The Wanderer Returns!

Hi!  Sorry I've been MIA for a couple of weeks - I've been a little busy!  Since my last post I've climbed the 3rd highest mountain in the UK - Mount Snowdon. I've been wanting to do it since I moved to Wales seven years ago and now I've finally done it.  

Snowdon is in the centre - I know the others look taller, but they are closer!

A large group of us went - friends & family. We rented the most beautiful holiday cottage "Capel Fachwen", just across Lake Padarn from Llanberis.  I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone planning a trip out that way - stunning property, perfect location, beautiful views & everything you could possibly want or need was provided.

Kitchen/Dining area in Capel Fachwen

Sunset/Moonrise over Lake Padarn, Snowdon in the distance, as seen from balcony of Capel Fachwen

Dawn over Lake Padarn & Snowdon on the morning we climbed Snowdon. 

 On the Sunday we climbed Snowdon, we set off at 6.30am to avoid the heat - Wales actually saw temperatures of 32 degrees C!  That doesn't happen very often! The walk started in the little town of Llanberis that you can see on the other side of Lake Padarn in the above photo. We took the 'Llanberis Path' route, which climbs up behind the 2 hills you can see in the foreground, then up & over the highest hill that you can see to the Summit of Snowdon, which in this photo is hidden by cloud, but you can see it in the sunset photo. 

It's a 9 mile walk - 4.5 miles up & 4.5 miles back & an ascent of 3,560 feet/1,085 metres - it was a long day! The quickest member of our group made the Summit in 1 hour 45 mins, but she is a personal trainer/fitness instructor!  I was the slowest at 4 hours 15 mins! The first 3 or 4 miles were a lovely gradient to walk, but climb up the last peak was very steep & pretty tough going! 

That way!

Onwards & upwards...there goes my lovely husband :o)

That's where it got steep - where we crossed under the railway track!

Made it!  Snowdon Summit Marker

The view from the top looking out towards the sea through a gap in the clouds

After all that walking on the Sunday, Monday was a lazy day!  My mother-in-law, my husbands cousin Alison & I had decided we would yarn-bomb Llanberis while we were there, and Alison & I hadn't finished making our flowers so we sat recovering & crocheting in the morning!  

I had my foxglove, but I hadn't finished my clematis flowers.  The montbretia I was making didn't work out so I abandoned that - I need to re-think the making up & share the pattern at a later date.  The clematis turned out really well though - I was really pleased with it :o)  I didn't get great photo's though & as I was in a rush to get it done, I didn't take tutorial pics.  I will make another one this week & share the pattern next weekend. 

Alison made some beautiful pot plants - pansies & primroses - complete with crocheted pots & my mother in law knitted some amazing lavender & roses from the book 100 flowers to knit & crochet.

Clematis pattern to be shared next weekend!

Clematis flowers joined together - bunting style

Combined yarnbombing contributions of me, Alison (Little Saint Knit) and my mother-in-law

Clematis in situ on railings outside Llanberis Mountain Railway Cafe

Mother-in-laws lovely lavender

Alison's Primroses

My foxglove

My mother-in-laws roses

Alison's pansies

My mother-in-laws roses

The full bed (spot the knitted & crocheted ones amongst the real ones!)

The Llanberis Mountain Railway Cafe - yarnbombed flower bed to the right

The rest of the week was spent making lovely day trips out & spending time with the family - a fabulous week!

Now we're home & unpacked & rested & back at work :o(  We're in the process of selling our house so we're busy, busy, busy at the moment, so if I don't manage to blog once a week please forgive me!  We've got a few weekends of DIY to get the house looking its best for its photo shoot with the estate agent at the end of the month! 

I will share the clematis pattern next weekend though - promise!

Love & hugs

Claire-Clutterbug xx