About Me

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Hi! I'm Eunice and I live in Bolton, Lancashire, with my two dogs Sophie and Sugar and an assortment of cats - well it used to be Sophie and Sugar, now it's Sophie and Poppie. I first began camping back in 1997 when my then partner took me to Anglesey for my birthday weekend. We slept in the back of the car - a hatchback - using the cushions off the settee at home as a mattress, and cooked and brewed up on a single burner camping stove. The site was good, the views were great, the weather fantastic and I was completely hooked. Following that weekend we got a two-man tent and some proper accessories and returned to Anglesey two weeks later, then over time we progressed to a three-man tent followed by an old trailer tent, then a new trailer tent, a campervan and finally a caravan. When my partner decided that the grass was greener on the other side of the street - literally - in April 2009 and I suddenly found myself alone after fifteen years, I decided there was no way I was going to give up camping and caravanning if I could cope on my own. This blog is the story of my travels, trials and tribulations since becoming a solo camper - I hope you like it

Saturday July 13th 2013 - Another Anglesey weekend

Having got up at a ridiculously stupid time that morning I was taking advantage of the continuing good weather and hitting the road at 5.30am for a weekend down on Anglesey. The van was still packed up from the previous weekend at the steam rally so I'd only needed to add a few essentials plus the dogs and I was away. With very little traffic on the roads it was a very pleasant and problem-free drive and I arrived at the site at 7.45. There was no sign of the warden - she was probably still in bed - but that didn't matter anyway as the last time I was there, and knowing that I like to turn up early, she'd given me a barrier pass which would last for twelve months so I could access the site at any time. To be honest I did briefly wonder if it really would work but it did and I headed for my favourite small field where I found an available hook-up point not far from the water tap. That would do for me, and by 9am I had the tent erected and fully set up inside, and after a quick walk with the dogs it was time for a leisurely breakfast and a study of the 'photographing Anglesey' book which I bought last year.

My first port of call later that morning was the car boot sale a mile or so out of the village and on the very first stall I looked at I found a really fab summer dress. It was multi-coloured, very bright, and just 'me', and though it was ankle length I just had to have it. Now I don't 'do' long where clothes are concerned - I still have the legs for mini skirts and still sometimes wear them! - but my creative head reckoned that I could shorten it to a length just above my knee and make a skirt out of the cut-off piece. So I handed over my three quid and came away from the stall with effectively two items for the price of one. Then a few stalls further along I found a nice pair of casual shorts, brand new and still with the original price tag on, for only a quid, and later on in the charity shop in the village I found a lovely sleeveless top for 50p. It seemed to be my morning for bargains and I returned to the tent a very happy bunny.

After a can of Coke and a short chill-out in the shade I set out again, this time to Penmon Priory and Black Point just across from Puffin Island. I'd gone there a couple of years ago though I hadn't been all the way down to the Point, but there were a couple of photos in the book which I wanted to replicate so that was my goal. Black Point, when I got there, seemed to be a very popular place and the rough ground which was used as a car park was almost full to capacity, though I did manage to find a spare patch of grass to park on and with the dogs on their leads and book in hand I set off to find the right positions for my photos. I took the two I wanted according to the book then spent quite some time wandering along the beach and the rocks in search of other good views.



With several shots in the bag I made my way back towards the van but did a detour to the nearby cafe - it was time for coffee and cake and the slice of home made Victoria sponge which I ordered was very nice. Back at the van I gave the dogs a drink then set off back along the lane to Penmon Priory where I parked up and went for a wander. The chapel was open to visitors and as I'd never been in there before I thought I'd take a look, then following a rather overgrown footpath from the lane I made my way round the back of the building and up the hill, finally returning to the van by a better path. Just across from the small parking area was the old dove cote belonging to the priory so I got a couple of shots there before setting off and heading for Beaumaris.



Parking in what has always previously been a free car park belonging to the local library but which is now a pay-and-display - the council had obviously got wise to the fact that people park there at weekends when the library is closed - I had a wander along the seafront near the pier first then made my way back to the van via the main street, browsing in the shop windows as I went and snapping a handful of shots in a very colourful little courtyard. Not really feeling like going anywhere else I headed back to the camp site, stopping at the Spar shop in the village to get something to eat later on, though it was so hot that all I really wanted to do was drink copious amounts of well chilled Coke.



Back at the tent I spent the rest of the late afternoon and evening relaxing with my book and on a couple of occasions chatting to the couple on the next pitch, then just as the daylight faded I took Sophie and Sugar for their bedtime walk round the site before making a final brew and settling down in bed. I had no real plans for the following day, just a vague idea in the back of my mind, but wherever I went it would no doubt involve a fair amount of photograph taking.

3 comments:

  1. Oh to be free and single and able to take off at any time for a camping weekend! Great photos again Eunice! I really like the one of the stained glass window! You've managed to capture some really good detail! However, I was also hoping for a shot of your 'legs for mini skirts' ;-)

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  2. No chance Phil! lol

    If there's one good thing which came from the break-up of my last relationship it's that I now have the freedom to be able to go where I want when I want without having to consider someone else. Four years ago I thought my life had ended, now I realise it was only just beginning. Solo camping? - I love it!

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  3. Great attitude Eunice! You and my wife would get on famously I think! We have a certain amount of freedom to go where we want and when we want, but we both have demanding jobs working very long hours and by Friday we are both pretty exhausted! We also have 7 grandchildren that all live within a couple of miles so we are very much in demand at weekends! I'm really looking forward to retirement when I can have a lot more free time and see my grandchildren as well! Got a good many years before that though! Unless I win the lottery....

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I really appreciate good comments - who doesn't? - but due to a recent tide of spam from anonymous readers all comments will now be moderated, and only those with a direct bearing on this blog will be published. I'm sure my regular blog readers/commenters will understand the need for this - and to anyone whose comment isn't published, you know why.