We woke to a return to beautiful blue skies. After a simple breakfast at home (tea, Welsh cakes, and yoghurt), we set out to explore one corner of the area in which we are staying.
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We drove about ten miles and stopped for a look at the tiny town of Manorbier. The roads in and out are narrow and twisty and really test your driving skill. The town has a castle and a small but very beautiful beach. Elaine had a nice chat with a local lady picking blackberries (“Don’t eat the red ones!”)
Then we drove on to Tenby, a bustling town (population 5,000) right on the hills overlooking the sea. The word picturesque was coined to describe this place. Elaine fell in love with it. It has three beaches which become one at low tide (which it was). On Castle Beach there was a sand sculpture competition, and lots of families were participating. Right on the beach there is an island with a fort atop — St Catherine’s Island. It has been closed to visitors for over 35 years because the stairway up had eroded so badly, but a new restoration project is under way and one is now able to climb to the top of the island at low tide. They still have much work to do before the fort might again be accessible though.
Then we had our picnic lunch on a bench on the grassy hillside overlooking the beach. Well, I had my lunch. Two bites into her sandwich Elaine was holding it when a sea gull (rat with wings) swooped in over her shoulder and snatched the sandwich. The scavenger and the sandwich landed right in front of us and was gone in two quick seagull gulps. Video would have “America’s Funniest Home Video” material, but, of course, the camera was not at the ready at the time. I gave Elaine some of my sandwich, we shared our potato chips, and then we had a short walkabout. We ended the walk back on the beach where we enjoyed an ice cream cone and viewed the sand sculptures.
On the way home we stopped at a big Sunday flea market (boot sale to the Brits). There was everything imaginable for sale. A few miles down the road we stopped for a look at Carew Castle and the Carew Cross. We met two elderly brothers from the midlands who were vacationing as well and had a good chat with them. They insisted that we come over to their car to meet their wives (which we did, of course).
Then it was back to Kiln House, our home, and we walked down to the Ferry House Inn for a pint (or two). Dinner was at home again. We will eat at the pub tomorrow night. Cheers until then!
