Turning round for less than a pound

Today we went to Conwy falls. Earlier in the week, we went to Swallow falls. At both waterfalls, we were met with a turn stile and a £1 fee. However, both times, we got in for half price or less.

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We got up especially early to go to Swallow falls on Tuesday, knowing only too well how busy half term can be at 'free' attractions. We pulled into the layby and got out our funky trekking trainers, back packs and big bottles of water. I remembered from last time that the walk from the bottom was both long and slightly tiring...oh...we have to pay...Oh, It only takes pound coins.

Crap.

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Between the six of us, Only Mr McBride had any change on him. And that change consisted of three 20 pence pieces, some coppers and two pound coins. Crap

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So me and steffi squeezed into the turn stile and drop in the coin before slowely stumbling round and out the other side. Thats two in for the price of one! Mr McBride gave Auntie Lin his second pound coin then walked around to find a seven foot fence whcih he and Trevortrevortrevor clambered over. That left Gary and Auntie Lin squashing backpacks and squeezing together to somehow get through. So thats six for the price of two. Now thats a bargain!

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Five minutes later we were out again! all that was left was the waterfall itself. Pretty as it was, it wasn't the same without the lovely long walk that shuffles alongside it. Never mind. Conwy Falls...oh

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Another turn stile! another squeeze! This time we got in for exactly half price, going through like the animals in the ark. Luckily this time we had a pleasant enough walk towards the waterfall. But when we got there, Health and Safety had stomped all over it and put a fence right back so you couldn't get near enough to get a decent picture! no risk in anything these days.

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On the way out, we stopped in the cafe for a drink. This was when we realised that the front door of the cafe (we came in the back door, just to clarify) lead right out to the carpark. If we wanted, we could have walked through the cafe to get to the walk, no turn stile needed!

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Hind sights a wondeful thing!

So here I am, sitting in a farmhouse kitchen, eating pringles and staring out at the mountain range that tiptoes behind my back garden. I sit here, typing away, knowing full well that by seven o'clock tomorrow morning, I'll be up, cooking eggs and getting ready for what I'm sure will be a bloody exhausting day. yet there's not been a single minute so far that I've regretted.

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I apologise, I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm in Wales, in a cottage on the very border of the Snowdonia National Park. My feet ache, My legs hurt, My nose is slightly sun burnt and I've pulled a muscle in my right arm, but i can honestly say i don't give a s***

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Because I climbed Mount Snowdon on Sunday. After 8 hours being cramped in the back of a Ford Escort on Saturday, My and my family trekked up the 1085 metres that is the highest mountain in England and Wales. ~*~

I'm sure God was looking down on us yelling "Day of rest guys, that's why i invented the bloody day, as a day of rest!" But all the same, I, along with my Mr McBride, the ones they call Steffi and Gary, as well as Auntie Lin And Trevortrevortrevor, made it to the top.

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Now, I'd like to say that it was easy. But it really really wasn't. There were times when i actually didn't think i could move my right foot in front of my left. The ground was steep, then uneven, then covered in loose slate, then muddy, then slippy. Added to that was the fact that Sunday was predicted to be the only 'good weather' day of the half term week. Because of this, half the country set out alongside us.

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We got three quarters of the way up when it got too much for Auntie Lin. So unfortunately, we left her with a large bottle of water on the grass and stumbled the last mile. And the moment we reached the top, I realised the sheer force the human spirit can have.

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From about half way up, the only thing keeping my going was the thought in my head "you've come this far, you cant bloody stop now." It amazed my, watching the frowning pained faces of everyone how much strength and determination a person can pull together when faced with a challenge.

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From the top, the view was... I don't actually think there's a word, beautiful? breathtaking? stunning? I don't know, I just know that every little bit of me felt so totally...chuffed. I could look over the range and think to myself "I worked bloody hard for this." The adrenaline rush was immense. Either that or it was the very steep peak that made my heart beat so flipping fast. ~*~

Two minutes after heading back down, we were met with a very tired looking Auntie Lin on a rock just round the corner from the peak. After watching the rest of us soldier on, She had made it to the top, at her own pace. and I think that made me smile more than any of the views I experienced at the top. My own feat was shadowed by this lady, who, like the tortoise, took her time and got to the top. Like she said "I was not going to let it beat me. I was not going to get that far then call it a day." ~*~

You see, Human spirit.

Sorry, that was quite long. Thank you for sticking with me.

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Oh, halfway down, we saw a guy who was at least 70 ambling up and a comfortable place. But, another day, another story.