The birthday continues...

Arrived in the UK I trained down south from Manchester to Wales and spent some green days near Bangor, but in the countryside... wonderfully avoiding the downpours and rejoicing in the little hills...
Went to Aber Falls and beheld autumn apporoaching...

 Catching a sunny afternoon we visited Bodnant, glorying in the gardens...

some of the flowers in Bodnant gardens

We drove home from Bodnant over a pass and then down to the Menai Strait where in a sheltered spot we ate our delicious picnic (cooked salmon in sourcream and cold pasta with courgette, followed by berries...)

The sun sank slowly on the other side of the water, and in the last lingering light we drove home to the cottage in Penmon.

The beach at The Spinnies, Menai Strait.
The following day I took the train to Bedford, and after a fine visit there with family went on  Godalming. Dear friends there had prepared yet another birthday treat for me: a succulent sponge cake which we ate elegantly with silver forks, to the accompaniment of Prosecco (rose...).

Thence to Winchester.

the fly on the rose...

The skies grow grey, we do need an electric blanket to warm the bed, and thank goodness I brought our fold-up plastic capes that cover coat and rucksack...
Boots also much appreciated.
This is autumn in England, how could I forget the clammy beds before the sheets have warmed, and in the grey morning light the unwelcome alarm clock summoning us from the warm cocoon we'd made -- into the bathroom with its cold taps and shivering toilet seat (kind of transferred epithet there...).
Am really beginning to look forward to being back on the boat in Turkish waters...

We went to the Boat Show in Southampton. Cold wind, wet, need for strong tea...