Fun - A Day out

&;#65279;Ok, today's been one of those days that memories are
made of !. I'm foot sore, tired and aching in places I would like to
tell you about, but well, I think you know what I mean. It has been
quite sometime since I did any really serious walking, that is if you
can call today's escapade serious walking !

Although living within a stones throw I have never been to the
Italianate village of Portmeirion before, even though I go past it on a
regular basis. So, it being a Bank holiday week, I thought, 'Hell why
not !'.

Knowing it would involve lots of walking and as it had promised to be a
hot day I carefully
opted for walking sandals, and not my heavier walking boots. Besides
when I wear shorts those boots look stupid, being not very tall I look
a bit like fairy in outsized hobnail boots.

Anyway Portmeirion was what I expected it to be. The place was packed.
We spent a good
hour just walking around the village itself before walking 'The
Gwyllt', 'The Wild'
Gardens. I have never seen quite so many people with their various
'extended visual
attachments', not really looking where they're going as they were far
too busy altering focus and clicking or filming every bit. I reckon
you'd need two days in Portmeirion, one day spent with your 'visual
attachment' in place, and the other really looking at all the places
you've missed because you wanted to get that essential pose just right,
or ensure that the light wasn't too bright, but then again some of
these 'visual attachment gadgets' come with
an instant play back, so if it didn't work the first time you can
always get the unwitting to
retake their excitement. Whilst in return you get to show off your more
improved superior
equipment in a highly visible way so as to make any other less groping
individual's 'feel'
even more inadequate!. That is if your not too busy ensuring that your
equipment is suitably hung around your neck in the most provocative way
possible, thus ensuring your status amongst the other ritual
'Harry's'.

I for one enjoyed my ramble in 'The Wild'. I'd picked up a map on entry
and thought it
would guide us around the various walks, one of which was closed for
tree felling but still
off we set. The map had four different routes to take, each taking
various time's to cover so
we though we'd take one before lunch and another after. What we didn't
reckon with was the fact the map had been written with No.6 Prisoner in
mind !

For the uninitiated 'The Prisoner', a cult televison program of the
60's &; 70's was filmed in Portmeirion in stared Patrick McGoohan.
Anyhow the point being, if you go by the map you could walk around in
circles in those woods for days and still not find your way out of it,
in a much similar style to that of what occurred to No. 6 !.

Anyway we kept coming across lost people, map in hand looking at colour
bounded wooden posts and shaking their heads. At one point we wondered
if we'd come across the actor himself in his black suit, or at least
Jools Holland with his piano and band in toe, as he's reputed to be a
'The Prisoner' enthusiast and has a love for Portmeirion itself. But
sadly we didn't, we just kept coming across other lost and confused
people. I did wonder just how many arguments had occur between various
partners over which direction to go in. We even came across one couple
who had gone the wrong way and ended up walking part of the closed path
before being stopped by the gardeners !.

Not least to say, we also got lost and ended up walking foot paths that
according to the map didn't exist. The second amble or should that be
the differing decisions of 'lets go this way', ' no I think it might be
better to take this footpath', was more fun, mainly because I renewed
my tree climbing abilities. Just don't tell anyone Pioden was seen
climbing, no worst still photographed climbing a tree in 'The wild' of
Portmeirion. I just could not resist the urge to get up there. Sure it
was only about four to five feet off the ground on one side, being on
the side of a small hill it was easy to get onto this low branch and
kind of wriggle my way to the other side. It was a member of the Cedar
tree family so I'm told, therefore the girth of the branch I managed to
get myself on was about four to five foot, if not more. I can say it
was difficult if not dammed impossible to get my little short legs
straggled around it, it was that big!

Anyway getting up there wasn't an issue, getting down was another thing
even though it
smelled lovely, I didn't fancy staying up there for ever and I'm not
saying what it cost me to
get assistance down. The ###### even deserted me for a whole ten
minuets, I could hear them smaning just the other side of the tree
where I couldn't see them. I mean I couldn't scream for help, just
think how embarrassing that would have been, after all they had
challenged me to get up there in the first place; the least they could
do was help me down, now wasn't it.

Anyway I didn't get up to too much mischief apart from the tree, I was
far too tired to be
bothered and there were far too many people around, but to be honest
the tree climbing was ace!. I was able to lie down on it with my back
and head slightly raised and my feet against the main part of the tree,
I could have spent hours up there!.

For ?5.30 per adult was it worth it?. Yes and no. It all depends upon
what you're after but if you plan to go it's worth making an early
start as 'The Wild' itself can take up to between good two to four
hours to wander around including, if you have kids plenty of time for
them in the play area under parental supervision; ( I must admit even I
was very tempted by the play area). Longer of course if you linger or
climb trees!. It's basically an outside place so don't go on a wet
day.

It's a great place for picnics with loads of places set out
specifically for that purpose, just
remember to take your rubbish home with you.

The beach can be a bit risky due to the swiftness of the tides and the
fact that its more sand banks with areas that you can sink into so you
have to watch out but they do give you warning about this along with
the times of tides! Most of all wear good sturdy shoes or as in my case
walking sandals are the best way to ensure that you enjoy yourself and
not suffer afterwards. But best of all be adventurous.

But have a look for yourself at http://www.portmeirion.com