Days 10 & 11 Friday, April 11th and Saturday April 12th Our journey home to the Scillies

 Two uneventful days in one for the final post of this holiday.

Ready to leave

Friday was the day we left the Gower and Worms Head.  We breakfasted and packed to make a fairly early start on the long journey to Penzance.  Before we left the car park it was time for a quick photo of my sun-tanned wife alongside the Merc which had served us well with the Worms Head in the background.  The Worms Head Hotel had been a good comfortable base for us and had the advantage of being very close to Potton where the rest of our group were staying.  We were soon underway and had a happily uneventful drive back to Enterprise in Swansea.  After a quick inspection there were no penalties to pay and so we trundled our cases back to Swansea station.  Our first train was to Cardiff and we were well on time and it left at 1130.  Our only change at Cardiff was leisurely, we found the reserved seats and settled back for the journey through the rest of Wales and southwest England to Penzance.  The only disappointment was that there was no refreshment service on the train but we had some bits and pieces and having had a good breakfast we just about survived!  The journey was its usual scenic self in the bright sunshine and tide well up. We arrived at Penzance on time at 1840 and were soon checked in and ensconced in the Premier Inn.  We had booked a meal deal and enjoyed a basic, good pub type dinner before retiring. 

The next unlike all the previous days on this holiday started with some drizzle.  We had our breakfast at a still leisurely pace because the sailing time for the Scillonian was 1015.  We were glad to have our waterproofs for the walk to the quay and when we got the Scillonian found it pretty busy with most people staying inside.  We settled down and were soon underway with the sea calm but the weather not 

Aboard the Meridian for St Martins

conducive for going outside.  The voyage took about 2 ¾ hours and we disembarked just after 1300.  We had to wait for a 2pm boat to Higher Town. The rain had stopped by this time. We 

Past Guthers Island again

planned to walk the road to home but did have a lift some of the way.  I went for our car and collected the luggage from Higher Town waiting room.  We were all back indoors by 1530 after a good journey at the end of a superb time away.

So that is cheerio until our next trip.

Day 9 Thursday April 10th Rhosilli Beach

 Another beautiful day dawned on the Gower.  We had our usual early morning phone consultation and thought the wind might be lighter on the westward facing Rhosilli beach.  We would go to Hill End and would be able to further explore if it wasn't suitable for watersports.  So we all met up in the car park and after looking decided there was too much surf for kayaking and paddle boarding (but plenty of good surf for other people who were surfing).  Charlotte joined us but her boyfriend Dan had to do some work and he stayed in the cafe area.  We found a dingle and established a base camp.  The tide was beginning to come in and we thought perhaps the surf would reduce with the wind as the tide came in.  We had also seen the island at the end of the beach with a causeway (Burry Holms) and this might be something to get to a bit later.

Burry Holms

We had a very tasty beach picnic and a little while later we set out along the beach.  Dan joined us as their was no good wifi at the cafe and he agreed to stay and mind the camp whilst the rest of us explored.  It was quite a hike on good hard sand but eventually arrived there.  The tide was fairly close to cutting the island off but Alexander decided to climb onto it and look all over.  He came back with some good pictures (I'm sorry I do not have any yet) including some of the ruins of an old building (St Cenydd's hermitage?).  It reminds me of St Helens in Scilly.  Whilst that was going on there were plenty of rock pools 

Alexander atop Burry Holms

along the causeway to explore.  One feature of them was 

starfish galore

the number starfish everywhere.  I know I have never before seen so many in one place, there must be an explanation and it must mean the water is pretty clean.  When Alexander and Charlotte, who had briefly gone on the island, returned we started on the long trek back to base.  Everyone made it safely home and there was a short recovery period before some began to get ready for swimming in the sea which was much nearer now.

I am told the water was cold even for those who now experience the cold Californian seas.  Cool but refreshing was the conclusion.  We soon had to say sad goodbyes to Charlotte and Dan who were leaving for the wedding venue where Dan was due to be best man tomorrow.  That event being the reason we had arrived in this part of the world.  The rest stayed a while longer before packing up and returning to the car park.  We went back to the accommodation where everyone else was staying and enjoyed a chicken supper followed by some cake and coffee.  It was soon time to say our farewells to all these lovely people as we were all making our way home in different directions the following morning.  It had been a fantastic week with fantastic weather and a wonderful time together.  We said goodbye and we left for our hotel after this brilliant day.

