I made my way to The Richmond Hotel on the sea front. Checked in and made my way up two flights of stairs to get to my single room which was fortunately served by an extremely efficient fan which was very necessary given the room was so warm.
I was meeting an old college friend, Richard for supper, so decided to get out and re-visit old haunts and memories. The Gallery below has a commentary on the images which might explain their significance. If not, they constitute a catalogue of memories for me and Jenny.
Richard and I ate in the Athro Lounge (the old school beside the station) where I ate the LOUISIANA FRIED CHICKEN WITH MAPLE BBQ and we had a lovely evening catching-up on friends, our irrespective health (as you do at our age), events of the recent past and plans for the future. I returned to the Richmond at about 9, and went straight to bed.
I had an early train to catch. Miss it and I’d miss the Talyllyn Railway train at 10:30. So I’d timed my walk at 9mins from the Richmond Hotel to the station, got up early enough to have a pleasant breakfast – this was the only accommodation I did B&B – and made my way out the front door to be confronted by this …
He must be a regular food station for the gulls and pigeons, it was worth looking back to the Richmond as well …
… and the birdman
… and then on to Aber station to wait for the 8:27, which arrived promptly. I was only to do the short journey to Dovey Junction where the interconnection (5min wait) to The Cambrian Line to Pwllheli was going to be made.
Through the new station at Bow Street – large empty car park, did any one actually get on – to Borth of Hinterland fame (the Museum gives it away) …
Fans of Hinterland may recognise?
… and then Dovey Junction. I’d always wanted to get off here on the way to Shrewsbury, but the thought of having to wait a couple of hours for the next train had always put me off. No doubt the service is more frequent now. But I’d always thought of it as the station with only one purpose – to change trains. I may be wrong but I don’t think there’s a road to Dovey Junction. No matter. I was there and the hive of activity that followed. My train pulled-in; a train from Machynlleth pulled-in and left; my next train to Pwllheli then arrived from Machynlleth, I alighted and the train to Shrewsbury left just before we did.
The Cambrian Line
Next stop Tywyn where I arrived at 9:23 with ample time to look around the Talyllyn Station and have a coffee before my excursion up to Nant Gwernol, described in this post.
Returning to Tywyn Station – to experience a cloud burst, I made the decision NOT to get off at Fairbourne, and just to go straight though to Porthmadog – a wise decision I think.
I arrived in Porthmadog mid-afternoon and it was just a short walk to the bus stop beside the station. A short wait and a local bus took me to Tremadog where I was to spend the next two nights in the Golden Fleece.
My room was comfortable, but again it was very hot and I found it difficult to get to sleep on my first night. I had supper in the Golden Fleece Restaurant where I chose Steak Frites (rare) which was a mistake, as the meat was not particularly easy to eat. Ho hum!
