The route follows the old stage coaching road which cuts through the Welsh mountains, across the Menai Straits and up to Holyhead where the boats leave to go to Ireland.
The straight fast road soon begins to narrow and deviate as you approach the Welsh foothills. The twists and turns made all the more challenging by having 40 odd kilos of kayaks strapped high up on the roof. There were several tyre squealing moments and I had to crane my neck to look up and check if they were still there!
Beyond the picturesque village of Betsy-coed is the 'stop off point'. This is where we meet up if we are travelling in convoy and have become separated. It's also a good place to allow some blood back into your white knuckles after gripping the wheel so tightly around those perilous zig zags.
We climbed a short way up the mountain to have a bite to eat. I love it here, it's peaceful and the road invites you further.
As the miles rolled on, we decided to stop for....well, we needed to stop.Beyond a dry stone wall was this little chap.
He was running free out on the hills but was quite tame. It turned out he had a penchant for sandwiches, which was why he was staking out this layby popular with picnickers.
We said 'auf wiedersen' to the mountains as we headed down to the coast.
All the signs direct you to the new modern Britannia road bridge, but I always go out of my way and struggle through Bangor to get to the original bridge. The Menai Suspension bridge was built in 1826 by Thomas Telford and used to be the only dry route across the Straits to the island of Anglesey. It's really narrow and the waters below gush quickly when the tides are high. The Strait is dotted with lots of little islands, some with houses. The closer being connected to the land with their own personal bridges.
He was running free out on the hills but was quite tame. It turned out he had a penchant for sandwiches, which was why he was staking out this layby popular with picnickers.
We said 'auf wiedersen' to the mountains as we headed down to the coast.
All the signs direct you to the new modern Britannia road bridge, but I always go out of my way and struggle through Bangor to get to the original bridge. The Menai Suspension bridge was built in 1826 by Thomas Telford and used to be the only dry route across the Straits to the island of Anglesey. It's really narrow and the waters below gush quickly when the tides are high. The Strait is dotted with lots of little islands, some with houses. The closer being connected to the land with their own personal bridges.On the 12th November 1918 Air Marshal Sir Thomas Elmhirst flew an airship (SSZ73) under the bridge to celebrate the armistice at the end of World War One!
I was glad to arrive at the campsite, I've been here many times before. It's a bit cheap and cheerful, but that's how I like it. Most people stay at the top end of the site near the facilities, but down the quiet bottom end you are next to the cliffs. The slope is steep and sometimes, especially when it's wet it can be difficult to get enough traction to get a fully loaded car back up...fun, fun, fun!
The sun was setting as the camp was completed, just enough time to scramble down the rocks behind the hedge to the sea below.
With darkness enveloping the camp all that was left was to cook some food and lay and watch the shooting stars by the gently shushing petrol lamp....
I was glad to arrive at the campsite, I've been here many times before. It's a bit cheap and cheerful, but that's how I like it. Most people stay at the top end of the site near the facilities, but down the quiet bottom end you are next to the cliffs. The slope is steep and sometimes, especially when it's wet it can be difficult to get enough traction to get a fully loaded car back up...fun, fun, fun!
The sun was setting as the camp was completed, just enough time to scramble down the rocks behind the hedge to the sea below.
With darkness enveloping the camp all that was left was to cook some food and lay and watch the shooting stars by the gently shushing petrol lamp....
