Day 183 – Friday 7th September 2018
My name is Tom and I’m an addict…
… a curry and chips addict.
When Julie suggested we go to Whitiker’s for lunch again today I couldn’t believe My luck. This is the 3rd lot of curry & chips I’ve had in 4 days.
Apart from eating chips it was another day of sorting out my Dad’s flat and affairs.
Julie loves a good sausage. I think she may well have an addiction of her own!
Day 184 – Saturday 8th September 2018
Off to Llanberis in Snowdonia. Absolutely filthy weather enroute.
The Welsh language makes me smile.
Everywhere the Roman alphabet is used the word taxi is spelt the same – taxi. Not in Wales, in Welsh taxi is spelt tacsi.
I’m in the principality because I bought myself a Three Peaks tee shirt a year or so ago and to wear it I still have to walk up Snowdon and Ben Nevis.
After eating a Pete’s Eats, more chips, we checked out the start of the footpath to Snowdon’s summit. I spoke to a girl who’d just been at the top and she told me no waterproofs could keep you dry up there.
It’s going to be wet but it’s going to be done.
Day 185 – Sunday 9th September 2018
A pleasant enough morning in Llanberis.
No rain but the hills were shrouded in cloud.
There are 31 welsh flags flying on the main drag through Llanberis. If there were 31 flags of St George flying in Reigate High Street I expect the Guardian would be asking the question; is Reigate the most racist town in England?
Me at the start of the Llanberis path to the top of Snowdon and it looks like my butt plug is already chaffing
It wasn’t long before it started to get wet.
and it wasn’t long before I was in cloud.
After the Halfway House the walk became a grind and I occupied my mind wondering if the cafe at the top sold chips.
Halfway House, tea but no chips
To make matters worse the wind started to howl
At the top – it was absolutely filthy weather
but if Marvin can make it to the top of Snowdon then anyone can.
Inside the station café it was standing room only.
Julie had made me a packed lunch but my hands were far too wet and cold to hold a sandwich so I warmed them on a lovely cheese and onion slice. Sadly the cafe didn’t do chips.
The girl at the start of the trail yesterday was right, the clothes under my waterproofs were absolutely soaking wet and it was good job I had a spare dry set.
I was just nosing around the gift shop when they announced over the tannoy that due to strong winds they would be stopping the trains, evacuating all the staff and closing the station. That’ll be fun for the people still on their way up.
The trip down through the cloud was a bit miserable but all of a sudden the cloud cleared and I could see a fabulous sunny day in Llanberis. I went t get my camera out but by the time I’d retrieved it from my pocket the cloud was back!
It costs £22 to get the train back to Llanberis. I think a call to the Mountain Rescue is the VFM option.
Miss Wales 2016
Eventually I was out of the cloud and I could enjoy some of the welsh scenery.
Wales
By halfway down the outside of my left knee was complaining loudly about going down hill and I was very grateful to reach Llanberis at the bottom.
Tom Jones was in town!
Day 186 – Monday 10th September 2018
Turns out my bowel cancer check result was unclear so I have to complete another test when I get back to Reigate then wait two weeks for that result. If that result is not clear then I will have to have further tests. Brilliant.
Might have to rethink the plans to go down to Spain after my Dad’s funeral. Might be best to carry on with our original plans and go to Belgium, Holland & Denmark while we await the results. Then if I get the all clear head south.
Traveled back to Surrey via Walsall
Day 187 – Tuesday 11th September 2018
Twiddling my thumbs in Reigate. At least it’s not raining
Day 188 – Wednesday 12th September 2018
Twiddling my thumbs in Reigate. It’s raining.
Day 189 – Thursday 13th September 2018
A Beautiful day in Reigate. Had a ride on Zippy and booked a ferry for Calais on the 20th 😀
Sitting around is doing my head in, I can’t wait to get back on the road.