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.