Friday, 30 June 2017

Fri 30 June 12° Fishguard ferry to Rosslare, Ireland

Wet and gusty winds blasts rocked us all night and woke us this morning....bodes well for a good crossing, we can't even see the ferry for the misty haze over the water. Longs and winter woolies now firmly back in place. Drove to ferry via local Spa shop for newspaper and Milk,  spotted a little lpg pump to the side...filled up 11.5 ltrs at 63p £7.20.

Ferry an hour late due to rough seas and the drive on ramp moving too much....eeekkkk!





Crossing not as bad as we thought it might be, the closer to Ireland we got the smoother the seas.  Arrived in 16° sunshine.......yeeeeaaaaahh....Irish eyes are smiling 💚

About 20 min drive from the ferry we found our park for the night free Rosslare beach car park with dedicated motorhome parking bays. Search for sites you've done it again.


Surfers and dog walkers just packing up, it's now 7pm and still 16° sunshine. Tony went for a recky into the village to see if anywhere was showing the 2nd rugby test in the morning, a guy on the ferry said pubs don't open till 10.30.

Tides gastro restaurant and bar opposite the car park is showing the rugby open at 8am and putting on a full Irish breakfast for €10. Result! 👍💚

Fresh pork sausages from the farm shop at site in Cardigan....very meaty but also full of fat...but a tasty change.

Another motorhome pulled in now 8.15pm and still sun shining,  this is soooo much better.

Thursday, 29 June 2017

Thurs 29 June 12° Cardigan to Fishguard

Rainy day, decision Made!  We have security of tenants for another year and we are bringing Bessie home to continue our travels around New Zealand. We have seen quite a bit of Europe, now Britain, Ireland tomorrow and still so much of New Zealand to see...so easy choice really. Shipping dates not out till November so will decide then when to put her on ship to set sail up to 10 weeks to Auckland.

Filled water and other domestics, weather not improving, wind now gusty and rain getting heavier so drove to Fishguard ready for the ferry in the morning.

Lots of P places to pull over, which is good when lots of traffic, as we are touring and not in a hurry Skipper is very courteous and likes to pull over frequently when possible to let traffic pass.  10% and 12% gradients on way to pub stopover, wet and very windy, Bessie rocking quiet a bit, watched the 1pm ferry go out...us tomorrow...that will be interesting if it's like it is now....still only  3 1/2 hours...we'll be fine.

Did planning for Ireland and got winter woolies out and duvets...may even need the heater on tonight 5.30 and it's 12°.

Up to the pub for dinner tonight, no photo of the pub it's too wet and  windy...see what it's like in  the morning, nice view of the harbour on a good day.

Wednesday, 28 June 2017

Wed 28 June 15° St. Davids to Cardigan Bay

Showers this morning, we had a good catch up with Elliot before heading up the SW coast to Cardigan Bay. Through the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Mynydd Preseli.  Up hill and down Dale into the low cloud almost foggy. Very poor road surface with pieces of tarmac missing all over the road.




Down a lane barely wide enough for the wheel base into the campsite, opening up into large green area with some hard standing pitches £18 a night includes all services and free WiFi.  No one on reception but a phone number for Pam and she came. This is a site of their home Farm with Tamworth and black spot pigs and their own chickens, so fresh eggs and pork meat cuts......be rude not to partake, 6 fresh eggs £1, 2 pork chops,  pork burgers and sausages  £7.90. That will keep us going for a while. Tony said if we had any ailments  we would be ok to just ask her for some 'oinkment'.........baboom!

The habitation door has dropped a bit and was rubbing on the door casing....easy fix rub it with some 'oinkment '......worked really well haha.
A lovely spot even on a drizzly misty day, 20 min walk into Cardigan and the castle, modern facilities with laundry £3 each washer and dryer.

Walked into town got directions along a footpath, but because of the wet weather when we got there it was just a wet, muddy swamp, the other route was down quite a busy road with no pavements and as it was raining we decided to give it a miss and drive down in the morning.


Had an email from our property manager asking if we knew when we would be returning as the tenants would love to stay another year, so spent the afternoon future planning. Big decisions to be made.

Mexican and couscous for dinner with a delicious Tempranillo from Lidl £4.99

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Tues 27 June 16° Llansteffan beach to St. Davids

We won the Americas cup...well done NZ!what a thrashing.

A light showers at breakfast so ate in Bessie, we head off from here it must be one of our favourite wild camps so far.

Heading to Tenby, known for its victorian houses painted in the colours of sugar coated almonds...I remember those growing up. Tenby is said to be one of the prettiest and cosiest Welsh seaside towns. I can see why.












We bought a fresh caught crab sandwich for lunch £4.95  very tasty, we were sitting down in the harbour with other picnicking visitors enjoying our sandwich when a very cheeky seagull swooped down and took off with the last bit of Tony's.......got a fright.....but he still has all his fingers. Needed another one after that..so tried one from  another vendor away from the bay £4.80 but not as tasty as the first one, but still lovely fresh crab.

Warm slow drops of rain as we head back to the car park,  just got harder as reached Bessie...timed that just right. Very large car park close to the town £1.50 for 5 hours as we were over with parking bays had to pay twice apparently as the wardens come round regularly.

This must be the best beache we have seen, smooth golden sand, no shells, stones or rocks. Tony would love to have gone in but we had to get back.

Stopped for diesel £1.13 £50 for 44 ltrs. sun came out . ...not for long...Rain and misty on the horizon the sky solid white.

Pretty wild flowers line the sides of the roadsides as we drive up and down 17% and a 12% gradient roads.

Arrived at our camp for tonight down a single Lane road, grass field attached to the main  house of this independent campsite. Supposed to have views of the sea but the mistake blocks anything over the hedge. Mixed  camp with tents....poor thingso in the rain....caravans and more motorhomes,  the site is deceptively big as it carries on around the corner.





The manager comes for his £19 the weather has cleared and rain and storm forecast for tomorrow,  so don't put off till tomorrow what you  can do today,  so we locked up and followed him visit a short cut, into the village.....sorry....'city'..... the smallest city in Britain as it has a Cathedral....St. Davids.  The manager went in to The Bishops pub after telling us about the Cathedral and the Bishops Palace behind it.























We pass a butcher so bought some fresh ham and a Welsh oggie....pastie....rude not to.

The inside arches of the Cathedral are on a 14ft slope which has dropped over the years since the 12th century .

On the way back to camp the rain started, very fine, wetting rain.....then a downpour...then it stopped.....so this is forecast from now and all of July in Ireland....but hope we have little lucky breaks  as we have today.

Oggie and omelet for dinner, the weather cleared, sun broke through and we can see the sea.....but can't get photo over the hedge so photo thru windscreen.