Going Solo on a Rick Steves' Tour

Working sheep farm, Caernarfon Castle

I awoke to church bells, creaky floors and cries of seagulls.  Today was the first and only real rainy day on the tour.  And, thank goodness for the rain!  It wasn't fun, but at least the

hike in Snowdonia was cancelled.  I was secretly glad because I was knackered (British for exhausted).  It was a very soggy day visiting Ty'n Llwyfan in the Carneddau mountains to watch a sheep dog demo and sheep shearing.  I hate to say it, but the most exciting part of the day was getting us all up to the farm! The tour bus couldn't take us all the way to the farm.  So, we got shuttled up, eight at a time, by the only cab driver in town.  Riding in the cab (with raucous '80s rock music blasting over the radio - Rock on, Will!), I saw why the bus was unable to take us up. The road became very narrow, steep and winding.  On top of that, it was packed with parked cars, and the rain just added to the precarious conditions.

Cold and damp, we all got back on the bus and headed to Caernarfon Castle.  After a guided tour of the castle, we grabbed lunch in the town.  I ate mine on the bus ride back to Conwy.  We had the rest of the day free.  The rain finally stopped, so I wandered around town and walked on the walls.  I also picked up some Welsh baked goods as snacks for later.  Those Welsh cakes were calling me - I noticed them everywhere I went!