Ceredigion Coast Path day 3. New Quay to Aberaeron. No mud! 

I’m doing this walk to raise money for research into amyloidosis. My JustGiving page.

Got going at 7.30 and arrived in Aberaeron at 11.30. A stone hit my windscreen but not in my field of vision so hope it will get through the MOT next year. There was a lot of football going on so the car park was full but I got in the next one. This one didn’t want my coins and all this took so long I had to get the bus an hour later.

It turned out I could have parked at The Feathers Royal Hotel but hey ho will remember that idea for next time. I went to La Cuccina which is old Italian cafe. Quite old fashioned. I had an espresso and a large bakewell tart.

I got on the bus, 20 mins later arrived in New Quay and set off on the CCP again.

The first stretch goes along the shingle beach. A scary notice said the beach was impassable at high tide. It looked high but not that high and I could see people on the beach so decided to do it. I had no phone signal in New Quay so couldn’t check my tides app.

It was hard work on the shingle for about a kilometre and I was glad to get off it. The tide came up a little but not enough to cut anyone off plus you could always run up a dune.

The path left the sea for a bit and I popped into St. Ina’s church which was plain but wonderfully positioned.

Back on the path I bimbled along to Aberaeron.

I saw a lot of people at first all with dogs and then no one at all until I reached the town. I was able to keep up a good speed because the path was bone dry. It took me just over 3 and a quarter hours to reach Aberaeron about 6.5 miles.

It started warm and sunny then went cloudy. I had too many things for cold weather (we had over an inch of snow yesterday) and winter boots to deal with mud. The forecast yesterday had been for cold and wet. Hard to get it right.

The Feathers is fine and nice and quiet. I’ve had pate followed by chicken and chips for dinner with Peroni. Bit stuffed so waiting for it to go down before I head out to the nightlife of downtown Aberaeron.

Ye Olde Taxi Cab
Just get to the end before the tide is high
St. Ina’s and bluebells

Aberaeron harbour
Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map and use a compass with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

MAPandCOMPASS

1st Stage of the CCP, postscript

Hotel Penwig breakfast was very good. A small cooked veggie breakfast was 2 sausages, tasty ones, 2 poached eggs, also tasty and beans. Weak coffee.

Went off to book a 2 hour dolphin boat trip and had a Grumpy Mule coffee from a fish and chip shop before going to the boat. At last a nice cup of coffee. I’m sure there is good coffee to be had along the coast but the hotel trade makes a habit of weak breakfast coffee for no apparent reason and no excuse these days when the fish and chip shop is able to do it.

Got chatting to nice family from Manchester whilst waiting for the boat. A fellow blogger. We were only a handful on the boat which I liked as we could spread out and move about. Not a dolphin in sight. Oh well will have to come back. Lovely day to be on the sea and great to see most of my walk yesterday. The boat turned at Llangranog. We did see seals and loads of sea birds.

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This is George
This is George

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Full boat
Full boat

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Back to New Quay. Up the road to the bus. I’d asked directions at the pub earlier which I heard as “next to the greenhouse” but was meant as “next to the green house” and took me a while to realise. Still tired I guess. My car was still at the college car park, free because half term. Nice to be reunited with shoes not caked and crusted in Mud. Tesco then Borth to visit Chris for a couple of days.

The path, the Mud

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This section of tarmac started in the middle and ended quite soon after
This section of tarmac started in the middle and ended quite soon after

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Lovely dry path
Lovely dry path

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When I come back for the rest of the path I will do shorter mileages.

There are several converted railway carriages along the way. Must have been a lot of bother to get them sited. And then they are probably quite cold to live in.

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Signs

Inevitable really
Inevitable really

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Start of the walk
Start of the walk

https://www.justgiving.com/Jak-Radice2

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map and use a compass with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

MAPandCOMPASS

CCP Day 2. Aberporth to New Quay. More mud

I’m doing this walk to raise money for research into amyloidosis. My JustGiving page.

I know Chris would have liked to do this walk as it’s by the coast that she knows so well and goes past her favourite camping spot at Mwnt. I miss walking with you my trusty companero, my darling best friend.

Croissant then sausage and tomatoes for breakfast. I didn’t eat the fried bread as it was not fried in butter. Coffee was a bit weak. I set off at 9.30 as it was a bit further to go today. 10 hours later I reached New Quay. Ow! From Aberporth the path goes to Tresaith, it’s Tarmac most of the way, lulling me into a false sense of confidence. Espresso at Tresaith but horrible. Then back to Mud to reach Penbryn. Stopped for expensive almond and plum tart at The Plump Tart. I thought she was quite well rounded but a bit stingy on the portion she gave me.

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Then to Llangranog where I was already thinking of throwing in the towel but no buses so no choice but to continue. It would have been sensible to stop here but I didn’t know how bad the paths would be. Thick clay Mud weighs down the boots and slows you down. Plus there are a lot of ups and downs on the route. A lot. I chatted to some Ramblers’ volunteers doing path work near Llangranog.

 

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The weather was fab, the views were stunning but I worried about reaching New Quay before dark. I rang the hotel from Cwmtydu to say I would be late. No problem. I passed a couple of walkers doing the whole path. We all talked Mud.
I got so tired I could barely put one foot in front of the other. It was so good to see New Quay.

Didn’t see any Dolphins but saw horses, a kite, a jay, a rabbit, sheep oh and some Mud.

Hotel Penwig room is fine. Biscuits! They all go to Carol! Supper of chicken and bacon linguine so hungry it barely touched the sides. Choc crunch tart. Half of Brains bitter. Half of Rev James Gold.

Lying down. May be able to crawl to bathroom.

Today my song was Bruce One Step Up (and two steps back).

There will be a postscript when I get home and load up pictures from my camera.

These 2 days have been terrific scenery but hard work. I’ve renamed it the Ceredigion Mud Bath.

JustGiving: Walk Ceredigion Coast Path for UCL because we need to research much more about amyloidosis.
http://www.justgiving.com/Jak-Radice2

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map and use a compass with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

MAPandCOMPASS

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