.png)
What truly enhances the second part of our stay is the delightful fact that we've extended it by an extra two days this time.
My life generally exists in two distinct realities (three, if you count the dream state): my home life and my time here in New Quay. It's always a bit jarring when those lines get blurred. So, you can imagine how weird it felt this week to find out a colleague from work was here in New Quay!
Funnily enough, I didn't actually cross paths with them. The intel came straight from their Instagram story. A quick message confirmed they were indeed in the area, based near Cardigan, and had only popped into New Quay for a boat trip. Good news for my comfort zone: they left on Friday, so there's no chance of an awkward real-life encounter this weekend.
Back to our holiday...
This week has been an absolute scorcher! On Thursday, we popped over to Afon Mel, New Quay Honey Farm. In recent years, Afon Mel has become quite famous, especially within the Viking community, for its truly excellent mead. We enjoyed a refreshing cup of tea and a delicious slice of bara brith before picking up some local honey and, of course, a bottle of that legendary mead.
Afon Mel, a jewel in Ceredigion's crown
The heat really cranked up this week – Thursday was, in fact, the hottest day of the year so far! How incredibly lucky we were to be experiencing it right here.
Our caravan overlooking one of the lakes
Our Llanina Point Tradition
One of our cherished traditions here is the walk along the beach from New Quay to Llanina Point. It's a truly sensory experience: walking barefoot, paddling in the refreshing sea, all while soaking in the stunning views and serene surroundings.
The path eventually leads us up into the peaceful woodland, past the historic St. Ina's Church. As we meander through the trees, we pass by intriguing ruins hidden within the dense foliage – a small, ruined chapel and various outbuildings. The presence of these structures always hints at a settlement long since abandoned, adding a touch of mystery to our stroll. The walk also takes us past "Majoda," the bungalow where the Welsh wordsmith, Dylan Thomas lived for a short time.
We finally loop back along the top road, and our well-deserved reward for completing the circuit? A refreshing drink in one of my favourite local haunts, the Seahorse Inn.
Solstice Serenity and a Welcome Discovery
We dedicated the longest day of the year to revisiting Aberaeron, a town we always enjoy. The weather started out a bit damp with scattered showers, but it remained wonderfully warm and, thankfully, brightened up significantly as the day progressed.
During our wanderings, we stumbled upon a pub I'd always noticed but never really felt the urge to step inside before. That all changed today when we decided to pop in to Tafarn Y Cadwgan. There was a palpable change in its vibe – a much more welcoming atmosphere. We soon learned the reason: it was under new management, with the new owners only having been there for a month. It's a great little place, and I truly wish them every success; we will definitely be back.
With the sun now gloriously shining, we returned to New Quay before heading out for food and drinks at Pencwnc (and later, a quick visit to the Penrhiwgaled Arms) to celebrate the solstice. We soaked in the magic of the longest day as we walked back, the sun setting beautifully before us, painting the sky in a blaze of colour.
Cherished Company
It would be remiss of me not to mention our wonderful friends here; Mike, Chris, Sam and Alice. They are truly so good to us, and we genuinely feel loved in their company. We've managed to meet up a number of times this week and shared some truly special moments.
Our Final Days
Our final days were spent not venturing too far, instead savouring our surroundings with Magnus by our side. The weather became a bit more changeable, with clouds moving in and the occasional downpour, but this certainly didn't dampen our spirits. A final call into the Seahorse Inn and Penrhiwgaled Arms concluded our pub visits for the trip. Our last stop before heading home was, of course, a lovely visit with our friends, Mike and Chris.
We Did a Thing!
What better way to cement our love for this land than by getting tattoos of dragons? And that's exactly what we did! We visited Ink Cymru on Sunday down in New Quay, where Dylan did a brilliant job. I now have a classic Welsh dragon proudly emblazoned on my arm, while Morticia chose a beautiful, stylised Celtic dragon for the top of her back.
Lasting Memories and a Swift Return
We've truly made some special memories on this trip, and as always, the end comes far too soon. I really wish I could find a way to make this incredible place our permanent home.
There is a word in Welsh that I think applies here, Hiraeth. Some might say this only can be felt by a Welsh person but I challenge that because we feel it when we leave.
Still, we'll be back sooner than you think! We're already planning another visit in just a month's time for a special event. Watch this space for more details!
Check out my social media
take a look at my webcomic at northman.kirt.me.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment