Two for the price of one!!

Sorry to drag on but we did have trouble uploading the first bit so this is a double whammy... happy reading :-)
So where were we… oh that’s right Menai Bridge… Lovely spot! Very picturesque and cheap as you sit on someone else mooring for the duration… strange idea but it seems to work!
Eventually we left our cosy spot and motored off in the pouring rain and freezing cold (yep it is summer!) and headed for dreaded Swellies.
Well they were very pretty and not too scary at high water and slack tide but going under the bridges was another matter and the Britannia Bridge seemed very low!
Once through all the “messy bits” we pootled into Caenarfon (Victoria Dock) and made the acquaintance of Mark the Man in Charge. Fabulous bloke and massive too… could probably stop a boat with one finger… we make a stylish job of mooring up and get to know the town. As an aside the dock is lovely but it is saying something when your own boat shower is better than the one on land! Ahhh the joys of hot water and heating!
Caenarfon is awesome and we spend a few days walking and drinking pints of refreshing ale at the Black Boy (a 16th century pub… too cool!); we even take a ride on the old steam train back from Waunfawr (no don’t ask me how to pronounce that…)
Summer is finally heating up a bit and we both get a bit of “blush” on our cheeks.
Well enough dilly dallying about town, we head out over the dreaded Caenarfon bar that just the night before claimed 2 of the Three Peaks racing boats (they both hit trying to cut the corner coming up to Caenarfon to offload their runners to climb Snowdon) and head off to Llanddwyn Island (What is it about welsh that you have to use the same letter over and over again!)
Not this is more like it sunny days, seals and wildlife, excellent walking, a bit of kayaking and even a swim… bruurrrrrr… maybe too soon after all! To top it off Bramble finally decided it was time to “christen” the boat as well… what a good dog… smakos all round!! Since the pee pee post blew off the lawn I have been wondering what would happen in the middle of one dark and stormy night but as it happens Bramble has sussed out a lovely spot; easily cleaned and regularly washed by breaking waves when at sea… what a smart dog!
Well the island is a magic spot but unfortunately the winds are a changing and so we bid a fond fair well to Mermaids cove and our resident seal and blow gracefully down to Porth Dinillean.
Now I would love to say that this is a truly great spot and from the beach and its associated very funky pub it is magnificent but out in the bay it is rock and roll to say the least. A very uncomfortable night is had by all and we get up early to head down the coast and clear Bardsey Sound at slack water. It’s a “pot hopping” trip with crab and lobster pots in the most unlikely places but we miss them all, bash over some outfalls and then glide serenely through the gap… very weird place with whirlpools and strange upwellings all around. I can see why the Pope considered to trips across this short stretch of water was a good as going all the way to Rome!! It was such a crap night we pull in at Aberdaron for a welcome nap and trip ashore before being driven out by yet another heaving swell starting up… at least it is still sunny!... so off to Pwllheli we go… (yes, another place we can’t quite get our tongues around… makes you wonder how many places people don’t go to in Wales as they are to embarrassed to call up the marinas and give the names a go on air!)
It’s a narrow channel and silt has built up over the winter but we grin and thank our lucky stars we chose a shallow keel boat and motor up the fairway. Now here I would like to say that we made another slap up job of mooring up but someone got their knickers in a knot and tied off to the wrong cleat so it ended up in a bit of a bun fight but we got there in the end… note to self try to do better next time 
Murray is off to Clive’s 50th birthday bash so Bramble and I will spend a few days ashore. What do you do you may well ask… well spend money of course… boats need things… including 60 metres of calibrated chain… we have discovered the chain on the boat is ISO not DIN so therefore doesn’t match the gypsy leading to lots of clunking and very little up action under load… an expensive exercise but required none the less, walk about a lot and generally relax in what is proving to be very sunny weather… I am working on quite a tan between clouds! Bramble on the other hand has fallen in love with a neighbouring beagle so spends most of her time waving at him and pee-mailing him love letters… Harry is most bemused, being castrated, but did offer to do some welcome sniffing on the appropriate days… ahhh… that’s puppy love for you!
Well better be off now and make a cup of tea… wonder if that chain has turned up at the marina office yet…

p.s. You will be pleased to know the weather has turned again and it is back to the fluffy pants and snuggle rugs… I know how much you all hate to think of us suffering in the British heat!