Retreat to the quiet of the Western Seaboard
Date : Thurs 19th to Sat 21st May 2005. Location : Back to Swansea and then travel home. Occasion : The last part of our May holiday week. Details : Back on plan for the last few days. Weather : The cold front had passed, and we were back to sunshine after the cloudier weather. Photo: Back on the Gower Coast, the leafy lane from Penmaen to Tor Bay at the start of Friday's walk. |
Swansea was our home for many years before we moved to Cumbria
so our holiday allowed us to catch up with old friends and visit old favourite haunts.
Tor Bay on Gower
The skies were clearing after overnight rain so Ann and I took the dogs for a walk.
Bethan, Ann and Harry
Behind is Crawley Wood, part of Oxwich Bay.
Limestone cliffs are an ever present feature of Gower.
Looking down on Three Cliffs Bay and on the headland opposite, Pennard and Southgate Villages.
For years there has always been a single lone goat on the cliffs around Tor
I was delighted to see he is still in fine health.
. . . and growing less timid as the years go by. |
Great Tor Headland |
Myself and the dogs
just about to enjoy the second sea swim of the holiday.
"Enjoy" being a subjective description in view of the sea temperature, which had not exactly reached dizzy heights.
Three Cliffs Bay
A classic view from the road near Penmaen.
Friday.
Swansea has been blessed by several new developments in recent years, the most notable of which is a rejuvenation of the old South Dock area into the Marina Complex.
Here on the sea wall an innovative design of building holds a Stella Observatory, its roof opening to view the night sky.
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A study in blue, black and brown.
The sunlight, now strong under a cloudless sky, provides stark highlights of colour and shape to the West Pier.
The Fish Ladder . . . |
and the Weir of the Tawe Barrage |
When I was a kid, we always used to say the town looked best with the tide in.
In the eighties, they built a barrage to hold back the river and provide a permanent high tide upstream which is now a popular boating marina, fully utilising the river and several of the old dock basins.
The river looks a little murky and green but don't be fooled. The black speck at the base of the fish ladder is a seal waiting patiently for some passing lunch.
The National Cycle way signpost. |
Recent developments include a new and dramatic pedestrian bridge over the river
which carries the Sustrans Cycle way through town.
The old South Dock is now a Marina and home to the National Maritime Museum.
Its boats: an old Bristol Channel Tug Boat, the Pilot boat and the Helwick Light Ship amongst others.
Captain Cat stands guard over the day.
Dylan Thomas's fictional character used to ring in the morning at the old seaside village of Llaregyb in "Under Milk Wood".
On a less literary note . . . All those who want to see what Roger's Tackle looks like . . . its just around the corner !!!!
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An evening meal out with friends.
Gareth, Gill, Ann, Jackie and Mike intently studying camera technology.
Back for coffee to the house.
Bethan is getting a little to large to be a lap-dog I fear.
Homeward bound, but one more stop before we leave the Welsh Borders
We catch up with friends and their golden retrievers. Five dogs, chaos reigns, until they get sorted out.
Jenny, Sarah and Ann. (Steve was out working)
Molly, Daisy, Harry, Bethan and in front is Penny who's now 15 years old.
And then we were home . . . .
Technical note: Pictures taken with a Canon IXUS 400 Digital camera.
Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.
This site best viewed . . . with a few quiet moments afterwards.
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