,the history and tales it could tell. All higgledy piggledy and full of character.

Walked along beaches, which is still hugely problematic hip and mobility wise. Hip is 80% better than before the steroid, so it’s not fully pain free. Hand however is absolutely fabulous. Aches yes at the end of the day, but I expected that. Beach walks take A LOT out of me, and pain levels soon rise quickly.

So now we are home, it’s time to rest for a while, to settle the hip down and see how long it stays angry for. But I’m definitely impressed with the hand pain which had totally crippled me up until that steroid injection. I wonder how long it will last for?