  

Day 8 Wednesday April 9th Port Eynon

Another glorious day and after breakfast etc the consultation agreed that we should go to Port Eynon  and do some exploring, beach activities and watersports.  We met at the car park and soon set up a base above high water line on the usual very sandy beach.  There was a reported cave at one end of the beach plus the remains of a salt producing plant.  Some decided to go for this walk whilst others decided just to enjoy the beach and weather.

I opted for the walk and hoped we could all make it OK.  We arrived at the salt 

the old salt plant

production works and discovered that this may well have been a cover for more lucrative smuggling activities.  We had a good look round before 

salt production ruins

progressing towards the cave.  The small pathway was not very clear with brambles and other bushes encroaching.  After a period of struggling with this, I decided to return back to base and Charlotte kindly came back with me. We then settled with the rest of the party 

Charlotte and I in a window

and waited for real adventurers to report in.  They came back some time later with tales of tortuous approach routes, a cave right on the shoreline with a couple of entrances and having to struggle to get into it.  On reflection it sounds the right decision for me to drop out! But everyone came back safely and said it was worth the experience but did not find any smuggled goods.

We had our picnic lunch kindly prepared by Ruth and later it was time for watersports.  The paddle board was soon inflated and put to expert use by Keren and Charlotte. The canoe proved more of a problem to inflate but soon Alexander was heading out across the large surf but it didn't look easy or comfortable.  He had some other 

Ruth and Charlotte

short trips with the young boys but they were happy to get back to dry beach as the surf was rough.  

Alex, Ruth, Charlotte and Ian

In the meantime it had been established that fish and chips would be available as a meal when we needed it.  Most people came ashore changed and got dry and warm.  Alexander had one last paddle but unfortunately capsized when coming back through the surf for the last time.  He was cold and wet but had enough spare clothes to become warm and dry.

We enjoyed our fish and chip meal and were then treated to a show by some of the youngsters.  What a good end to a fantastic day. We had coffee with them all at their accommodation and returned to our hotel after another wonderful day.

 

Day 7 April 8th Worms Head and Oystermouth Castle

 The forecast was again very good and after discussions it was decided those who were fit and able would go across the causeways to the end of Worms Head and then later on we go to Oystermouth Castle (at the Mumbles).  The tide was low in 

Worms Head in early morning

the morning and ideal conditions for those who wanted to climb the Worms Head to do this.  The less capable of us stayed on the mainland and tried to observe the progress.  It was good to hear the stories when Alexander, Keren, Charlotte, Joshua and Zara returned - some of them having climbed to the top of the end high rock.  

We had a late coffee and then made our way to Oystermouth Castle.  It was

Oystermouth Castle

 a large castle overlooking Swansea Bay with lots of interesting viewing boards and things to do.  One of the 

Fairly old ruins

rooms had some of the original plaster in tact.  There was even a glass floor to the chapel which made an interesting crossing for the children.  The ramparts on the top of the outer walls had to be climbed.  There were some stocks where some of 

Joshua on the ramparts

the unruly elements had to be detained and some ladies and gents tried face insert places making us look like the traditional folk.  All in all a very good time and well worth the visit.

unsavoury characters

people of distinction?

After our long invasion we went down to the front hoping to catch the land train but were unlucky as it was making its last trip going to the other end of the bay.  We then went back to our 

outstanding sunset

bases and later reassembled at the Worms Head.  We had a good meal on the terrace and then watched the incredible sunset.  Yet another wonderful day.  

Day 6 Monday April 7th Oxwich beach

Our beach base camp

Another wonderful day for us to enjoy.  The sun was shining and there was some wind and we decided to visit Oxwich beach which is a little further along the Gower in an easterly direction.  It did not take long before we had parked our cars (right at the top of the beach) and carried all the necessaries to what we thought was the best sheltered position.  

We settled in and it was soon decided a major project for the day would be to build a proper sandcastle.  

Ian helping construction

Grandpa Ian was the main instigator and chief builder and it was soon well underway with help from smaller assistants.  The tide was out at this stage but was coming 

Joshua on the top as sea encroaches

in and so eventually the tide would overcome it.  To keep it in place as long as possible a series of moats, dams and channels were included.  This took some time and so a coffee break also took place.  Us bystanders were amazed at construction going on!  The tide was by now lapping

Abigail on the castle

 

the swan enjoying our company

around the base and both Joshua and Abigail had a sit on the top of what was now rapidly becoming an island.  The engulfing happened and soon all that tremendous work turned back to flat sand!

