Our first day out in ages!

With great weather promised we decided to treat ourselves to a day off....the first for weeks.
The work was finished early and we were away before 10am.
Down the drive and turn right...12 miles on the B5105 to the A5 and on to Betws y Coed.Being a lovely day there was lots of traffic,driving quite slowly enjoying the beautiful countryside and the first signs of the autumn colours.We pushed on through Capel Curig and Beddgelert in the heart of Snowdonia.Philip was hoping to see a steam engine on the Welsh Highland Railway but was sadly disappointed (yet again).We passed Porthmadog,observing that the new by-pass is almost finished,driving on to Criccieth.Here we stopped to let Miss Chewitt,our very old Jack Russel,have a little pit stop and walk on the green.She didn't manage much of a walk but at least stretched her legs.
Back in the car and on through Pwllheli and on to Abersoch.From there we went in search of a hotel some of our guests went on to after a stay with us at Porth Tocyn.It's a good job there were brown signs to point the way.Through lanes,up and down and eventually we are there....Porth Tocyn Hotel.Philip goes to see if we can have lunch and can the dog join us.Great,we are in and we sit on the patio with Chewitt under the table,her with a bowl of fresh water and us with a cool drink.What a view..Cardigan Bay and the mountains on the mainland,we couldn't have had better weather and as the haze started to clear we could see for miles.We lunched simply but well...from a well balnced light bite menu with something to suit everyone.A coffee to finish and we were away,retracing our steps until we reached Porthmadog,driving throuh the centre and heading out towards Llan Ffestiniog.From this village we headed to the moors over a fantastic route,feeling on top of the world.It's worth a stop or two just to take in the views and beauty.We then reach the A5 near Pentre Foelas and are on the homeward stretch taking a left at Cerrig y Drudion on to the B5105 driving through the Clocaenog Forest and reaching home by 4pm.
What a treat...just to get away for a few hours and remind ourselves of the beautiful region in which we live.
Let's hope this 'Indian Summer' lasts for a while and we can enjoy a few more days of sunshine.