The beaches here are so extensive at low tide and next to nothing at high tide – well the sand anyway. So we decided to get up early to catch the lowest tide on the southern end of Newgale Sands. Had it almost to ourselves. Dogs were ecstatic.
Headed down the peninsula to another old harbour Port Clais. The wind was wild but this cove was well protected from the rough seas
At Porthstinian the old lifeboat station (below right) had been replaced by a magnificent modern facility. Impressive as it was, I would not be tempted to head into the seas today!
Magnificent coastline around here. Rugged cliffs and numerous coves. So much to explore. Wide sandy beaches at low tide, swallowed up by the high tide until only the pebble banks exposed. So different.
Had to re-visit Solva for lunch because it’s such a quaint little place. Walked the surround hills where there is a hiking path that covers most of the Pembrokeshire coast (for another time!)
Finally 4 Days away in the far west of Wales near St Davids. Morning walk above Newgale beach – 2 miles of beach backed by an enormous and long pebble bank formed after a huge storm in 1859.
Newgale beach
Caerfai Bay, St Davids
St Davids Cathedral was stunningly beautiful, inside especially. It’s enormous, considering St Davids is a relatively small town. Beautifully restored.
St Davids Cathedral
Solva harbour after sunset and on the outgoing tide. Once used to supply St Davids town. Lime brought in by ship was fired in the old kilns.
“Our guests are darkly lodged,” I whisper’d, gazing through
The vault, whose grated eye showed heaven more gray than blue;
(This was when glad Spring laughed in awaking pride;)
“Ay, darkly lodged enough!” returned my sullen guide.
(Emily Brontë)
Heard the news today that South Africa and other countries are now all off the red list. No quarantine required. Savid Javid seeking clarification if we prisoners can be released. SUSPENSE IN THE AIR !
Presents from Astrid today
Like ants, we circle around the exercise yard
Here is a typical experience of many in my hotel as reported by BBC
Quarantine fiasco has cost us £5,500
Image caption, Alison Stitt in her quarantine hotel room
Alison Stitt says her experience in a quarantine hotel has pushed her to the point of meltdown.
She was in South Africa visiting her father for his 90th birthday when the country went on the UK’s red list.
It took days to rearrange a flight home on the same date that a quarantine hotel room was available. They had to stay longer in their AirBnB and re-book their car hire while they waited – on top of extending their car parking and kennels bookings in the UK.
Now she and her husband David are at a hotel near Gatwick.
Alison says the total cost of their extended stay in South Africa and paying for their quarantine facility has been at least £5,500.
“It was one expense after another. It’s all going on credit cards. It was meant to be a budget trip.”
She describes the experience of going into quarantine as a farce. “We were herded into coaches after we landed. We got lucky coming to Gatwick, some were going to Manchester.”
Alison says her room is clean and modern, but she doesn’t feel safe in the hotel, saying she’s seen guards sneezing with their masks down.
The hotel had to be evacuated last week because of a fire alarm.
“We know someone has tested positive in the hotel. They came to re-test us, saying that we had been exposed to someone with Covid during the fire alarm.”
Halfway at last! The days are not exactly flying past but I’m keeping myself busy. My notebook got a bit scrappy today when I started figuring out how much this security is costing (and we are paying for it)
