I Support the Seven Principles of the Campaign for the Future of Higher Education! You Should Too!



Saturday, August 7, 2010

Fishguard Wales


We arrived in Fishguard, Wales (Abergwuan is the adjacent older Welsh settlement across the River Gwuan - Aber is Welsh for river mouth) on August 2nd. We had a 4.5 hour bus ride, a milk run, from Cork to Rosslare Harbor where we caught a Stena Line express ferry (a catamaran fast craft) across the Irish Sea to Wales. With the kind help of Tony the taximan we were able to get cash (British sterling) and some groceries to tide us through the night and next morning, then he dropped us at Fishguard Bay Caravan Park where we had a tent pitch reserved. The site is stunning (as the photo tells) being situated on the edge of the cliffs that run the length of the Pembrokeshire National Park coastline. This morning we hiked 3 miles into Fishguard along the coast trail, had an ale (and Cokes) at the Royal Oak (now a pub) where the treaty marking the end of hostilities between Napoleonic naval forces and the British was signed in 1797 (this was the last actual invasion of Great Britain).

The hike showed that the planning system in the UK does far more to protect the rural landscape than is the case in Ireland - or so it seems. The Shive will be learning more about that shortly. After a day of trip planning tomorrow, we're likely off to Cardigan and then Aberystwyth some time down the road. We have some 50more days in the UK, so we're not in a hurry!

The Shive also has to make some contacts with angling clubs to learn about fisheries management and the like here. Two days before our departure from Ireland he learned much about the Irish situation for freshwater gamefish (espec. Atlantic salmon) management and conservation from Bob Seward, Secretary of both the Salmon and Sea Trout Recreational Anglers of Ireland and the Angler's Council of Ireland - more on this later.

Until then, cheers (as they say here) and thanks a million (as said in Ireland) for following our adventure!