We had a picnic which Ruth had kindly prepared for us and rested on the beach for some time.  There was a swan enjoying our company in the sea several yards offshore 

the little church

from us - a bit unusual.  There

inside the church

 was a church a little further round the bay and some of went for a walk to it.  It was very characterful, still in use weekly and we were pleased to see inside and out.  It reminded us of Old Town church.  There was a beach football game as well going on and some little ones were resting after the exertions of castle building.

As it began to cool we retreated from the beach and went to the self catering accommodation.  Alexander and Keren had prepared a good spaghetti bolognese meal for all of us which went down well.  Some of the children had a very good time 

the Happy Retirement couple

with it.  After the meal Ian and Ruth's children had organised a Happy Retirement cake which we all had a slice of and sang to them.  Very much deserved!  The dishwasher was loaded, everything else sorted out, a cup of coffee consumed and then it was time for us to retire to our hotel.  A very enjoyable day again.    

Day 5 Sunday April 5th Worms Head and surroundings

Another glorious day on the Gower.  Today we had decided together to explore the surroundings of the Worms Head near our hotel.  We all met at the car park, sorted everything and everyone out and started past the former coastguard cottages towards the headland.  It was a well trodden path with plenty of other people enjoying the Sunday sunshine.  Inland was a bit like Dartmoor with wild ponies grazing on the heathland.  Out to sea was not completely calm with some waves braking but not as windy as yesterday.

Worms Head 

As we approached the view

Pony with foal on heathland 

 of Worms Head was wonderful but the tide was too far in to attempt to cross the causeway and so we admired the island from afar.  Some co-steerers had gone before us and were jumping in the water from the cliffs.  We also saw the occasional seal put in an appearance which must mean the local fish stocks are quite good.  Our party then 

Costeerers making jumps

divided with the younger element heading towards the headland and the more steep

On the cliff near the headland

 descents etc whilst us older ones headed inland and around the coast.  We got so far before the obstacles confounded us and we returned to the headland where we all met up.  It was time to return to the hotel and we all had an afternoon drink.  It was then time to go the short distance to the Britannia Inn where Charlotte had arranged for us to have a Sunday lunch.  It was a very good meal and helped by the fact that the pub garden contained a very good play park which kept the youngsters in good spirits.  When we left we dropped Charlotte who travelled with us of at the Martin accommodation before heading back to the  Worms Head hotel.

the wonderful sunset from our room

We went to our room, relaxed, blogged and watched some TV before retiring fairly early after another sun-blessed enjoyable day. 
 

Day 4 Saturday April 5th Rhosilli beach

 Following breakfast and a phone conversation we decided to meet at Port Einon for a family beach day but when we arrived it was fine but very blustery.  We discussed and concluded it would be more comfortable away from the easterly wind on Rhosilli beach.  So we made the short journey in a 3 car convoy to the Hill End section of the beach.   It was evident as we crossed the dunes that it was a 

most of us on the beach

good decision and we found our way to a suitable sheltered dingle.  There is a belt of smooth stones at the top of the beach and we soon cleared some for resting places and Ian cleared a path through them to the rest of the beach.  It was warm, the sun was shining and we were well sheltered.  Ideal for settling down to a beach day.

Soon it was lunchtime and Ruth plus her Pitton helpers had prepared enough food for all of us and it went down very well.  We chatted and rested but soon the youngsters wanted more activity.  

Charlotte being very brave went for a swim, whilst the football was soon brought into action on a flat area of hard sand.  Others wandered to the water's edge for a 

at the water's edge

paddle and there was a general relaxation all round.  During the afternoon we had an aeroplane display practice going on above us but although it was very interesting and spectacular I was unable to get any photos - my eyesight and reactions are not what they were.  After a long time on the beach some of the party decided they wanted to retire to the facilities and beach cafe.  Ian eventually heroically decided to carry some of the

games on the beach

 bags up to them and returned to sit with the rest of us.  He came back, we chatted some more and when it was likely the others were not returning the five of us, Ian Christine, Charlotte, Alexander and I, carried the large amount of baggage back to the cafe where we all joined up and had some nice cool drinks.

We returned to Pitton to sort ourselves out and Ruth with some help prepared a lovely chicken meal.  It was soon ready and was heartily consumed.  We had enjoyed a lovely day and then while Alexander was putting his children to bed, Ian went to Swansea station to collect Keren who had been at a reunion and we slipped off back to our hotel. It had been a good day weatherwise with some good opportunities to interact together.