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We arrived up here yesterday afternoon to stay a friend's house outside Llanberis. Skoda (coming up for a cheap service) and motorbike (for fun). I have to say this place is lovely, Snowdon (or Wyddfa - as SWMBO insists on calling it) is covered in snow, been out on the bike this morning to get milk, had a lovely ride across the Llanberis and Ffrancon (aka Ogwen) passes and I feel I must report remarkably traffic free roads. The A5 has been re-surfaced since I last ventured this way and the standard of the surfaces were superb. Very , very little traffic out and about. Stopped in Pete's Eats in Llanberis on the return leg and spent a pleasant 30 minutes there nursing a coffee (I actually did some moderating from there !). Not seen Welshlad's Mitsubishi yet, I could hardly miss him though could I ? ! Off for a couple of beers to Beddgelert later. Niiice.
Edited by Pugugly on 16/04/2008 at 16:10
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Have you now retired, PU? To Wales? Lucky devil if so.
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No just a break. 12 months exactly to retirement. Just practising.
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Take a trip into electric mountain while you are there PU - fascinating place - a complete power station inside a mountain .... the turbine hall is bigger than St Pauls Cathedral and if you are in any way mechanically minded its a wonderful tour. They kept having to drag me back on the tour bus the last time I went there.
I have the use of a cottage in the Conwy valley and Snowdonia is one of my favourite places. SWMBO and I even managed to climb Tryfan on our last visit.
My pet hate is when locals are speaking English when you walk into a pub but then look at you and start speaking in Welsh....
My favourite moment was when SWMBO , helicopter jr and I won the local village pub quiz and scooped the money - if looks could have killed we'd have been dead....
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>>My pet hate is when locals are speaking English when you walk into a pub but then look at you and start speaking in Welsh....
it is our mother language after all and naturally we speak it to each other
reminds me of a joke.
what do you call a man who speaks two languages?
bilingual.
what do you call a man who speaks three or more languages?
polyglot.
what do you call a man who will only speak one language?
english.
btw. I am fluent in Welsh, english and can get by with French and German
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i was up that way today pug just thought it was too nice a day to not put the roof down and head for the hills, how long are you in this neck of the woods maybe we can arrange a coffee meet BTW Creso Cymru
Edited by welshlad on 16/04/2008 at 17:03
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Don't know if I can get out of a meeting on the 22nd then until next week. Weather may be the key element.
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I was last near there when we stayed in a cottage at Portmeirion (just outside the village). Really like that bit of the UK (I'm from South Wales originally though).
If anyone likes mead there's a good place in Llanberis - all sorts of different "flavours" if you can have different flavoured honey based drinks.
What I like to do when the locals switch from English to Welsh is wait for a bit and then speak to them in Welsh. They seem not to like that ;-)
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SWMBO took an A level a couple of years ago in Welsh (learnt remotely), she reckons its a myth - we'll test it tonight ! The people who own the house speak the lingo and they talk about us in English.
Edited by Pugugly on 16/04/2008 at 18:12
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Just trivia really but it might amuse some. I have had the experience in Wales in business meetings where the locals have switched into Welsh during the sensitive parts of a negotiation. An ex-colleague and I fought back by switching into German at the same meeting! Grins all round and the meeting continued in English. Can't think of a motoring link other than we drove there and back.
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I was trying to think of a motoring link - language politics apart, had a couple of delightful rides out today, driving tonight to Anglesey looking forward to it - hope the roads are quiet and that Brunstrom's horsebox is in a stable somewhere.
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Ahhh... this time last year I had just climbed Drum, wandered round Lyn Ogwen and spent a very happy evening in Pete's Eats - heaven!
And my motoring link is that the car I was in ran out of diesel so we all had one extra drink while that was sorted out. :)
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I've some friends that live in that neck of the woods, hopefully going to blast the Boxster up that way in the near future. I'll also be in Petes Eats when I'm up there, use to live within walking distance of their, turn right out the door, follow the single track road out of Llanberis for about a mile and once it starts going downhill I lived in a cottage on the left hand side. Great place to watch the RAF jets fly 400 ft below you.
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I haven't been to N. Wales for ages - must put that right soon - but (twice in the last month) I've been reminded that the northern half of Northumberland is (a) achingly beautiful) and (b) refreshingly free from heavy traffic.
