17 Sep. - Porthmadog

Image: Two nights sleeping among Tudor beams on Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury

Slow train to Shrewsbury ...

From Betws to Blaenau Ffestiniog, river valley to mountain peaks - the town surrounded by terraced quarries + precipitous mounds of waste slate.

The local bus to Porthmadog (all the tourists on the steam rail) and then the slow train from the 'Station Inn' to Tudor Shrewsbury.

The train guard knows all the local lads - teen couple in T shirts ('Not at school?'), slim sweet-faced blonde boy with oversize leather jacket - all badges + embroidery 'Iron Maiden, 'White Stripes', 'ACDC', and a mere wisp of dark moustache on his top lip.

The noisy gang of uniformed kids on school trip(?) 'The tables have all gone!' heading home to seaside Barmouth (Abermaw) + a tired dozen girls in hi-vis vests + hiking gear - heads down + eyes closed.

By Shrewsbury it's after five + all the town is heading home from work - quick steps down twisting roads past timbered Tudor majesty.

Notes: A suitably sedate and tranquil manner to leave Wales, though we do make another small foray.