Summer holidays 2011 (part 1).

Val and I are just back from our holidays. We first went to stay with my sister in Shropshire for a few days before heading over to the Norfolk Broads where we borrowed my dad's boat for a weeks cruising about.

We went for a walk to Lord Harlech's former residence (now sadly decaying).

Jules collecting firewood (well sticks anyway).

A barbeque and bonfire in the garden.

Huge T-bone steaks!

We went for a drive into Wales and visited Coed y Brenin mountain bike centre. Myself and some mountain biking friends used to go there for weekends years ago before the trail centres started to open up in Scotland. It's changed a lot now and is much more commercial and sanitised. It's lost a lot of the character it once had. That's progress I suppose.

They do serve nice cakes though!

Next we drove to the Mawddach estuary.

Then on down to Barmouth for a walk on the beach........

....................and ice creams!

More walking on beaches followed.
We had a lovely, relaxing stay at Jules and Lou's place before moving on to Norfolk (but that's another story, to come in part 2) so thanks to them for their hospitality.