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sounds like a honest john motoring meet in the making start polishing you chrome and asking SWMBO permisson for a weekend away
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Traffic free trip to Red Wharf Bay tonight, The Old Boathouse. I'm sure there was a Backroomer there (talking about common rail diesels in particular the Mondeo TDCI).
The Roomster's service came in as quoted. Took 3.5 litres of PD Oil @ 9.49 per litre, a filter @5.35p and a sump washer @ £1.20, labour was £58.00 which included the fitting of the new horn (I supplied that and got the old one back) - after paying BMW prices for the last 100 years I can tell you that was a true bargain.
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"the new horn"
Is it one where you squeeze the rubber ball on the end of a trumpet and it goes "parp parp"
Edited by Big Bad Dave on 16/04/2008 at 22:03
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"included the fitting of the new horn"
Insurance notified? :-)
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Yes - you've been looking. At least I can now sound the one I've got with some gusto - the other was an embarrassment . To quote a long departed member "parp parp"
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Red Wharfe Bay - I went to school on Anglesey and know it well! Beautiful place. On the subject of driving, take the Llanberis Pass and then turn right at the top for Beddgelert, drive down the fabulous Nant Gwynant pass, through Beddgelert and then turn left over a narrow river bridge, onto the the A4085,for a few miles, then turn left at Garreg, taking the mountain road through Rhyd to join the A 487. A stunning scenic and drivers route, fabulous on a spring evening.
Cheers
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I know the road, although we generally carry on through Penrhyn (dew drop as I call it), I may well investigate Rhyd tomorrow on the bike. Tanonnen in Beddgelert is one of favourite eataries, it was on the plan tonight but Anglesey beckoned. May well head for Harlech tomorrow, which is splendid drive/ride. SWMBO has brought her helmet...!
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So did you get the missus to drive the Roomster or was your recent towball to hitch up your bike trailer?
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SWMBO drove the Roomster - she "quite likes it" actually. Still looking for a trailer. I have now decided on an Ifor Williams - which costs 2.5 times more than the Superstore version, but has a proper chassis instead of being pressed steel and will be worth something when I get bored of it (as Mrs P helpfully pointed out).
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"Ifor Williams trailer"
Another Welsh link? I bet the bike was more fun to get there :-)
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Well their factory is on the way 'ome so I may save the £40.00 delivery charge ?
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Well their factory is on the way 'ome so I may save the £40.00 delivery charge ?
You won't go wrong with Ifor PU. I've had 2, still got 1 and give it hell. Nice bit of kit.
VBR....MD
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Unbelievably there was thick snow on the Ifor Williams' side of N Wales today.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7351928.stm
Nothing in Snowdonia though, a cold but pleasant Spring day - went on the bike to Harlech for lunch with Mrs P, quiet roads again, nice ride through Llanberis Pass, Nant Gwynant Pass, the road to Penrhyndd and then down to Harlech, superb views down past Portmeirion. Absolutely stunning views comparable with anything anywhere in the world - Incredible and then some. I love the bike for this - although Mrs P was cold.
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Glad you enjoyed it Pu, that route has to be one of the finest drives in the UK and the views when you catch it in the right light are unforgettable. I've had many a great drive down the Nant Gwynant Pass, one of the few times I actually enjoyed being in my Focus - it's what it was made for! Hopefully I will repeat it on a new bike sometime maybe this summer!
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I haven't been to N. Wales for ages - must put that right soon - but (twice in the last month) I've been reminded that the northern half of Northumberland is (a) achingly beautiful) and (b) refreshingly free from heavy traffic.
We booked a summer break yesterday, rather than spending hours in airports and sat on an aluminium tube at 35,000 ft we decided to return to Scotland. I am already looking forward to miles and miles of traffic free roads.
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Davey, where you off to - up North?
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i must admit living here in wales its so tempting not to go anywhere else in the summer (especially when we get good weather) but i always go to the isle of wight every year on personal business but apart from that im happy just to stay here and enjoy what wales has to offer
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Davey where you off to - up North?
Not too far north - just south of Fort William.
