Yesterday, we met Sheila Harper on the train. She is an octogenarian who was a teacher and then headmistress. During WWII, she and her siblings and cousins were sent to Wales; she is returning to see it, having heard nothing has changed. She regaled us with stories of her childhood, her time teaching the RAF, her post-retirement trips, and her amateur Shakespearean acting.
Time sped quickly, and as we approached Machynlleth (Mac), where we were to disembark, the conductor announced that the first two cars of the train would separate from the rest to go in a different direction. People scrambled with their luggage in the narrow aisle to change to the appropriate cars. What a hoot!
At the station, we asked for directions to Pas Panteidal, a small community near Aberdovey, and were told how to get to the bus stop. Later, the French couple we approached returned to drive us there. The woman had an English mother and had spent her summers as a child in this coastal area. Since she had never been to Pas Panteidal, she was curious to see it; her less-enthused husband drove us about eight miles out of his way to the turnoff and then up to a progressively narrowing mountain road to our rental hilltop chalet. The view is fantastic from here, but the closest grocery store is three miles over the mountains. As we asked our neighbors for directions, Jill and her mother-in-law June decided we would not have time to hike to the store before it closed, so they kindly drove us there.
Taking advantage of not having to backpack the groceries, Dennis and I grabbed canned goods and basics (including two bottles of wine) to let us eat for several days. To thank our helpful neighbors, we will give them our linen when we leave. This was an excellent exchange for both of us.
Dawn awoke me at 4:44 A.M. Sunrise at 5:15. I propped my pillow to block the rays and fell asleep. After rising, I fed the birds and enjoyed the brisk mountain breeze and glorious morning. Our landlord left a note saying we could feed the hedgehog peanuts. Never having seen one, I hope to coax it out from the woods.
It took us 2.5 hours to walk to Aberdovey. Since it is Sunday, there are few buses, and we are also carrying groceries, so we will take a taxi home. The fare is £8 ($12.21). For this reason, we will not be coming to town too often.
i think since you are both kind and pleasant people you bring this out in others.
Phil,
Ah, shucks! Thanks.
Wow, Sheila Harper is still beautiful at her age. I could only dream to age so well. Your hilltop chalet in the mountains sounds wonderful. It’s funny to think three miles as being difficult, but when you add mountains to the mix, that’s a different story. Even our small hills here in Iowa can make three miles feel more like ten, I can only imagine what mountains would be like. The people there sound pretty special too.
Donna,
We are enjoying our time at the chalet…and found a bus that runs every two hours into town. Makes it a lot easier.