Another 5 nights, this time at the beautiful secluded site at Pantmawr Farm with its neighbouring 25 minute cycle track all the way into Aberystwyth. Ann actually went in for a swim, also we indulged and travelled first class on the Vale of Rheidol steam railway from Aberystwyth to Devils Bridge with its beautiful scenery. Tom’s farm had the best blackberries we’d ever seen. The only slight downside was the regular bird scarer on the neighbouring farm banging all day, every 10 minutes or so. Otherwise a really good stop. We discovered monkey bread in one of the cafes, yum….

Five nights here visiting the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highway steam railway, Harlech castle, Criccieth Castle, the home and museum of David Lloyd George, Portmeirion, and en route a stop to visit Caernarfon Castle. Portmerian Harlech Castle and the Llanfair Slate Caverns Ffestiniog railway, Criccieth Castle and Caernarfon Castle

Four nights here, fitting in visits to Beaumaris, the castle, and a fast (very fast) RIB trip to see puffins (all flown north, so had to make do with seals), Plas Newydd House and Gardens (a National Trust property), the Anglesey Sea Zoo (an aquarium!) and Bryn Celli Ddu, an ancient burial chamber

A one night stop with Gwen and Pete, who we’ve known for several years via sailing, and who we’ve met up with on several occasions in the Ionian. They’ve recently sold ‘What’s the Rush’ and are waiting to move to a larger house and begin the next chapter of their land based lives. Enjoyed a good curry with them and a proper bed!

A beautiful small campsite offering 50 mile distant views. In Oswestry we went the very short distance on the Cambrian Heritage Railway to the Stonehouse Brewery and back, took the opportunity to visit the Bailey Head, the current CAMRA pub of the year, and run by Duncan and Grace whom I knew from my time living in Orpington.

Instead of an annual barbecue, this year, it was a pub lunch at the Rugby Arms which has an enclosed garden so the grandchildren could play, and close enough to Nana’s care home for her to be pushed there in the wheelchair. Jeff was in Australia, so Jenny and John hosted us at Windmill close.

A stopover at Fern’s to see her new (to her) house and extensive and very overgrown garden and enjoy some socialising with her and Stew.

Well we didn’t get off to a good start. Halfway up the Ridgeway as we were accelerating to undertake an idiot hogging the middle lane doing 30mph, the engine started spluttering. Fortunately we managed to pull safely into large lay by at the top, where the engine just about gave up completely. (the car doing 30 hogging the middle lane was by now totally oblivious to the unmarked police car immediately behind it with blue lights flashing telling it to pull over for a chat!) An hour later an AA chap turned up and without even lifting the bonnet diagnosed…

This year was a big one for us, we got married 😀😀😀. So no detailed Panda blog, other than to say, immediately after our wedding we crewed on Sea Essay from Plymouth and back to Plymouth a week later and then did a short tour in Panda taking in Farnham, Kenilworth, Stratford upon Avon and finally a few days on a site in the shadow of the Malvern hills, so a chance to catch up with ex colleagues from the 30+ years ago when I worked there.

Summer 2023, we decided to stay in the Ionian on Jacana, so no summer Pandering this year.