Day 30: Aberdaron to Pentowyn Dunes
Friends!
Kate here. But you would have figured it out by now. From the beginning, we became friends and influenced… cows.
For reasons unknown to us, a herd of very beautiful cows, with big silly eyes and long eyelashes, rushed upon us en masse and trotted, albeit behind a fence, past us. His calves shrugged and followed him. Funny.
Jon said his usual «You can be free!» speech, complete with pantomime opening the door latch. They proved to be followers only in gait. Not in the opening of the door.
Then we came across a flock of sheep gathered at the edge of a cliff. It seemed that one of them had called a meeting. And they were clearly up to no good.
They looked at us like they knew things. Or he didn’t know anything. I yelled at them and begged them to get away from the edge. They remained motionless. Lambs and sheep, frozen in tenderness, on the edge of a cliff.
I don’t know why these animals delight me so much. Maybe because I grew up near farms? And did you have uncles who were dedicated to agriculture?
Maybe because they seem so peaceful, happy and innocent? Maybe because I identify with them? Probably because I see mothers with their babies and there is probably nothing better in the world.
My kingdom for some gorse!
Along the way we saw millions of gorse. Classrooms? They are shrubs with thorny leaves and bright yellow flowers. Today’s gorse bushes were extremely lush, dense and colorful.
Besides punching holes in hikers and their clothes and just sitting around and looking pretty, I wondered if the plants would be useful in other ways.
Yeah! I investigated. I don’t want you to think I’m pulling information from my brain like Cliff Claven on Cheers.
Fodder for flowers, aromas, fuel for fire.
Gorse flowers are edible. Historically they have been used as food (I prefer to say “fodder”) for horses and cows.
Gorse flowers have a coconut and vanilla aroma and are also used in wines, teas and cordials.
I didn’t try them. (Looking at you, Euell Gibbons.) But they smell glorious. Gorselioso.
Gorse bushes are also fuel for fire. Traditionally, gorse wood was burned to bake bread. Hmm! Believe…
unexpected blues
Yellow is pretty, but blues are the best. Well, at least blue ruled today.
As we entered an area of forest, we were surprised by a thick and endless blanket of bluebells.
We’ve seen various shades of purple (purple bells may be a better name, but it lacks alliteration) of these beautiful flowers, with their stems rising from the mossy green soil and their lavender heads tilted. Groups of them abound in the Welsh countryside.
But it wasn’t about groups. They were a crowd. A party. Even a delirium. Without a doubt a celebration. Ah, purple. Our granddaughter’s favorite color.
I remembered snippets of information about purple and its connection to royalty and its cost. I investigated. Again.
Yes. Purple is often associated with luxury and royalty. Tyrian purple, used by royalty, was extremely expensive as it was made from the secretions of tens of thousands of sea snails near Lebanon. Without a doubt, it requires a lot of labor and time.
But Solomon in all his glory was not dressed even like one of these wild flowers.
Now I’ve looked at Wales from both sides
Leaving the forest we reached the top of a hill. I turned around and around again, slowly. Sea views in every sense.
The sky varied from blue with light white clouds to towering storm clouds. But little by little. Gradient blue.
In the distance, a dark line separated the ocean from the clouds. It was the coast. «Oh, that’s the last section of Wales we have left to walk if we go back,» Jon said. I hope we come back.
Below in the water bobbed a small lobster boat. It had appeared in every cove along the way.
We go down to the beach.
Good beach. (Is there any other type? Yes. For hiking, yes.)
Abandoned!
The tide was low, so we walked along the flat, wet sand of the deserted beach.
Precious. This whole day we had barely seen a soul.
We saw an old man with an old dog, two farmers and a couple waiting for us in the other direction. Peaceful. We especially noticed our loneliness during lunch.
We plopped down on a sand ridge and ate our takeaway sandwiches, tuna for Jon, ham and cheese for me. We also had chips, carrot cake, and candy bars.
Then we brushed the crumbs off our clothes (you’re welcome, seagulls on the prowl) and continued enjoying the firm sand under our feet.
Treasures
I allowed myself two stones. A perfect white and charcoal checkered cube and a perfect flat circle.
I love finding interesting rocks and shells. A few days ago I found the coolest bumpy piece of rock that was, in fact, Styrofoam. So I cleaned the beach by taking it to the nearest container and throwing it away.
Also, don’t worry. I will repatriate the rocks to the beach. I am under a strict mandate not to purchase souvenirs from the backpack carrier. Rocks in the package? I don’t think so. Plus, rocks live here.
We loved Wales. As we can see the end on the current horizon, we are trying to savor every last bit of this journey before repatriating. I hope you enjoy our snapshots.
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