Beaches, sand, castles

This adventure begins in a seaside town called Swanage. Actually the story begins a little further north in a county named Berkshire where 6 1/2 friends (the toddler counts as half) are getting ready to hit the beach (and well really only five and a half of us were really up and getting ready- and waiting on the last friend to awaken). Anyway onward with the story...

Because we left sooooo late (feeling guilty yet mate?- I've been told I'm great at guilt trips), we were stopped in traffic on the way to the south coast. This gave us the opportunity to see Stonehenge along the way. Apparently the stones to make the "henge" came all the way from Wales- BEFORE CARS, TRUCKS and LORRIES!  How did the stones get there?

Aliens! LOL

After a few more hours in the car, we made it to the seaside after driving by Corfe Castle on the way to the beach. This was built long ago (as is everything in England and destroyed in a war--like everything ELSE in England) and is now a part of the National Trust open to all for touring.

Corfe Castle sits on Purbeck Hill and overlooks the little village from where it gets it's name.

Finally hours later......

The Beach!

Swanage Beach front was beautiful on what was said to be the "hottest day of the year in the UK!"

If you ask me, 80 degree F is just about right, not a cloud in sight! It was indeed hot enough for me to get in the sea and "swim" at least until I got a mouth full of salty water! It was a great day spent with friends playing Frisbee and burying each other in the sand. But what's a trip to the beach without fish n' chips and a Mr Whippy? (For my American readers this is fried cod with fries and a vanilla twist ice cream cone). So off we went in search of both having found a nice restaurant overlooking the shore. Exhausted, sun baked and dehydrated, we ordered food and drinks. Not a minute later my mate accidentally spills beer all over the baby (and the table). Should have stuck with water dude.

Climbin' a mountain

Who's up for a 4 hour car trip?? ME! That's who. In memory of my very best friend and former mountain climbing partner, I hiked mount Snowdon found in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.

I stayed at a lovely, quiet place ~Oakfield House B&B late Friday night and was met by a friendly, smiling face. Across the road was a babbling brook which helped me fall asleep listening to the sounds of nature. In the morning, I shoveled in all the breakfast I could (full cooked AND cold buffet) to power up for the rest of the day's climbing activity. Oakfield House B&B review by Vawn

This B&B was only a mile from the beautiful Swallow Falls.Which I trekked up to, to start my glorious sun filled adventure. There is a fee of £1.00 to walk down to the bottom of the falls but it's well worth it! Plenty of parking across the road at the Swallow Falls Hotel and gift shop. (Fee is P&D for parking)

Onward to the mountain climb! Then, what is meant to be a 15 minute car ride to Snowdon (awkwardly more if you don't listen to your navigator - but enough said on that) turns out to be more like a 45 minute trek through the other parts of Snowdonia National Park.



The Majestic Peak of Snowdon reaches 3,560 feet high and is part of the Three Peak Challenge of the UK (I have two more to conquer it would seem). I travelled the Llanberis Path which is about nine miles. It's the longest and takes about six hours to hike up & down. Half way up the mountain a storm front moved in and I was engulfed by the clouds. Which had a very cool yet, very eerie feeling to it. Lots of folks get lost in the fog I was told, but I persevered and made it to the top!

Going down, now that's a different story! The mountain holds many trails to trek. The famous Miner's Trail (as you've probably guessed it) was the route the miner's took out of the mountain. Because of the dense fog, a stone was erected to show the miner's which trail would get them home.

Nine miles of treacherous rock climbing, I made it to back to the beginning where all good adventures start. Now I'm off in search of the next mountain to master!