Another great nights sleep last night. It rained again but didnβt start until about 9.30pm as we went to bed.
Dinner was an amazing spiced Lamb hotpot.
So dinner took 7 hours to cook yesterday but thatβs the fun watching itβs progress. I read and crocheted throughout the day. Hard life eh?!
We spent the evening by the fire⦠as you do!
All packed up this morning and ready to go.
My first overlanding in the van to get out the field. To be fairβ¦. It was nothingβ¦. It was like driving out of a supermarket car parkβ¦ Iβm glad I woke up at 5am and worried about being able to get out of the field given the rainβ¦. π€¦π»ββοΈπ€·π»ββοΈπ€£
So this morning had coffee but skipped breakfast and headed down into Presteigne to go to the local butcher. The woman who runs it is Argentinian and she lived in Sourh Africa for years so Warren and Doug go their to pick up their meet for their Potjie (poy-kee) and Braai (our BBQ!) Warren is from South Africa πΏπ¦ and Doug from Zimbabwe πΏπΌ.
So Doug has agreed to join us for the next few days of our trip. We are headed to Cefn Coed in Dolgellau. π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ (Iβm getting the use out of all my flag emojis today!)
It was a beautiful drive over. The sun is desperately trying to come out and when it does itβs very hot!
We stopped at Caffi Jo-Jo for breakfast about an hour and 15 into our journey.
They had a streamer but cute wee mini village in their front gardenβ¦.
The roads are mostly double carriageway with single track in places more due to the high hedges but they were very up hill and down valleyβ¦. Lovely scenery though!
So the boys did prep for dinner while I went off in search of the sunβ¦.. out of the shadeβ¦.to write the blog!
Tonight we are having chicken tikka, pepper and onion kebabs. I know Iβve said this before but the food has been a game changer for us as itβs encouraged us to look for different things to prep and make that a part of the holidayβ¦. She says as she sits out in a field doing none of it π€¦π»ββοΈπ€·π»ββοΈπ€£
We decided to go for a quick explore as we are close to the Mawddach Estuary.
So good news to report is Calaidh hasnβt had a dodgy tum so weβve been getting to sleep through the night. The sun is shining and is forecast for tomorrow too. Chicken Tikka is marinating so Iβm looking forward to that.
Most of all I have been very calm. Iβm doing all of the driving and itβs helping to build my confidence. I still have my moments (climbing a 20% incline today while Craig was asking me a questionβ¦.. π³π¬π€¦π»ββοΈπ€·π»ββοΈπ±)
Iβm still thinking about work. I donβt have my work phone but still see chat on messenger and social media. Itβs on my mind a fair bit and I guess thatβs gonna take some work to stop thinking about it. Iβm not worried about it which I guess is the main thing.
Sitting here in the sun right now I suddenly remind myself that I am almost exactly 31 days without anti depressants for the first time in almost as many years. Iβve driven from Ayrshire to Islay and back and down to Wales and will drive back.
I am pretty damn proud of everything Iβm achieving.
And the sunβs finally gone behind the treesβ¦ enough rambling. Heading back into camp to see whatβs for eating π₯π₯ππ€£
Stay safe everyone π₯π₯π₯
The Rambling Sloth π¦₯ 
Hi Julie
Another excellent blog and super photos. I’d never been to Wales until I met Bryon Smee .
When he first arrived at Gateside he,his wife (Julie) and I spent weekends on the hills up here and Arran with Air na Creagan mountaineering club.
After he and she split – up we started going back to his home area of Caernarfon.
He was a member of Chester Mountaineering Club and they have a cottage in Llanberis which sits right on the edge of the
Llanberis path to Mt.Snowdon. I too love Wales .
Good to hear of your progress on the MH front .
Well done you! Go gal! Go ππ
Have a wonderful holiday ,say Hi to Craig for me.
Best wishes
Gordon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Gordon! Didnβt know Brian was from Wales! Itβs lovely here π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ
LikeLike