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>>My pet hate is when locals are speaking English when you walk into a pub but then look at you and start speaking in Welsh....
it is our mother language after all and naturally we speak it to each other
reminds me of a joke.
what do you call a man who speaks two languages?
bilingual.
what do you call a man who speaks three or more languages?
polyglot.
what do you call a man who will only speak one language?
english.
btw. I am fluent in Welsh, english and can get by with French and German
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"it is our mother language after all and naturally we speak it to each other"
But if they were talking English to begin with and switched to Welsh then they might have something to hide or be talking about you. And I have had the latter happen without them knowing I understood - and spoke to them in Welsh to their embarrasment :-)
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I think that's a touche to the earlier posts, there were Welsh conversations going on in the place we were eating last night and in Harlech today, Mrs P (whose fourth language it is) reports that there was a positive comment about the bike, she didn't here any derogatory comment about the us being "Saison" or us at all ! As with any other locals in the world they've got more important things to talk about than out of season visitors from beyond Offa's Dyke.
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as kids we used to have fun sending the more arrogant tourists to Deinlolen wherever they wanted to go
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Deinlolen
I'm three miles from there as the Hawk flies as I type ! Did you know it was called Ebenezer in the past ?
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>>as kids we used to have fun sending the more arrogant tourists to Deinlolen wherever they wanted to go
Yes, shame really. I'm of Scots/Welsh extraction & have never really understood that attitude - neither could my parents, both of whom made good lives in England but remembered (and returned to) their roots. They often felt it was those Scots & Welsh that never ventured far that tended to maintain a rather parochial & ethnocentric outlook. Luckily, the younger (and more enlightened older) Welsh people are casting off the more outmoded views & attitudes.
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My reply was to Cymrogwyllt by the way. Fortunately language isn't a motoring issue (and not intending to start a debate about bilingual signs, that's been done to death here in the past) I come here to enjoy the scenery, atmosphere and roads !!
Edit:-
and food.
Edited by Pugugly on 17/04/2008 at 22:42
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what do you call a man who will only speak one language? english.
Why do you need more than one language when it's English?
If the other person can't understand, just speak louder - every Englishman knows that.
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If the other person can't understand just speak louder - every Englishman knows that.
and we Welsh send them to Deiniolen
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That's why we send them to Deiniolen
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Apologies if this is a bit of a hijack so feel free to ignore! I must say though that this thread has whetted my/our appetite to explore N Wales a bit more. We are actually on the "doorstep" living near Chester but have not made the time to go and properly explore this wonderful sounding area. Having been brought up near the sea in Scotland I have a hankering for remote wild beaches. Having popped over to some of the nearer places like Rhyll and Prestatyn we were, dare I say it, a bit underwhelmed. Can anyone recommend a favourite beach or seaside trail that may be a bit more unspoilt / rugged but still within the bounds of an easy day trip from south Cheshire? I have an eight year old son who wants to rockpool and mountain bike and kite fly and go crabbing and skim stones and collect shells and driftwood and cook sausages on a beach fire and.........well you know, all those things.
Edited by shoespy on 17/04/2008 at 23:15
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Yes - Deganwy beach is still in essence a beautiful place, despite being spoilt by a hideous building development. Talavre beach on the Chester side of Prestatyn. On Anglesey I would recommend Llanddwyn/Newborough beach. Not sure where Cymrogwyllt is but I'll bet he knows of somewhere (bearing in mind he knows where Deiniolen is - no mean feat !)
Oh and you're not hijacking the thread just bringing it back to where I wanted it - a celebration of superb motoring country and natural beauty ! (and did i mention the food !)
Edited by Pugugly on 17/04/2008 at 23:44
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Why do you need more than one language when it's English? If the other person can't understand just speak louder - every Englishman knows that.
Brilliant!
Best reg's...MD
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shoespy for the more unspoilt areas you need to come further past ryhl and prestatyn along the A55 towards bangor and just stop where you like the look of, great promenades at penmeanwar and llanfairfechan and if you follow the A55 to anglesey and then follow the road to beaumaris theres a pier (apparently an excellent spot for crabbing according to my nephews) and the castle is a must as well as beaches. also the great orme past Llandudno is beautiful at the top and has a tram and cable car to amuse the kiddies
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As I said as the OP and a site moderator can we keep this on track (i.e.) what a nice place Snowdonia is to motor in - whilst I am interested in the Welsh language - this is not the forum for it. For the record there is an incredible moon here tonight, I'm almost tempted out on the bike....but its fiendishly cold.
