Into the quiet streets of Saturday morning Aberystwth, Grey clouds threatening a rainy day. I sallied forth at an early 6.30am. Did not sleep well last night as my fellow gusts at the Sea Front Guest house were unable to adhere to civilized rules requiring one & all to wind down the noise after 11.00pm. Mostly these guest houses are converted homes with wall board partitions to create additional rental units and as such not exactly sound proofed. Many is the night I have had to share the dark hours with a heavy duty snorer in the next room! Such are the joys of budget travel.
My walking route southwards along the Cardigan Bay coastline on the A487 highway to Aberaeron was a series of long climbs and descents--perhaps half a dozen in total, across the tops of the headlands as they met the coastline in high cliffs. The wind on the hill summits was almost gale force and even the hardy Welsh sheep were cowing in the corners of the fields for protection from the elements. Cold also, hard to believe that this is May. Not the morning to dally for long on a stile and enjoy a sustaining cup of hot coffee from my thermos. Kept as fast a pace as I was able through this windswept sector, descending into the small town of Aberaeron just after 1.00pm.
I was immediately aware that my arrival coincided with the descent on the town of several hundred motorbike riders. All on, large bikes, Harleys, Hondas and BMW's, the riders mostly looked like very respectable middle aged accountants and small store owners. The did not augur well for securing a room for the night. Employing my tested and usually successful strategy of room hunting on the more obscure side streets as opposed to the central locations of town, I was lucky to secure the 'last room' at a small guest house; immediately afterwards the heavens opened and it poured. Oh! the satisfaction of knowing that I could have still been on those high hills with the sheep. So waking up early does have its advantages.
After resting and lunching, I walked down to the sea-front of Aberaeron. The town's main shopping area is several blocks back from the beach and was impressed with the newly rebuilt and fortified sea wall that has been constructed. At least in this town, they are taking the threat of rising sea levels seriously.
26.3 kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 2032.5
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 6.5
Type of accommodation: B & B guest house
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 30.00, excl. breakfast.
Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.
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