Across The Pond - South Wales - Crickhowell

July 2, 2012

Today we parted. Rowan and I took Pat & Jake north to Harpenden so they could meet up with some of their old friends who are here in England and attend a wedding. We had them in Harpenden before noon and then turned right around to go back to Chelmsford to pick up Rowan's parents for our road trip to Wales.

I got one last 'big head' photo of Jake as we left them. I am holding up what is left of a gingerbread man's big head (Pat and I tore his limbs from his body in a cookie frenzy). We will miss Jake's big head.  

I think I will have to photoshop it in to the Brecon Beacon mountain range at some point, so stay tuned. :o)

We piled the folks in the car and headed west to Wales. We will stop to have lunch with Auntie Ann in Cirencester, about 2 hours down the road. We dined at a pub called The Fleece in this very charming village. Here are Rowan and Auntie Ann.

 My lunch was locally made pork bangers and mash with super delicious gravy and onion rings. YUM!!!!!

 Dad had a HUGE gammon (ham) steak (almost as big as Jake's head :o) with a fried egg on top. Very common way to serve it here.

After lunch (which was really almost dinner since we had it at 4:30pm) we headed on our way to South Wales and Uncle Bob's place in Crickhowell. It was well after 9pm when we dropped mom and dad off  at Uncle Bob's and went on to our cottage just across the River Usk in Llangattock. The only business' in the village are two pubs. Here is the map of where we are: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&q=map+of+crickhowell+wales&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x486e282776e502a3:0x19179821f1b08db8,Crickhowell,+Powys&gl=uk&ei=9fj5T86gCYOd0AW_ocCdBw&ved=0CAgQ8gEwAA

Our cottage is in what used to be horse stables built in the 17th century, now called Neuadd Cottages.

Here is their website: http://www.weacceptpets.co.uk/Powys/1838

We will spend the next week here in the BEAUTIFUL Brecon Beacons and Black Mountain Range. Look forward to some fabulous photos of some of the most beautiful country on the planet.

The view from our cottage in Llangattock...

Our front door.....

Fully stocked kitchen and sitting room.....

Very comfortable bed with view of the hills and loo/shower/tub all included

We are totally surrounded by sheep pastureland so it is extremely peaceful here. 

With all of the driving today, we had no problem at all falling off into some much needed deep ZZZZ's. 

We were greeted the following morning by this smiling face just outside our door......(mmmm...lamb shanks  :o)

.....and this dramatic view of Crickhowell and Table Mountain....

....and around our cottage

After we had our morning tea, we went on our 1 mile journey to Crickhowell and Uncle Bob's.
Here is Uncle Bob's place, built in 1903. Uncle Bob has lived here since the 1950's.  Note his fabulous vegetable garden in the foreground.

the view from the house out to the Usk Valley

Rowan and Uncle Bob looking out into the valley

Rowan and Millie the donkey, who lives in the pasture just on the other side of uncle Bob's fence. They enjoyed having a sniff at each other.

Mum & Dad taking in the view

Here are a few photos from around Crickhowell. This is a typical Welsh village. Small, quaint, always at least a hand full of excellent pubs, a butcher, green grocer and a baker. Oh, and I can't forget the OUTSTANDING cheese. The main attraction around these parts is the hiking in the Black Mountain Range (more pictures of that will be coming).
The Bear Pub at the end of the road. This is where we will get our internet & beer & lamb shanks.

The main street (High Street) all dressed up for when The Queen came through here on her tour of the UK during her Diamond Jubilee Celebration. The Royal Family has a huge presence here in Wales since their family roots are here.

The meat market fruit and vegetable display out in front of the shop.

THE MEAT. All local.  (check out the bowl of liver) :o)

The cheese :o)

We are really looking forward to creating some delicious local meals at the cottage from these delicious ingredients. Stay tuned for that and lots more about Wales, it's beautiful people, language, culture and country side..........we will find out just how many colors of green there are......