31 March   Friday  Last Day   Llandudno   Conwy Castle   Chester

The morning in Llandudno is drizzly.  The tight bath makes for a cuckoo shower.  Breakfast is wonderful and elegant—7:40 AM.  We bring our bags to the coach and Grant has a small problem with opening the cargo hold. I ask him to make sure my suit case is easy to grab “when you boot me off the bus” later in Chester.  He smiles and does it like the pro.  All loaded the coach and circle around the town, trying to find a few Wonderland statues.  Never do found Alice.

The morning at Conwy Castle is perfect. This is my favorite castle--fortification.  Like Caernarfon Castle it was also built by Edward I after he conquered Wales in 1283 and 1287.  He also built the walled town of Conwy, at a total cost of £15,000.  The castle played a strategic role for a handful of centuries and several wars. It survived the siege of Madog ap Llywelyn in the winter of 1294–95, a safe place for Richard II in 1399 and Owain Glyndŵr (Welsh hero) held it in 1401.

At the end of the English Civil War (1642), Charles' loyalists held it until 1646.  After that Parliament stopped funding its upkeep to deter any would-be revolts.  The fortification fell into disrepair.  The remaining iron and lead was stripped off and sold in 1660—sealing its fate. Painters of the late 18th and early 19th centuries flocked to Conwy Castle. Traveler's interest  grew and the English Government  rededicated money to its preservation by the last half of the 19th century. It is now a tourist attraction.  UNESCO made it a world Heritage Site, considering it to be one of  "the finest example of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe". The rectangular castle is built from both local and imported stone and it is also built on a coastal ridge over the River Conwy--like Pembroke Castle in southwestern Wales. There is an Inner and an Outer Ward, with eight large towers and two barbicans,.  The postern gate goes down to the river.  Like other Edwardian castles in North Wales, the architecture is based on the Kingdom of Savoy, architect, James of Saint George’s birthplace.

Our Director, Jason, wants us to sing one last time.  He chooses a fully walled room as a place to sing. At one time it was a basement pass-thru for the banquet hall above—with fireplaces twenty feet over our heads.  I can only imagine all the massive floor joints and plank flooring that has long since disappeared. We sing "The Water is Wide". I check out everything I can, but refrain from climbing.  In the gift shop I get Marianne a couple of lamb’s wool scarves and Castle Conwy wooden Christmas ornament.   I join Kevin and MaryRuth at the Castle Gallery Café for tea and scones.  She compliments me on singing next to her.  She says it was a pleasure and that I added a good dynamic to the center of the group.  Thank you.  I tell her I really enjoyed singing next to her 'tenor' and Kevin’s as well.  There’s enough time to walk down to St. Mary’s Church before Grant show up with the coach.  

We are off and Grant performs one more miracle, by passing the coach through the Bangor gate in the

west city wall.  Tall but TIGHT.  As we cross the River Conwy (A547), Sue passes out pieces of Dragon cheese, very kind, and very good.  We cross the River Conwy, take a few roundabouts near Llandudno Junction Railway Station, until we are on the North Wales Expy., heading northeast and out of the Llandudno area--going up the northern coast.  The ride is interesting with beach-side communities and the railway which runs right next to the dramatic Irish Sea on A548/A55.  There are so many wind turbines out in the sea. We pass the River Dee, with much alluvial mudflats at low tide. The countryside is more gently rolling here with more grazing sheep.  I see the first exit for Wrexham A550, and we turn north towards Chester at the second exit—A483.

Chester is in northwestern England.  It is an old Roman town, so the old town is laid out well.  There is a castle and a Roman Amphitheater and a fortress--1st century A.D. It has extensive Roman walls made of local red sandstone. We are going to the Rows, the old city, which is a shopping district with many Tudor-style half-timber buildings and serveral 2-level covered arcades. We are dropped off a block south of the heart of the old city and are told to be back by 14:00 (2 PM).

The weather is still spitting, but we venture out, looking at all the ancient half-timbered shops, the cathedral, and an old wall with Clock Tower. Chester is dominated by the Grosvenor Hotel and Department ‘monstrosity’ mall. The town is owned by the million/billionaire Grosvenor.

I have ended up with Ginny’s ‘group’--with John and Alicia.  We finally decide to find lunch, passing by The Old Queens Head and opting for Atina Kitchen—Modern European. We are led to a table in the

back, near the kitchen, with many 1920-30’s Italian travel posters, old china and tons of cookbooks. Ginny tells me that John collects cookbooks--a hobby I gave up long ago.  I decide on a squash/red lentil soup and bread and it is delicious. We head back for the coach early so we can surprise Sue and Grant with a token of our deep appreciation for getting us through the two weeks. Earlier I had been pulled aside by the group’s treasurer, Janis, to make sure I hadn’t left before then, and it was a blessing to be able to thank them both properly.  The two of them  really were the best we could have had touring us.  We cheer for them and give them cards and extra gifts for everything they have done for us.  Janis reads a tribute that Donna 'scratched out' for Sue and we all hoot and howl with laughter.  Then we are on our way to ‘boot’ David off the bus at the railway station. I am eternally grateful for everyone putting up with my demands.

Sue Wardle, Tour Guide

Grant, Coach Driver

Contrary to possible reports Grant did not miss a turn and had to take us via the Ring Road and A56 back to the station. I get let out a block away, giving Sue a big hug and Grant a hand shake. With ‘goodbyes’ from my companions, I walk past lots of sleeping homeless to the entrance.  I wait for the Grant to drive by, both of us waving, then he turned away from the station. Chester Station is a jumble of crazy activity. I find the ticket office and get a pass for Wrexham General.  The clerk gives me directions to Platform 4b.  I go through the crowd, find the automated ticket readers, climb and cross over the tracks and find the train within 12 minutes of departure! A whirlwind of emotions roll over me as I try to absorb everything that I have experienced in the last eleven days.  I am so exhilarated and physically drained, but I feel so enriched by it all.  Plus, now I am heading towards a new adventure in the cradle of my Jones family past.  I am truly blessed.

Hireath by Andrew Challis

My Journal

  

                              31 March to April 6    More Adventures in Wrexham and Minera 

        I have a blog about my Wrexhman/Minera Adventures: yallcometowrexham.blogspot.com