Late Aug, Early Sept 2020 – Conwy Part 1

27th August – Thursday – Fleetwood to Conwy

With rosy Blackpool spectacles removed, we resume normal service.

We departed Fleetwood at 0600, just after first light.

There are numerous buoys to be negotiated to get into the estuary, and more to get out to sea.

I take pictures of Mick with significant seafaring landmarks in the background, this is one of many attempts to take a picture of me with Blackpool Tower. 

Blackpool Tower from the sea.  Bye, bye Blackpool.

Windmills have dominated this years journey, but today the Gas Rigs were the stars.  The picture above shows the size of one rig compared to its support vessel.  We passed several during the day.  Sailors are not allowed within 500m of a rig.

The strata of the Great Ormes is clear to see.  Made up of Limestone and Dolomite, formed during the early Carboniferous period of the Earths geological history between 339 and 326 million years ago.  Copper was mined during the Bronze age 4,000 years ago.

Conway River Perch Beacon in the River Conwy. 

We knew the weather was not going to be great, but made the choice to leave Fleetwood, as the next chance to leave on the right tide, would have kept us there for at least another week.  Most of the day was overcast, the sea choppy and roly.  The showers had been light and we thought we had been quite lucky.  Just as we rounded the Orme the heavens opened.  The route in takes us very near to the south shore, to enter the relatively narrow channel towards the marina. 

We left Fleetwood just before high water and arrived in Conwy on the incoming tide, to get over the sill into the marina at just after 5pm.  62 miles in 11 hours.

28th August – Friday

We managed to moved the boat to a different mooring early in the morning and then settled in for a lazy day to sit out the forecasted heavy rain.  The first mooring we were assigned, was too narrow and Fleur only just fit.

29th August – Saturday

Our first glimpse of Conwy Castle.  Mick knows this area well, as he kept a previous boat here, but it is all new to me and I had no idea how beautiful it is.

The castle mysteriously melts into the background for such a big structure from this angle, when the sun is not on it, hiding it’s size.  It is difficult to take a good picture from this direction as the sun is directly behind it, many attempts have been made, more later.

30th August – Sunday

A truly glorious day and so we went for a walk on the beach.

Opposite Deganwy

Watching people launch and retrieve boats and jet skis is always a good waste of half an hour.  This guy nearly took his car for a swim, but he had plenty of helpers who were happy to get wet.

Looking towards the Great Orme.

Wading bird looking for lunch in the marina at low tide.

31st August – Monday

Mick cleaned the bright work while I sewed up my epic Moss Stitch cardigan.

1st Sept – Tuesday – Quick trip to Llandudno

We walked out of town towards Llandudno Junction to have a look at the train station, which we may need at some point.

Mick spotted a bus to Llandudno, so we hopped on.  Not planned, but it was a nice day and too early to go home.  £5.50 each for a day ticket.  There is a good sized shopping centre to be fully investigated at a later date. 

We made our way to the promenade towards the pier.

The pier was busy so we will save that for a later date too, as we will Happy Valley Park.

The tram up the Great Orme is currently closed, the cable cars are not open when it is windy.

We walked the full length of the promenade after a nice lunch of Welsh Rarebit at the Lemon Tree Cafe.

Then a pint in The Palladium, another building saved by Wetherspoons.  Beautiful outside.

And inside.

We will definitely be back in Llandudno when we have a vehicle with us.

4th Sept – Friday

Walked into town and saw Drew Pritchard from tv programme Salvage Hunters in his shop in the High Street.

Bought our first and not last Vanilla slices from the Popty Bakery.  Pasties and Lemon buns are also highly recommended.

The next few days were spent just enjoying being here, walks in the woods, beware the 93 steps, reading, shopping and bear making.

Cream Mohair bears from last years fabric and a small bear started previously.

8th Sept – Tuesday – Plas Mawr

We could not keep walking past Plas Mawr, as it sits majestically in the High Street.  We had to wait a few days as entry is only by online bookings at the moment.  The usual Heritage Days or Open Doors as they are called here have been cancelled this year. 

Built in 1577 by Robert Wynn and his wife Dorothy Griffith.  Plas Mawr is an Elizabethan Town House.  It was rented out as cheap lodgings in the 18th and 19th centuries, then became headquarters of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art.  It was taken over by the Welsh Heritage Agency, CADW in 1983 and extensively renovated at a cost of £3.3M.  It is regarded as one of the finest surviving Town Houses of the era.

The tour starts in the Great Hall, were we collected audio guides, included in the £6.50 entrance fee.

 

The ornate fireplace dominates the room, as do many others around the house.

The kitchen with suspended food store, to keep the food away from the vermin.

The plasterwork around the house is impressive and would have been highly decorated.

Dorothy’s bed chamber.

The upstairs dining room, surrounded by tapestries, hung on Tenter hooks.

Mick sat at one end of the huge roof space, occupied by the servants.  Nothing is straight.

The rear elevation gives some idea of the scale of the house.

It is rare to visit such as old property in such well restored condition.  I have left many rooms unphotographed for you to discover.

End of Part 1.

Part 2 – Conwy Castle and a mystery tour.