Traditionally a MTB place, we are off to hunt waterfalls that Mr Moon has seen on his Biking days. I’ve never been here so it’s all new for me.

We had the first part of the day back on Barmouth beach, having our breakfast porridge pot, and first coffee looking out to sea. It was heavenly and much warmer than the previous day.

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After feeling like I’d had too much sun, as I do have a sun allergy. We headed to the woods, a perfect place to get some shade, though it was cooling off as it was 2pm. We planned a small walk and have our pot noodles near the river.

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We finished around tea time, and it was time to get off home. Feeling good we were driving in the golden hour we felt we had no cares in the world. Until the A458 and there was a fire in the middle of the road, so that caused a huge 40min detour. But home by 9pm we were exhausted but thrilled to have had such a lovely adventure.

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.

Last Welsh stop, Celtic Camping

After all the peace and quiet of the last two sites, we are ending on a packed festival type site. Meeting our friends for a birthday celebration for them.

We manage to get a spot right next to them, Billy bonus!!

We have a glorious sea view too.

Gentle walk around the coast on the first night, I had no idea South Wales was this beautiful.

Bit too hard for me to get in, but Mr Moon leaps in.

Sunset is beautiful, and tomorrow we are attempting to find blue lagoon and beach I think. For now it’s birthday drinks, and a whole lot of giggling. I needed that.

We tried to drive it, but had to abort, drive back to site and walk to the beach, along the coastal path. Hard work but worth it.

We stop for a few mins and collect ourselves to walk to the blue lagoon.

It’s stunning, but my god it’s busy!! you can watch them all plunge in from such dizzing heights.

For us it’s a walk back to the beach and have a swim, the temperatures are scorching.

Sadly it’s a long slog walk back to the site, but oh well it was so worth it.

Burnt to a crisp, shattered and can’t barely move now, it’s an easy civilised tea and evening, watching the last sunset, as we go home tomorrow.

Adventure Continues, Wild Camping

Following on from Gellie, it’s time for a crazy 2 night stay wild camping, where we have a compost loo and field to ourselves.

Technically we should of put our stuff in the back of his quad bike and walked down, but we couldn’t leave our car, thankfully it was dry so we could drive down. We followed the farmer through 3 closed gates and many many fields.

Set up slightly on a slope, but only sheep for neighbours apparently. So quiet and relaxing.

That is the compost loo.

We settle down and have a very peaceful evening, planning our next day to be a full beachy day.

Aberporth beach was HEAVEN, easy enough for me to get too, and even get in too swim as well.

Mr Moon took his board out, the sea was very calm and inviting.

Out where all the paddleboarders are still in the distant, it’s because dolphins are swimming so close to them. How beautiful.

Driving back to our field home for our last night already, at 7pm. We hope to catch some sunset and unwind after a long day at the beach.

Climbed to the highest point to grab the views and sunset. Perfect end to a perfect day. Tomorrow it’s pack up and travel to our friends site for 2 nights!!

Adventures in Wales, Gellie Camping

It’s July and my birthday month, and fast coming up to surgery date, so we’ve packed our rucksacks and tent, and we are off to have some adventures in Wales. First time this year being in Wales as lockdown had prevented it.For a complete wild adventure, we have 3 different sites and locations to camp at.

First up is Gellie Camping, and what a delight it is. We are both feeling wishful that it was for more than 1 night here, oh well means we have to come back asap for longer.Nice shower blocks and toilets, and sheltered washing up area.We get to choose which field to pitch on, it’s all very relaxed here, perfect after a long drive.We choose a rather empty field but it has views as higher up.Once set up we dash to New Quay to eat fish and chips and paddle in the sea.Absolutely stunning here!!We soon head back and settle down for the colours of the sunset.Sunset was glorious as you can imagine, listening to owls hooting, it doesn’t get better than this does it??

This must be visited again!!

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 😭

Week 38 Post #HipReplacement

So much has happened in the space of a week, my youngest has been at uni for a week (well more like 10days as this goes live) and let me tell you, that’s been an adjustment for sure, coupled with many tears. Happy ones as I’m proud, but I do so miss her, and worry too. Thank heavens for video calling on whatsapp.

My Left hand injection was over a week ago, still painful memories. Fun Fact: I can hear it grinding when I move it too Ouchie!!

And I’ve helped (bossed and kept company, so not really helping) my second eldest daughter move from Llandudno to Manchester.

All the while, we’ve had horrendous rain, which has hugely increased pains and aches all over. Most notably end of stem aches (mid thigh right leg) and groin right leg, left hand and left ankle. I kinda feel like emigrating to a warm country!! Less pain then. Is this all just Arthritis or Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, either way it’s pretty miserable body wise at times.

Even with the aches and pains, I’m LOVING my hip replacement!! It’s holding up so well, I’m so glad I did it. I struggle at times, but it’s the other hip failing me now.

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?