I am back in my nice little house in London and already thinking of my 3 days spent in Wales as being one of those experiences that will be told as an exciting adventure for many years to come.
I completely loved our little mid week break to Wales- the spontaneity and rushing around town trying to buy a tent two hours before we left was really fun. However, all I'm saying is a little bit more planning ahead wouldn't have gone astray. Say had we checked the weather forecast before we left or maybe not made the decision that packing a bottle of vodka and slab of Bulmers was more important than bringing towels and a sleeping bag.
 |
| road tripppp!! |
Getting on the bus (which we got lost about three times trying to find) we were informed by a fellow passenger that when the bus stops at 'Pembroke Dock' it doesn't mean dock as in at the beach, it meant dock as in ferry dock. Therefore there was no beach nearby meaning we had no where to set up tent.
But by what we later determined to be fate, the same woman (named Hetta) offered us to come spend the night at her house out of the wind and the rain. Thanking our lucky stars that we had met Hetta, who had been an avid backpacker when she was younger so she "knows what is was like", we drove back to her house at 1am and spend the night in a very oldWelsh house.
The next morning after being woken to the smell of bacon, eggs and beans on toast for breakfast, Hetta drove us to an actual beach where we could pitch our tent for the night.
 |
| home sweet home |
The views from the top of the camp site where amaazzzing. This tiny town of Pembrokeshire had about a dozen houses scattered across the hillside and only four non residential structures- a gardening shop, a cafe, a corner shop and a pub. The cliffs went right down the edge of the rocky beach shore and it just seemed to stretch on for miles. Everywhere you looked was just so green and lush, it was beautiful.
After exploring the beach and a couple of hours spent at the pub, we went back to our tiny tent for the night. Unfortunately by this time, the wind and the rain and started to pick up.
Imagine a single dandelion on a huge flat expanse, being in a fierce wind and little bit by little bit, it would start to fall apart and be blown away.
 |
| our sleeping bags were completel saturated |
Except add rain to the equation and it made for a fun night. Every time the wind blew the side of the tent, the canvas would give you a wet slap in the face. We had somehow been jibbed of a cover for our "sun roof" so we had a nice constant drizzle of rain coming down on our heads as we slept. By 5am, after minimal sleep, we were absolutely drenched. We decided to pack up the neccessities (clothes and food duh) and go hide out in the public toilets.
A couple of hours later, we were yet again saved by a friendly local who offered us to come sit in their van and drink tea until the rain stopped. When 9 o'clock finally came round and the downpour had fiinnaaaally stopped, we went down to the cafe and had a traditional Welsh breakfast - bacon, eggs, toast, tomato, mushroom, beans and sausages. I'm not sure if 8 hours of sleeping in a puddle had given me temporary hypothermia but at that moment I had never tasted a meal that was more delicious.
After numeous trips to the cafe's toilets to make use of the hand dryer in a feeble attempt to dry our hair and socks , we rescued by the incredibly kind and generous Hetta who picked us up, took us back to her house and after sending our clothes off to the dry cleaner, cooked us a home made meal of spaghetti bolognese and we all watched Harry Potter.
So despite our failed attempt at camping, Wales was a good adventure. I was shocked at the geniune benevolence and kindheartedness of strangers towards us on our trip; but at the same time, deeply appreciative. I don't know how we would have survive Wales and it's wild weather without them!