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Thanks for the tips guys. All we need to do now is wait for a reasonable weather forecast.
We could also of course also leave all the windows and sunroof open on the the Mondeo diesel estate, don our goggles and pretend we still had the Westie to liven up the trip! Somehow think that might not work. Getting the tail out on a Mondy diesel isn't nearly as much fun. Would probably make the bikes fly off the roof. Now where did I put those crab lines? ;-)
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Just a bit further east from PU's stamping-ground - I used to work for the company that owned Caer Rhun Hall near Conwy, and if I had time I would go on the A5 but cut the corner with Bettws-y-Coed in it and take the B5113 /B5477 through Nebo and join the A470 at Llanrwst.
The scenery through and around Nebo is gorgeous.
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When I was in the area at the end of Jan/beginning of Feb I was enjoying driving at a reasonable speed on the A and B roads and enjoying the scenery (maybe 50mph) and the driving on open clear roads. But a lot of locals would be tailgating and either doing stupid overtaking moves or pushing you to go faster than you wanted. I'd let 'em past as soon as I could.
Just remembering that as well as the A5 the satnav had me go down the B4407... nice road but this was soon after the flooding we had from the heavy rain and I had this sinking feeling the road was going to be flooded at some point. It wasn't but the rivers were pretty full, fast slowing and breaching their banks.
Edited by rtj70 on 18/04/2008 at 13:44
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went upto llanberis today had the roof down on the new car and the weather was glourious so headed up to the hills for a few hours, ventured onto the lake steam railway to kill an hour glad i did i dont think the weather tommorrow is going to be good enough to even leave the house let alone do anything else
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Well I must have missed you ! Went up a little hillock (724m according to my OS) called Moel Eilio (the poor-man's Wyddfa @ 1085m). Tremendous day, it was warm, more like late May. Been out tonight for a very agreeable meal in Menai Bridge and then walked the dogs. I stood at the side of the main road from Bangor to Llanberis and I was amazed as to how quiet it was.......a more mobile day planned for tomorrow, Caernarfon town and visiting a friend in the afternoon. What a great place.
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Thinking we might bumble over to Beaumaris on Monday. Bit of crabbing, fish 'n chips, skim stones and things. Suspect it will be more Coat 'n Wellies than Cote D'Azur but never mind. Any other suggestions welcome bearing in mind the prospect of a bored eight year old.
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theres always the lake railway at llanberis, i still havent decided where me and the tangerine terror are going on the bank holiday i might venture to chester zoo
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Allport's chippie in Llanberis - very good (especially with a nice full bodied white)
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Bit of crabbing, fish 'n chips, skim stones and things .... the prospect of a bored eight year old.
With that programme, I should think any eight-year-old would be far from bored - I'm quite tempted by it myself.
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Well.......if you've got a crab line and your cholesterol is in order..........oh, and if you wouldn't be intimidated by a "seven skipper" in rough surf of course........;-)
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Maybe a Backroom outing to the seaside ?
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Good idea PU. We'll be there anyway. If anyone else does turn up I'll be easy to spot.....think George Clooney / Pierce Brosnan but with more latent athleticism and altogether better looking............( yeah right ! )
Could I just propose a small motion that "I am the Stig" T-shirts should not be worn as they really are not a good look.
;-)
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Could I just propose a small motion that "I am the Stig" T-shirts should not be worn as they really are not a good look.
explains why im still single
ask the car park attendant to reserve the good spots so we can all park together
Edited by welshlad on 02/05/2008 at 22:12
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I lived in Beaumaris for a couple of years whilst at uni twenty years ago.
The castle, gaol and magistrates court are well worth seeing.
I may well be up there this weekend.
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me and the tangerine terror will be out most of the day having a cruise around north wales (starting with a trip to the jet wash at llandudno) i'll probably get to beaumaris at lunchtime so if anyone is about they can join me for a pub lunch if they so wish......look out for the ugly dude in the pretty car cant miss us LOL
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